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WJTN Headlines for Sat. Mar. 28, 2020

Chautauqua County now has five cases of COVID-19...
Chautauqua County officials have announced there are two new positive cases of Coronavirus in the county... bringing the total since the outbreak began to five.  County Executive P-J Wendel... and, Public Health Director Christine Schuyler, though, did not say where the new cases are.  Wendel says one is a man in his 60s, who recently traveled to the New York City area, the other is a woman in her 30s with no travel history.  He again stressed the need for social distancing... and avoiding being in contact with others while the pandemic continues to spread.  Schuyler says this confirms the COVID-19 Virus is circulating locally, and noted that specific information on those who have tested positive will not be released to the public.  She said those who might have been in contact with confirmed cases will be contacted by county health officials.  Schuyler said there continues to be a shortage in testing supplies, as is the case elsewhere. “There’s very, very limited testing in the county."


Reed praises bi-partisan, $2.2-trillion, COVID-19 package approved by Congress, and signed by President Trump...
Congress has overwhelmingly approved a $2.2-trillion Coronavirus rescue package... and, shortly after, President Donald Trump signed it.  Local Representative Tom Reed says the measure tosses a life preserver to a U.S. economy and health care system left flailing by the COVID-19 pandemic.  During a time often heated partisanship... Reed says it was nice to see everyone united on the most colossal economic relief bill in the nation's history.  He says the package says in one voice to the nation that "we are united when it comes to the threat we see from this virus itself..." and, the "economic devastation" that's resulted from it.  Reed says the vote "should give hope to America that their elected officials in Washington, D-C set aside their partisanship, and political rhetoric, and acted as Americans today."  The bill will ship payments of up to $1,200 each to millions of Americans, bolster unemployment benefits, and offer loans, grants and tax breaks to businesses large and small. 


Reed says first case of COVID-19 in Cattaraugus County is not unexpected...
All Western New York Counties have now had at least one confirmed case of COVID-19.  The Cattaraugus County Health Department Friday reported their first of the pandemic... and, that it's in the northwest area of the county.  Congressman Reed reacted... saying this was not unexpected... but, adds it's important to find where the positive tests are, so we know who have it, and who doesn't.  Reed says that data is critical to knowing how soon we may be out of the current crisis.  The Corning Republican says he's agreed all along that the nation needed to ramp up testing on a larger scale to find where the outbreak has most affected the most people. 


Cuomo says state will be opening up four more, temporary hospitals in NYC...
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state wants to build four more temporary hospitals in New York City before coronavirus cases peak.  During his daily press briefing... Cuomo said he's seeking authorization from the Trump administration to add 4,000 beds in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.  He says members of his administration and the U-S Army Corps of Engineers had been scouting sites for the past few days.  The governor also says schools in New York state will remain closed for another two weeks until April 15th.  The number of COVID 19 cases in New York state has risen to more than 44,000... with more than 6,400 hospitalized.  By Friday... New York had logged a nation-high of 519 deaths since the pandemic began.


Public Safety agencies in Jamestown continuing operating at full capacity during COVID-19 outbreak...
There have been some procedural changes... but, both the Jamestown Police and Fire Departments are operating at full capacity... and, handling calls during the COVID-19 outbreak.  Both Police Chief Harry Snellings and Fire Battalion Chief Matt Coon addressed City Council this week about how they are handling the situation.  Snellings says it's basically using a lot of "common sense" and, asking questions when anyone from the public calls.  He says those are health specific, and he says police will respond, but that response may be different if COVID-19 is involved.  Coon says the fire department is also using additional protocols... especially when dealing with responding to accidents... or medical transports.  He says their rescue teams have received new direction on how to approach patients who reportedly have COVID-19... and, they are implementing those protocols.  Coon adds they have been sharing some of their personal protection equipment with the police department, and they are working with the county's Emergency Services Department to get more of that equipment.  Snellings says JPD has also thoroughly cleaned it's jail facility.


Six people arrested during major drug and weapons investigation stemming from Thursday shooting incident...
Six people -- three from Jamestown and three others from Buffalo -- have been arrested in the wake of Thursday's shooting incident on Jefferson Street on drug and weapons charges.  City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers obtained a search warrant for the 707 Jefferson location... and, found several guns, about 12-pounds of marijuana.. 1.2-grams of cocaine... and, $4,000 cash.  Samuelson says police arrested 29 year-old Anthony Burris at the scene.  After developing more information... he says members of the Jamestown Metro... and, Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Forces... learned that those involved in the shooting were hiting out at 438 Buffalo St.  Samuelson says investigators found two suspects coming from the home... and, they ran when police approached.  However... officers caught 21 year-old Torrie Jones and 26 year-old Mikial Moore... both of Buffalo.  Both are accused of tossing two handguns, marijuana, and crack-cocaine during the foot chase.  Drug agents then got a search warrant for 438 Buffalo St., and, found 7-grams of crack cocaine... and 4.7-grams of Fentanyl.  They also arrested 18 year-old Andre Jones of Buffalo... and, 47 year-old Eddie Melendez, and 39 year-old Mellisa Kestler of Jamestown.  All four face drug charges... while Jones, Moore, and Burris face weapons charges.