CHENANGO – Monday morning the Chenango County Department of Health confirmed there are 36 cases of COVID-19 in Chenango and that five of those cases lead to people being hospitalized.

The health department also confirmed 77 residents were under a precautionary quarantine and 218 residents are under mandatory quarantine.

So far about 168 tests for the virus have been administered in the county.

 

Letter from the Chenango County Department of Health

Chenango County Department of Health Director Marcas W. Flindt responded to an Evening Sun request for more information about the local CIVID-19 outbreak over the weekend.

From Cheanngo Health Director Marcas Flindt:

“We will be releasing the following information on a daily basis:  Number of laboratory confirmed cases, number of people in home Quarantine, number that have been tested (we felt that up to now these figure were not accurate, but now feel that we can release them), number of hospitalizations, number of hospital discharges, and number of deaths.

“The Health Department will not be releasing COVID-19 patient specific information (names, addresses, phone numbers, age or gender).  We will also not be releasing granular raw data of the number of patients by Zip Code or Township.  COVID-19 is prevalent throughout the County.  Region specific information is irrelevant other than curiosity.  It is medically and socially unproductive.  In our sparsely populated County, giving the number of cases by Township would only set off a fire storm in social media to try to figure out who these people are.  People would avoid Townships with higher number of cases.  That is not necessary.

“Citizens should think that everyone they come across is potentially contagious regardless of where they are.  They need to continue to remain at least six feet away from others (social distancing), wash hands very frequently, cough in your elbow and stay home.

“The Health Department continues to work seven days a week on the safe home quarantining of individuals and their families.  Our efforts are proven public health “best practice” to help ensure the safety of the public, and to help our hospital avoid a peak surge in patients.

“Thank you for your continued vigilance.”