(Ny.gov Photo)

CHENANGO COUNTY – The Chenango County Health Department is urging residents to maintain social distancing guidelines and use caution as coronavirus cases double in less than a week.

According to Chenango County Health Department Director of Environmental Health and Code Enforcement Divisions Isaiah Sutton, COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise in the county but the upward trend can be quelled with caution from the community.

“The recent uptick in the number of coronavirus cases is a reflection of reduced social distancing and individuals taking trips to areas with larger numbers,” said Sutton. “We have not identified a super spreader event, meaning we didn’t get tens of cases from a single place.”

“We still have an opportunity to turn this trend around, but it will take all of us following best practices to protect those around us.”

Sutton said the most common spread of the virus in Chenango County is family based, with one member of the family getting the virus and spreading it to the rest of the household. He said while the cases have gone from 17 to 46 from last Tuesday to this week’s Tuesday, there will likely be an ebb and flow in cases as the year goes on.