The attendees included Andrew Goodell, State Assemblyman, George Borrello, State Senator for the 57th District, PJ Wendel, County Executive, Christine Schuyler, Commissioner of Social Services/Public Health Director, Dan Pacos, town of Pomfret Supervisor, Douglas Essek, Mayor of Fredonia, Jeff Sortisio, superintendent of Fredonia Central School, Randy Woodbury, Department of Public Works Director for the city of Dunkirk, Phil Maslak, Fredonia Police Chief and Ryan Walker, Fredonia Fire Chief.

“We are planning for this, we are meeting daily, several times during the day. We are in constant contact with the governor and their recommendations along with the New York State Department of Health,” said Wendel. “If you don’t hear from us, no news is good news. That means business is as usual.”

Currently in Chautauqua County, there are two precautionary quarantines. These quarantines are purely precautionary because of where the residents had traveled, according to Schuyler. As of Wednesday, there are 325 positive cases in New York according to the New York State Department of Health. The closest county with a positive case is Monroe County, with one confirmed case.

“Please don’t panic. Everyone is concerned and rightfully so about this novel coronavirus pandemic. The World Health Organization only designates things a pandemic when certain criteria are met and we are there with the novel coronavirus,” said Schuyler. “Having said that, in Chautauqua County we have no cases.”

OBSERVER Photos by Natasha Matteliano County Executive PJ Wendel speaks at the Thursday conference on COVID-19 in Fredonia.

The county is not issuing any closings at the time. Elderly residents and people with existing conditions are encouraged to take extra precaution during this time, as they are the most susceptible to the virus.

“Please stay home if you’re sick. If you’ve got respiratory symptoms of any kind and you are worried about (it) or if you have an underlying condition such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer or if you are pregnant or over the age of 65 and you experience a fever, shortness of breath, respiratory symptoms, please contact your health care provider.”

According to Borrello, everyone in New York state is at a very low risk of contracting COVID-19. He also stated that there are no cases of the virus in the 57th senate district, which is Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany and Livingston counties. “80% of people that actually do contract this virus are likely going to have it and not even know they had it because they’re going oat be asymptomatic. The 20% that are, the vast majority of them, do not need to be hospitalized,” said Borrello.

Goodell assured the community that children to middle-aged people do not have much to worry about, even if they do contract the virus. The people that need to worry, according to Goodell, are the ones with pre-existing conditions and older residents. “Common sense is the right approach,” said Goodell. “It does make sense if you’re in a high-risk category to take extra precautions so that you don’t contract this, or the flu.”

“This is an ever-changing situation. We will update the community as quickly and efficiently as we possibly can,” said Schuyler. Information is available on the Department of Health and Human Services website, health.ny.gov, along with their Facebook page.