LOOKING
LOOKING AT THE MOST VULNERABLE BEING THOSE THAT ARE IN THE GREATEST PERIL OF CONTRACTING
THE DISEASE THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY END THEIR LIFE.
>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO
TO A NEWS BRIEFING WHERE WE ARE
EXPECTING IT TO BEGIN
MOMENTARILY.
WE HEARD ALREADY A STATE OF
EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED.
WE WILL GO TO THE PODIUM AND
LISTEN.
>> OKAY.
ARE YOU ALL SET?
>> OKAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU
FOR BEING WITH US HERE TODAY.
I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
LEGISLATURE AND I HAVE THE
SHERIFF, DANIEL STAPLETON, THE
PUBLIC DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND
JONATHAN SCHULTZ, THE DIRECTOR
OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
LET ME START BY SAYING WE DO
NOT HAVE ANY POSITIVE CASES OF
COVID-19.
NO POSITIVE CASES HAVE BEEN
CONFIRMED.
HOWEVER, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WE
DID SEE MUNRO COUNTY ANNOUNCE
AND THEN ADDED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY.
ORLEANS COUNTY HAD A STATE OF
EMERGENCY.
THREE POSITIVE CASES WERE
CONFIRMED IN THE ERIE COUNTY
FOLLOWED BY THEIR DECLARATION
OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY THIS
MORNING.
THEY HAD A COMPREHENSIVE PRESS
CONFERENCE. WE THANK THEM FOR
GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT TO
THE PUBLIC.
WE WILL BE MUCH SHORTER.
>> WITH OUR SURROUNDING
COUNTING'S WE FEEL IT IS
PREEMPTIVE TO DECLARE A STATE
OF EMERGENCY IN NIAGARA COUNTY
AS OF 2 PM TODAY.
THE STATE OF EMERGENCY ALLOWS
US THE AUTHORITY AND ABILITY TO
IMPLEMENT PUBLIC PROTECTIVE
MEASURES AND CONTINUE TO
RECEIVE STATE AND FEDERAL
RESOURCES, SHOULD WE NEED THEM.
>> WE KNOW THAT CORONAVIRUS IS
MOVING AND WE WILL LIKELY HAVE
POSSIBLE CASES IN THE NEAR
FUTURE.
I HAVE BEEN IN REGULAR
COMMUNICATION WITH SCHOOL
DISTRICTS.
I HAVE A STATEMENT TO READ ON
THEIR BEHALF.
NIAGARA
NIAGARA COUNTY HAS A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS RECOMMENDED
SCHOOLS BE CLOSED FOR STUDENTS
EFFECTIVE MONDAY, MARCH 15 AND
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
ALL SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED FOR
STUDENTS BEGINNING MARCH 16 AND
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
DISTRICTS WILL REASSESS
STUDENTS ATTENDANCE WEEKLY.
THEY WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION
ON STAFF ATTENDANCE, ACADEMICS
AND SCHOOL PERFORMANCE.
>> IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO
CLOSE COUNTY BUILDINGS AS WE
PROVIDE NECESSARY SERVICES TO
RESIDENTS.
WE ASK YOU USED COMMON SENSE
AND FOLLOW CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL AND PREVENTION
GUIDELINES WHEN YOU DECIDE
WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD COME
INTO THE OFFICE.
FOR YOUR HEALTH AND FOR THE
HEALTH OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
REMEMBER SERVICES CAN BE
COMPLETED BY A PHONE CALL OR
THROUGH MAIL AND WE ASK YOU TO
DO THAT WHEN POSSIBLE.
WE ALSO ASK YOU TO DO THAT IN
OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE.
TAKE PRECAUTIONS WHERE YOU CAN.
WHEN SHOPPING VISITING FRIENDS
AND FAMILY OR SEEKING
ENTERTAINMENT.
PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE WHEN
DECIDING IF YOU SHOULD BE GOING
OUT TO THOSE EVENTS ARE STAYING
AT HOME.
>> THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE
ORDER HAS PROHIBITED GATHERINGS
OF 500 OR MORE INDIVIDUALS AND
CUTS IN HALF
SEATING
SEATING CAPACITY IN MANY AREAS. LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS SHOULD BE
UNDERSTANDING AND FOLLOW THESE
NEW MANDATES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO INFORM AND
UPDATE YOU AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE
AND ASK FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
THIS SITUATION IS EVOLVING
RAPIDLY.
WE BELIEVE MR. STAPLETON WILL
KEEP US INFORMED.
I AM ASKING NOW FOR AN UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL OF YOU.
I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS VERY
BRIEF.
LET ME TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE.
WE HAVE NO POSITIVE CASES RIGHT
NOW.
WE HAVE 12 INDIVIDUALS
QUARANTINED IN THEIR HOMES.
SO FAR WE DO NOT HAVE A CASE IN
THE COUNTY.
WE ARE NOT WAITING FOR A
POSITIVE CASE TO DICTATE WHAT
WE DO.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SCIENCE
AND FACTS AND MAKING DECISIONS
BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH
EXPERTS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE ALL KNOW THERE IS NO
VACCINATION FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS FOR 12
TO 18 MONTHS.
AND ANTIVIRAL MAY BE AVAILABLE
IN FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU
CAN DO TO MAKE SURE YOU MITIGATE
THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS.
NON-PHARMACEUTICAL INTERVENTIONS
:THOSE ARE THINGS WE DO EVERY
DAY IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
YOU SHOULD DO IT AS WELL.
YOU DON'T NEED TO WAIT UNTIL
THERE IS AN OUTBREAK OF DISEASE
TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS.
WASH YOUR HANDS.
THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO PREVENT
SPREAD OF DISEASE WITH NO
VACCINE AVAILABLE IS TO WASH
HER HANDS.
ANOTHER THING YOU CAN DO IS
AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, FACE
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AT THE AVERAGE PERSON DOES THAT
90 TIMES A DAY.
WE NEED TO REDUCE THAT.
AVOID CONTACT WITH THOSE THAT
ARE SICK.
IF YOU ARE SICK, DON'T GO TO
WORK.
DON'T GO TO CHURCH.
DON'T GO TO PLACES YOU NORMALLY
GO DURING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THAT IS COMMON SENSE.
>> PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE.
IF YOU SNEEZE, SNEEZE INTO YOUR
ELBOW.
USE A TISSUE AND THROW IT AWAY
AFTER YOU USE IT.
CLEAN AND DISINFECT AREAS. IF
YOU GO TO WORK DON'T EXPECT
ANYONE ELSE TO CLEAN YOUR
PHONE.
DO THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO
DO TO REDUCE THE RISK TO YOU
AND THOSE THAT YOU LOVE.
ALSO IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS WHICH
ARE IDENTICAL TO THE SEASONAL
FLU, CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE
YOU GO TO THEIR OFFICE.
DO NOT GO THERE DIRECTLY.
IF YOU CAN'T GET A HOLD OF YOUR
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN THEN
CALL THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR
HOSPITAL BEFORE YOU GO THERE.
HERE ARE WHAT WERE GOING TO DO.
WE ARE GOING TO OPERATE AS IF
THE CORONAVIRUS IS ALREADY
HERE.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY POSITIVE
CASES.
WE DO THIS EVERY DAY.
COUNT ON YOUR LOCAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY ARE SAFE.
WE ARE NOT NEW TO THIS.
WE ARE ON TOP OF THIS.
THAT ME TURN IT OVER NOW TO THE
SHERIFF.
>> I HAVE A BRIEF UPDATE FROM
THE SHERIFFS OFFICE.
OUR PATROL FUNCTIONS AND 911
CENTER IS FULLY OPERATIONAL.
SECONDLY, WE HAVE ONE
RESTRICTION IN PLACE AT A
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
NO CONTACT VISIT THESE ARE
LOUD.
WE ENCOURAGE USE OF VIDEO
VISITATION. EFFECTIVE TUESDAY
WE WILL REDUCE PHONE SERVICES.
THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF
INMATES AND STAFF MUST TAKE
PRIORITY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T
END UP WITH SOMETHING IN THE
JAIL THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE.
WITH THE DECLARATION OF THE
EMERGENCY WE WILL PROVIDE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND WORK WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS TO ENSURE
THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS IN
THE COUNTY.
AS THE SITUATION PROGRESSES,
THERE WILL BE CONSTANT PLANNING
GOING ON.
THIS IS A FLUID SITUATION.
WE WILL UPDATE YOU AS BEST WE
CAN. I WILL BE IN CONSTANT
CONTACT WITH CHIEFS TO MAKE SURE
THERE IS A CONSISTENT LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE.
NOW I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
JONATHAN SCHULTZ.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A COUPLE OF UPDATES.
THE ONE KEY ELEMENT THAT HAS
COME OUT IS THE PARTNERSHIPS.
THAT IS BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE, PUBLIC HEALTH AND MANY
OTHER AGENCIES WORKING
TOGETHER.
WE ARE CROSSING COUNTY LINES
AND WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER
FOR OUR CITIZENS.
MORE AND MORE NEEDS ARE POPPING
UP THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH FIRST
RESPONDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF
YOU.
WE WILL WORK WITH DOCTORS
OFFICES, NURSING FACILITIES AND
SCHOOLS.
THE PLANS ARE IN PLACE AND IN
FULL EFFECT.
WE ARE AT LEVEL III.
WE ARE DOING A LOT OF
OPERATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH TO
FULFILL THEIR NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU.
A FEW MORE POINTS I WOULD LIKE
TO BRING UP.
WE GET QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS
QUITE A BIT.
BE CAREFUL ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA.
IT IS A GREAT WAY TO GET
INFORMATION FOR LIVE