Yates County sees first virus case

YATES COUNTY--Yates County Public Health notified citizens, Sunday, March 29 the first resident of Yates County has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. As of press time for this edition, 48 tests have been received, one is positive and 47 are negative. Three residents are currently in quarantine and being monitored.
"We have been preparing for cases of COVID-19 in Yates County," stated Public Health Director, Deborah Minor. "Residents should continue social distancing and stay home as much as possible. We need residents to limit contact with others to slow the spread, especially to our seniors and individuals with underlying medical conditions."
In a follow up video on Facebook addressing a number of questions, Minor clarified there was no public location data released about the positive person because they had been staying home. She also suggested with the spread in surrounding counties and New York state, "the safest way to act is as if COVID-19 is everywhere. Thinking that COVID-19 is contained within only specific towns would be dangerous to the health of our communities."
Last week, Legislative Chairman Douglas Paddock, asked "tourists and second homeowners to follow state and federal mandates that people stay home until we get past this pandemic."
While there are no travel bans in New York or required quarantine periods for those that are traveling, staying home, social distancing and washing hands are major elements to limiting COVID-19.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed 100 percent of the nonessential workforce to work from home until at least April 15. Schools will remain closed until that time, however it could extend longer.