NIAGARA COUNTY, N.Y. (WBEN) - Niagara County is reporting 238 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Thursday morning, an increase of nine from Wednesday.
Nine people have died. Niagara County had a spike in reported deaths because the county factored in deaths that happened at nursing homes, which were previously reported only by New York State. The New York State Department of Health reports that ten people have died in Niagara County as of Wednesday afternoon.
"We're happy to not have any new (death) cases today to report," Legislative Chairwoman Rebecca Wydysh said.
Governor Cuomo announced on Thursday that his NY PAUSE order was extended to May 15. Cuomo on Wednesday also announced that every New Yorker must wear a mask if they cannot adhere to social distancing guidelines.
"We secured cloth face coverings for each one of (our) employees," Rick Updegrove, Niagara County Manager, said.
Updegrove said the requirement of all New Yorkers to wear a mask presents a logistic challenge. Niagara County has also reduced workforces at the government level and are in the process of marking off social distancing guidelines using tape on the floor and ask that people comply to their guidelines.
"We have put plexiglass on counters or at counters where our employees deal directly with the public in some of our departments," he said.
Signage will also be placed on all doors that will remind people that they must wear masks if they cannot adhere to social distancing. Updegrove said they may require people wear coverings in public buildings.
"This is a broad mandate," Updegrove said. It affects everybody...I absolutely understand the intent of this order...We will do everything we can to abide by these guidelines."
Another Niagara County Sheriff's Office employee tests positive
Among the new coronavirus cases in Niagara County is another employee at the Niagara County Sheriff's Office. Acting Sheriff Michael Filicetti announced that an employee in the communications division contracted the virus while off duty. However, that employee continued working in the dispatch center. The man was not showing any symptoms at that time.
The employee discovered a fever last Friday and was taken off work. He was tested and his positive result was revealed on Thursday.
"No other employees had worked in that station from the time the employee left the shift and the extra sanitization occurred," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "Cleaning has been enhanced in all areas of the Sheriff's Office, including the Dispatch Center, to follow Health Department guidelines."
Testing is available to any staff member showing symptoms and was specifically consulted regarding that employee once it was determined exposure had occurred."
Fourteen total employees were tested as of Thursday.