Chautauqua County Public Health staff performs an intensive
investigation to identify close contacts of all confirmed positive
COVID-19 cases. Following guidance from NYSDOH, contact tracing
begins on the day the person with the positive test started having
symptoms. NYSDOH deems this the beginning of the infectious
period. Once identified, our department notifies the close
contacts of their potential exposure to COVID-19 and they are placed
under mandatory or precautionary quarantine to monitor for symptoms.
If you do not personally hear from a public health nurse, you are not a
close contact of an individual who has been confirmed to have COVID-19.
Per NYSDOH, close contact refers to a person who cared for or lived with
a person with COVID-19. It does not include activities such as
walking by a person or sitting across a waiting room or office for a
brief time.
There continues
to be a national shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as
masks and gowns, collection swabs, and viral transport media supplies.
As such, it is critical that laboratory testing be prioritized for
hospitalized patients and ill health care workers and nursing homes
residents. PPE must be appropriately utilized by the appropriate
people.
It is critical
that we protect our healthcare workforce.
Any resident
experiencing a fever, with cough or shortness of breath should
call your health care provider first for guidance. (DO NOT
show up at their office, Urgent Care, or ER before calling). If symptoms
are severe and/or you
require an ambulance
for transport, call 911 and notify the operator of your severe
respiratory symptoms.
If
you are overwhelmed right now, the NYS COVID-19 Emotional Support Line
is staffed by specially trained volunteers who can help. Reach Out
1-844-863-9314.
The
outbreak of COVID-19 around the world has led to the spread of fear and
panic for individuals and communities. In addition to following physical
precautions guidelines, individuals should be taking care of their
psychological well-being. The guide at this link includes tips for
the general population, individuals receiving mental health services,
parents, caregivers of older adults, and mental health providers:
https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/guidance/covid-19-managing-stress-anxiety.pdf
The
Chautauqua County COVID-19 Response Team continues to meet daily during
this pandemic to stay up-to-date on rapidly changing situations. They
ask that you do your part:
·
Wash
your hands for at least 20 seconds, and wash them more frequently
throughout the day;
·
Avoid
touching your face;
·
Cover
your coughs or sneezes;
·
Avoid
close contact with others by keeping a distance of six feet;
·
Clean
and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and
·
Stay
home and avoid contact with others if you are sick.
For
additional information, you can call the NYS Coronavirus Hotline at
1-888-364-3065 or Chautauqua County DHHS at 1-866-604-6789.
To follow the
most current information on COVID-19, please visit the County, CDC or
NYSDOH at:
https://www.chqgov.com;
https://www.facebook.com/myhealthycounty
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
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