They didn’t have a flag, but in their offices, their living rooms, and outside, beside their trucks—the only place at least one could find a little peace and quiet—16 Schoharie County supervisors stood to say the Pledge Friday as they teleconferenced their March meeting.
Conversation switched from the light--Blenheim Supervisor Don Airey’s “I feel like an episode of the Walton’s” as supervisors called in, identifying themselves by name, calling out hellos to those already on the call--to the more serious when Public Health Director Amy Gildemeister updated them all on the COVID-19 crisis.
Supervisors’ Chairman Bill Federice said he’d considered other options for the meeting, including canceling it and meeting face-to-face, but based on the COVID Task Force’s recommendations and the need to show leadership, opted to try teleconferencing it.
“We’re still conducting county business,” he said by way of introduction, “but obviously, we’ve got a laser focus on the epidemic.”
As of Friday, Dr. Gildemeister said, one case of COVID-19 had been identified in someone who lives in Schoharie County, and another at SUNY Cobleskill in an employee who lives outside the county.
[Tuesday, after presstime, Cobleskill-Richmondville Superintendent Carl Mummenthey notified employees that the district had learned Monday "that a person directly associated with the Cobleskill-Richmondville High School has tested positive for COVID-19," the first confirmed case in C-R schools.
[The county department of health has advised us that there is no serious concern about this individual having exposed others to the virus while at the high school," Mr. Mummenthey continued. "Therefore no further emergency action has been recommended at this time.]
That SUNY Cobleskill employee, she said, won’t show up in Health Department numbers for the county.
“We’re also following up on a tremendous number of cases that haven’t been confirmed,” Dr. Gildemeister said.
Those in direct contact with the infected workers are being quarantined; those with more general contact are being asked to monitor their health, “Which we all should be doing,” she said.
The Health Department has taken heat for not revealing where the in-county positive is, but Dr. Gildemeister said that person’s contact with others was limited and the SUNY Cobleskill location was shared only in general terms.
“We’re following up on every contact to the best of our ability,” she said.
Jefferson Supervisor Peggy Hait asked if the information was at least being shared with the supervisor of the town.
“It can transfer to another employee, home, family members…” she said.
No, said Dr. Gildemeister; she doesn’t even know who the infected person is, both because of HIPAA law and because she doesn’t want to know: “I don’t want to reveal that information.
“Assume right now, you have COVID-19, with the potential to expose the people you love,” she said. “That’s what we’re telling everyone.”
Tests for COVID-19 continue to be in short supply, Dr. Gildemeister said, and not everyone who wants one can get one.
Tests are only available after triage and an appointment and even if you talk with someone in person, “you’re not necessarily going to get the test.”
Also, “In most cases, even if you have it, it will resolve itself,” Dr. Gildemeister said, “but be mindful.”
As of the end of the day Friday, New York State had reported 7,000 cases of COVID-19.
“I don’t have a crystal ball,” Dr. Gildemeister said. “This isn’t going to last two weeks. Four weeks is a very, very low estimate. This is going to go on significantly longer than that.”