There are now two-dozen cases of the COVID-19 Virus in Chautauqua County. County Executive P-J Wendel says there's one new case in the northeast Fire Battalion District of the county... bringing the total to 24 positive cases. Wendel says the new case -- reported Sunday -- is a man in his 60s. There were no new cases reported on Saturday. He says there are currently eight active cases... with 13 now having recovered. Wendel says there are 125 cases under quarantine/isolation orders by the Public Health Director and being monitored. He adds there have also been 399 negative test results so far.
It was not the usual Easter for Christian churches in the area. In the midst of the shutdown, pastors had to use different means to reach the faithful. Bob Hagel of First Presbyterian Church in Jamestown used a low-power FM transmitter to speak to members of his church... and those of First Covenant... assembled in cars in their adjacent parking lots. Hagel compared the uncertainties of the current moment to those of Easter morning... saying, "This new life is a little scary because we're not in control of the story... of what comes next." At Hillcrest Baptist Church, Pastor Mark Hinman used Facebook Live to reach members of his congregation. He said Jesus' resurrection proves there is hope, when all hope seems lost. Other churches met over telephone conference calls, or provided pre-recorded addresses on-line.
Local businesses and individuals across the nation have been paying tribute to front-line heath care workers, doctors, EMTs and others during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Jamestown-area... some have made masks, hand sanitizer and face shields. Others have been making... and, delivering pizza. Co-Owners Joe and Alivia Town at Pace's Pizza on West Third Street recently joined with others to make and deliver 210 pies to Jamestown police and firefighters, UPMC Chautauqua Hospital's day-shift, Lakewood-Busti and Ellicott Police. Joe Town says the community really stepped up to help.
Town says it all started last months when they teamed up with Charles Pringle at Holiday Harbor to make and deliver 60 pizzas for the day-shift at UPMC Chautauqua. The Towns then decided to expand their program to include the community... and, they developed the "Four-Week Challenge" where they would make and sent out pizzas to a number of local first-responders and health care organizations. Joe says members of the community bought 110 of the 210 pizzas they delivered, while Town and his wife donated 100.
Local Congressman Tom Reed is urging farmers and other agribusiness owners to contact his office for help during the COVID-19 outbreak and response. Reed says he wants "farmers and others involved in agriculture have fair access to the resources and information they need. Agriculture is an integral part of our lives in this district and across the nation, so it is important that we support them during this time. Please contact our offices if you need assistance – we are always here for you.” The Corning Republican's website is providing answers to frequently asked questions pertaining to farmers as well as a collection of online resources. He says that includes facts on the H-2A program, relief for farmers and their families, farm credit institution information, loan information and more. For more information... visit Reed.House.gov.
Governor Andrew Cuomo is proposing that Congress look setting up a fund to benefit health care workers and others negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. During last Friday's press conference in Albany... Cuomo noted that the fund would be similar to the "9/11" Heroes fund established after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City.
Cuomo says he is working towards a "COVID-19 Heroes Compensation Fund" for essential workers and their families... but, says it will be critical for the federal government to take the lead on such a program.
Some nurses at an upstate New York hospital who had just been lauded for their work during the coronavirus pandemic ended their overnight shifts to find their tires had been slashed. New York state police reported that the tires of 22 vehicles were found slashed Friday morning outside New York-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital in Cortlandt. Police say 29-year-old Daniel Hall has been arrested on charges including criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance.
