There are two new cases of the COVID-19 Virus in Chautauqua County... bringing the total number of positive case to 40.
County Executive P-J Wendel adds that one of the two women, who are in their 20s, is the first from Fire Batallion Two -- the northwestern end of the county. Wendel adds there are now five active cases, while 31 other people have now recovered from the virus. There have been four deaths. He says 74 cases are under quarantine or isolation orders from the Public Health Director.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is extending the state's moratorium on outbreak-related housing evictions another two-months.
The Democrat said Thursday that a moratorium planned through June is now extended until August 20th. Cuomo also announced the results of a study of 25 health care facilities in the New York City area to check on infection rates of 27,000 workers. He says they found their rate of infection was no higher than the general public, meaning the use of masks, gloves and gowns work.
In addition, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf also extended that state's moratorium on foreclosures and evictions by another two months. It was to expire next Monday, but will now run through July 10th. Back in New York, the state tallied 231 virus-related deaths Wednesday. Though hospitalizations continued to decrease slowly to under 8,700, the daily death toll has hovered around 230 for four days.
Sheriff Jim Quattrone is recommending that Chautauqua County residents wear face masks or coverings when going out in public.
While there is no criminal penalty under Governor Andrew Cuomo's executive order, Quattrone says they do receive complaints that are filed through the state. Many of those complaints have involved individuals who are not wearing masks in stores. And if a store requires the use of masks and a person does not comply, Quattrone says they could face a charge.
As for not wearing a face mask in areas where social distancing is not possible, Quattrone says they are reminding individuals about the executive order. He says there is no mechanism in place to enforce the executive order. The governor's order is for people to wear a face mask, or cloth covering when they're in public and, social distancing cannot be observed.
U-S Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer today is calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to immediately send supplies and PPE to upstate facilities, including V-A Hospital in Buffalo. Schumer says the V-A has moved too slowly in providing protective equipment to frontline healthcare workers. Today's announcement follows a report in March from the V-A's Office of the Inspector General, which found that 21 out of 54 VHA hospitals would run out of PPE in the weeks following the report.
A pair of Facebook groups will again be holding a drive-in demonstration tomorrow in Jamestown to protest New York's Stay-at-Home orders.
One of the organizers, Garrit Cain, says they'll again be on the sidewalk at Dow Park on West Fifth Street at 3 PM, and will be calling on county leaders to begin lifting restrictions that are part of the governor's PAUSE New York. That order runs through Friday, May 16th. Cain says they want demonstrators to observe social distancing rules, and wear masks. They also say people can circle the park in their vehicles if they don't want to be outside.
A large gathering of people in their cars and trucks -- socially distanced -- joined together in the parking lot of the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood Thursday for the annual National Day of Prayer today.
Dozens of vehicles were parked from the former Sears Auto Center, past the Jo-Ann Fabric Store for the program, put on by a non-denominational group of local clergy. Koinania Christian Fellowship Pastor Ron Lemon introduced the program and urged people to look to God to protect them, and get them through this COVID-19 Pandemic.
Lemon was joined by local political leaders, including County Executive P-J Wendel and, State Senator George Borrello. Other clergy members included the Reverend Mel McGinnis of Kiantone Congregational Church and, Pastor William Blair of the New Creation Assembly of God church in Jamestown.
