BATH – The Steuben County Public Health Department received notification that 15 Steuben County residents tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the total to 498 confirmed cases, 146 of which are currently active. The individuals are residents of the:
· City of Corning (6)
· Town of Addison
· Town of Bath
· Town of Campbell
· Town of Cameron (2)
· Town of Canisteo
· Town of Caton
· Town of Rathbone
· Village of Addison
The individuals are isolated and being monitored by the County Health Department. Public Health staff investigated and identified close contacts of the confirmed cases and exposure risks. All those known to have direct contact with the individuals have been notified.
Per CDC and New York State Department of Health guidance, information is collected beginning 48 hours prior to symptom onset or date of test if asymptomatic through the day of the positive test result to identify any potential exposure risks.
The investigations indicate:
· Five individuals are residents of Corning Center
· Four individuals are employees of Upstate Farms Cheese in Campbell
· One individual is a student at the BOCES Bush Campus
Public Health worked with the appropriate school contacts, and the impacted staff and students who were found to have direct contact with the positive student at school or on the bus will be quarantined.
An individual reported visited the following locations within the investigation timeframe, and the churches indicated they were following all protocols.
· 9/20/20, 9/27/20 – Avoca Baptist Church
· 9/27/20 – Christian Life Baptist Church in Corning
“This round of COVID-19 spread appears to be more aggressive than what we witnessed in the spring,” said Public Health Director, Darlene Smith. “The virus is spreading quickly and is reaching everyone from the very young to the very old. The number of positives in hospitals is rising by the day. We need everyone to take this very seriously so that there is a chance to slow the spread sooner rather than later.”
All residents should continue to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills or repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell and contact their healthcare provider for instructions if feeling ill.
