The University of Rochester Medical-Jones Memorial Hospital has joined the Allegany County Department of Health in making a plea to the residents of Allegany County. Please help us slow the increase of the COVID-19 infection rate here in Allegany County. The U of R Medical- Jones Memorial Hospital reports, “When the COVID-19 pandemic first came to the United States and New York in the Spring, Jones Memorial Hospital, with the support of the University of Rochester, implemented all CDC guidelines for patient and staff safety. We have continued those ever since. In the past few weeks, Jones Memorial Hospital has responded to the recently increased community needs for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Our census has been at the highest levels we have experienced in years. Our staff has been working very hard and many long hours in the past few weeks to meet those needs. We are grateful to all those who have worked extra shifts to enable us to care for this influx of patients. We are also thankful to our community members who have taken steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and follow the guidance provided by the Allegany County Department of Health. We have not had to stop any non-urgent services including surgeries and health screening exams. We have also been able to care for those with other acute illnesses without issue. However, if we do not heed the warnings and advice from public health and the medical professionals, Jones Memorial Hospital and many other healthcare systems may not be able to provide the necessary care for those who needed it. Please help Jones Memorial Hospital so that we can care for your family and neighbors by avoiding the gatherings we all miss, maintaining social distancing, and proper mask wearing.” Allegany County residents please remember:
• One positive person can result in 60 people or more being placed in quarantine.
o Your contacts include people you were within 6 feet of for more than l0 minutes and goes back to two days prior to you becoming ill or being tested.
• If you are sick or feeling ill, it is important to self-isolate, call your primary care provider, and get yourself tested.
• If you are unable to get into your primary care provider or you do not have one, you can call the Allegany County Department of Health at 585-268-9250 press #4. Please leave your name and telephone number, and please answer your phone when someone calls you back to do the preregistration.
• If someone in your household is sick, please keep everyone home.
o Many of our positives have been exposed to a person in their household who was sick.
• Limit your exposure during the holidays by celebrating in smaller groups and with people that live with you.
• Ask relatives, family, friends, and neighbors not to travel during the holidays.
• Do your holiday shopping online to limit your exposure in crowded malls or stores, have items shipped, or do outside of store pickups.
• Remember to wear a mask covering your mouth and nose; keep a social distance of six feet or more; wash your hands or use hand sanitizer; and avoid crowded areas.
Acting Public Health Director Tyler Shaw states, “We are starting to already see the effects of positives from other states and large gatherings. Please remember that contacts to a positive case and a positive case have implications further reaching than just the individuals at the gathering or party. The virus depends on people, please do your part to help our community stop the spread.”
