County Health Department braces for possible COVID wave
CHENANGO COUNTY - The Chenango County Public Health Department is bracing for another possible wave of COVID-19 cases as signs of the intensifying Delta variant ramp up in rural New York.
The department’s seen just a mild influx of cases in recent days - only three new cases reported Monday morning and 14 active cases on Tuesday, according to Public Health Director Marcas Flindt.
Nevertheless, the department is continuing education outreach to get locals to roll up their sleeves for a COVID vaccination, stating that a new wave would likely be most impactful to those who haven’t gotten the shot.
“We’re not having a problem yet, but it’s still here,” Flindt said Monday at a meeting of the county’s Health and Human Services Committee. “If, and hopefully it doesn’t at all, but if and when we get the next wave coming through Chenango County, it will certainly be an epidemic of the unvaccinated.”
Flindt pointed to an uptick of COVID-positive cases in U.S. southern states, where vaccination numbers are lagging even while the Delta variant is spreading. Likewise, in Chenango County, vaccinations and clinics are dwindling and the curve of vaccination rates has plateaued. That, Flindt said, presents a slew of challenges for his department.
“Folks nationally who are hospitalized or who have died from COVID, 99.7 of them are unvaccinated,” he added.
Local town boards are also taking note of current COVID trends, the Town of Plymouth going so far as to require proof of vaccination for attendees at their July board meeting.
“I have an aging town board and an aging town clerk, and I need to protect my employees,” said Plymouth Supervisor Grace Nucero-Alger.
Since municipalities have a right to ask about vaccination status, the pressure to show proof of vaccination at local government functions may only intensify. This goes for county government too, said County Board Chairman George Seneck.
“I really do think that as we’re trying to protect the public in general, and protect ourselves and people who come to our meetings, that may be an avenue to follow,” said Seneck. “Once again, you need to be vaccinated and you may be asked to show your proof of vaccination. We’re going to have a number of people who do not want to be vaccinated, which is a personal choice.”
Current state data shows less than 53 percent of Chenango County residents have been vaccinated. Meanwhile, test numbers have dropped. This, combined with growing numbers of COVID cases, has kept the public health department on its toes, said Flindt.
“Our focus now, education-wise, is that if you have not been vaccinated yet and you are eligible, there are people in our community who are counting on you - children are counting on you, as an adult, to get vaccinated,” he said. “People who are immune-compromised or undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment, are counting on you to help the community as a whole and help protect them.”
The department’s seen just a mild influx of cases in recent days - only three new cases reported Monday morning and 14 active cases on Tuesday, according to Public Health Director Marcas Flindt.
Nevertheless, the department is continuing education outreach to get locals to roll up their sleeves for a COVID vaccination, stating that a new wave would likely be most impactful to those who haven’t gotten the shot.
“We’re not having a problem yet, but it’s still here,” Flindt said Monday at a meeting of the county’s Health and Human Services Committee. “If, and hopefully it doesn’t at all, but if and when we get the next wave coming through Chenango County, it will certainly be an epidemic of the unvaccinated.”
Flindt pointed to an uptick of COVID-positive cases in U.S. southern states, where vaccination numbers are lagging even while the Delta variant is spreading. Likewise, in Chenango County, vaccinations and clinics are dwindling and the curve of vaccination rates has plateaued. That, Flindt said, presents a slew of challenges for his department.
“Folks nationally who are hospitalized or who have died from COVID, 99.7 of them are unvaccinated,” he added.
Local town boards are also taking note of current COVID trends, the Town of Plymouth going so far as to require proof of vaccination for attendees at their July board meeting.
“I have an aging town board and an aging town clerk, and I need to protect my employees,” said Plymouth Supervisor Grace Nucero-Alger.
Since municipalities have a right to ask about vaccination status, the pressure to show proof of vaccination at local government functions may only intensify. This goes for county government too, said County Board Chairman George Seneck.
“I really do think that as we’re trying to protect the public in general, and protect ourselves and people who come to our meetings, that may be an avenue to follow,” said Seneck. “Once again, you need to be vaccinated and you may be asked to show your proof of vaccination. We’re going to have a number of people who do not want to be vaccinated, which is a personal choice.”
Current state data shows less than 53 percent of Chenango County residents have been vaccinated. Meanwhile, test numbers have dropped. This, combined with growing numbers of COVID cases, has kept the public health department on its toes, said Flindt.
“Our focus now, education-wise, is that if you have not been vaccinated yet and you are eligible, there are people in our community who are counting on you - children are counting on you, as an adult, to get vaccinated,” he said. “People who are immune-compromised or undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment, are counting on you to help the community as a whole and help protect them.”
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