Erie County, NY 3 confirmed covid cases

[wnylib]

Late on Saturday, March 14, Erie County Health Department reported 3 confirmed cases of covid 19. The 3 people are now in mandatory quarantine and their contacts are being traced.

For people not familiar with the western NY region, Buffalo is in Erie County. Most communities in Erie County are suburbs of Buffalo or small towns nearby.

Buffalo schools were already scheduled to close for one day on Monday while the scool district decided what to do in case the virus showed up in the area. Then on Tuesday, they were supposed to open so teachers could distribute "materials" (what kind?) to students.

Anybody else in this area who has heard more? My info is that more details will be released today.

[wnylib]

1. Update

County Commissioner Poloncarcz will give updated details at 11 am today, carried by Buffalo NPR station..

A student at the private Daemen College in Amherst (northern Buffalo suburb) is in quarantine on campus after riding on a bus with a Rochester man who tested positive.

[wnylib]

2. Details and advice from Erie Co. press conference this morning

Erie County Executive and Doctor from Erie Co. Public Health gave the folliwing details and advice:

The 3 people who are positive are in the northern county, 1 each at Buffalo, Clarence, and Grand Island. All believed to have acquired the virus from outside the county. One just returned from Italy.

Epidemiology team is still tracing contacts. Will tell the contact individuals and general public about places of work, study, or travel when identified.

Erie County officially in state of emergency.

All county schools are closed tomorrow so schools can do deep cleaning and health dept can decide on when to open. Willuamsville schools decided to close indefinitely.

Do not take children on outings in public places while schools are closed. That means no McDonald's or other food places. No museums, libraries, theaters, etc. to entertain them. No hanging out in malls. Stay home.

Do not take kids to grandparents or other retired relatives, friends, neighbors. They are vulnerable. Stay home or get a younger babysitter.

Do not pool babysitting in one place, one house. Just as bad as being in school.

You are not safe just because you are not in one of the 3 known locations There are probably people with mild or no symptoms, not diagnosed, walking around, touching surfaces.

Beware of all surfaces, everywhere, that anyone else might have touched.

NY now requires ALL public gathering places, e.g. bars, retaurants, churches, theaters, etc. to cut their authorized capacity in half in order to maintain physical distancing ability. Violators will be closed and lose licenses to operate.