Steuben, Schuyler see increased cases

Steuben, Schuyler see increased cases

SOUTHERN TIER--Some two weeks after area schools successfully began a new school year, Steuben County health officials reported Sunday, Sept. 20 that COVID-19 levels have reached the "level of community spread" after 10 new cases were reported. Three additional cases were added on Monday related to the Corning Center nursing home, which brought the total to nine in two days. Neighboring Schuyler County saw two students test positive last week. As of Monday, Yates had no active cases according to the health department.
"Steuben has not seen this number of cases in one month since April," said Public Health Director Darlene Smith. "We must all adhere to prevention strategies to slow the spread of the virus or we could be back to over 100 cases in one month as seen in April."
Schuyler's active number was four on Monday, with health officials saying a number of the cases last week were related to the Horseheads Lighthouse Baptist Church cluster and close contacts with the positive students have been quarantined.
"In consultation with the New York State Department of Health, our public health office has extended the quarantine numbers to include all this student's classmates and teachers with whom this student shared a classroom last Friday (the last day the student attended school)," said Greg Kelahan Superintendent of Schools for Watkins Glen in a note to the community.
However, statewide, as the number of activities has increased, the number of positive tests compared to total tests taken has remained around 1 percent. For comparison, 24 states currently meet the World Health Organization recommendation for reopening, staying below 5 percent of tests coming back positive. 28 states exceed it, including Wisconsin, Idaho and South Dakota, all at around 16 percent according to Johns Hopkins University.
"We need everyone to do their part in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19," said Steuben County officials on Monday. "Wear a mask in public, limit gathering size, keep a physical distance from those outside your household, and stay home when feeling ill."