Lack of testing remains challenge, Ryan says
County exec holds virtual town hall; count holds at 5 confirmed cases
KINGSTON, N.Y. » There were no new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Ulster County as of Sunday afternoon, County Executive Pat Ryan told more than 17,000 people who tuned in to an online town hall session.
In a phone interview with the Freeman afterward, Ryan said tests on three family members of a Port Ewen man who recently tested positive for the coronavirus turned up negative for the virus.
Ryan said all five Ulster County residents who have been confirmed with the virus been able to remain at home in quarantine and are doing as “well as expected.”
“The first case (in the town of Rochester), that gentleman has no symptoms and is recovering extremely well,” Ryan told the Freeman. “That’s very encouraging.”
During the online session, Ryan said that a lack of testing capability remains one of the biggest challenges in Ulster County. He emphasized the need to practice recommended hygiene and social distancing measures — washing hands frequently, keeping a six-foot distance from oth
ers, avoiding large gatherings and staying home if you feel ill.
He also laid out plans area school districts are considering to feed children who depend on school lunches during a period of at least two weeks while area schools are closed due to concerns over the spread of the virus.
Ryan told the Freeman that the county was expected to receive 250 coronavirus testing kits Sunday, far short of the 2,000 testing kits county officials requested.
“We still have a significant need,” Ryan said. Two thousand tests is only 1 percent of the population of the county.”
Ryan said the county has received numerous requests for testing, but he said officials will have to prioritize tests based on exposure criteria. Priority will be given to cases involving international travel, exposure to a confirmed case, and those with confirmed symptoms.
He said people with further questions should call the county’s COVID-19 hotline at (845) 443-8888. The hotline is open 9 a.m to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
Ryan told listeners in the town hall session that the numbers of cases are going up in New York state partly because of increased testing.
County Health Commissioner Dr. Carol Smith said part of problem is that the federal government has been slow to act. “There’s still a relative premium on
this test,” Smith said. She said that has forced health officials to reserve tests for those experiencing more severe symptoms.
After one Esopus resident expressed concerns about the recovery rate for the coronavirus, Smith said 80 percent of people who get the virus will experience mild to moderate symptoms, while 20 percent will have more severe symptoms. Smith said thousands of people have recovered significantly well from the coronavirus, and that each of the five patients diagnosed with the virus in Ulster County are recovering.
“We do expect them to have a full recovery,” Smith said. “The period of time can very a little bit; everyone has a different response to this condition or others. The average period would be about a week to 14 days before one feels substantially better.”
One caller said he had traveled in Asia for more than a month, tested positive in Thailand and was later flown to Seoul, South Korea, where he self-isolated for 14 days. He expressed frustration with the testing process.
The man told Ryan he was told by county officials when that he was “non-essential.” Ryan apologized to him.
“That’s unacceptable,” Ryan said. “We have to figure out what happened there.”
Ryan later told the Freeman that Smith and her team would follow up with the caller.
Ryan said the tests examine the RNA of the human body and detect the virus only if it’s active.
“Theoretically, it’s possible someone had it, then it wouldn’t show up in a test,” Ryan said. “We don’t know, we’re going to work to confirm that.”
Ryan said that though his decision last week to order schools closed in Ulster County will create hardships for parents and children alike, it was the right decision to keep everyone safe.
He said school districts are working to feed children who depend on free school breakfasts and lunches on weekdays, noting that was the number one worry of school officials when the decision to close schools was made.
“Many districts have nearly 70 percent of their students relying on breakfast and lunch in school,” Ryan said.
At least one area district will continue to prepare meals and use buses to deliver meals along contracted bus routes, he said. “Other districts are looking at other options,” he said.
He warned there will be some bumps along the road as districts prepare to get meals out to students at home.
“Every single school leader, superintendent, principal and teacher is committed to getting this to work,” he said.
He said anyone in need who’s not getting served should reach out to county officials.
Ryan said at least one area VFW post stepped in and made 50 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for those in need.
“Groups have stood up to fill in and help each other,”
Ryan said. “I think there’s an opportunity to see a real silver lining in our community.”
He said parents shouldn’t hesitate to call the county’s COVID-19 hotline for help or advice.
Ryan said his decision to close schools and suspend in-person county services at the county office building, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the departments of Social Services and Veterans Services for 14 days was based on the virus’ 14day incubation period.
He said Ulster County Area Transit buses will continue to run as an essential service, but noted that the county has stepped up disinfecting the buses and county buildings with EPAapproved disinfectants that have shown to be effective against these strains of viruses.
Within a week, he said, he expects to have significantly more information about how the virus is playing out, once the county is able to test more people. He said officials are also learning about the virus from other states.
But he cautioned that people need to be prepared for a somewhat prolonged disruption.
“I do think that’s a real possibility,” he said.
Even so, he told the Freeman, that does not mean running out to supermarkets, stores like Target and Walmart and pharmacies and picking the shelves clean of over-the-counter drugs, paper products and other items.
“We are communicating with retailers and grocery stores who are working hard
to backfill and do everything they can,” Ryan said. “People need to take a minute, and think not just about themselves but think about their neighbors and other members of the community.”
He urged people to get what they need and no more. “If everybody did that we’d be perfectly fine,” he said.
Ryan expressed frustration with a lack of cooperation among residents — and some restaurants and bars — when it comes to social distancing guidelines after multiple callers expressed similar concerns.
He said he has continued to see crowded or overcrowded bars across the county and people not trying to maintain a “six-foot bubble” around themselves to prevent the virus’ spread.
“We’re giving people guidance, to ask them to do the right thing,” Ryan said. “I’ve been concerned that a significant number of people not following those guidelines.”
Ryan said the guidelines have been issued by medical experts and he urges people to take them seriously.
If he continues to see a lack of cooperation, more stringent social distancing guidelines may be required, he said.
“That’s a major public health risk,” he said. “We’re hoping not to do that, but we’re prepared to if we need to.”
Ryan reiterated that a statewide executive order by Gov. Andrew Cuomo mandates that bars, restaurants and churches operate at 50 percent of capacity.
He said the order strongly discourages any gathering of
people indoors, and that a huge number of events have already been canceled.
“This is unfortunate, but necessary, given that we know how the virus is spread,” he said.
Several senior callers expressed concerns about selfquarantining to limit exposure, how to approach shopping and the possible spread of the virus on produce in the the grocery store.
Smith said health officials do recommend that seniors stay home if possible to limit exposure. While the chances of transmission of the virus through produce are very low, she said it is a good idea to rinse all produce.
She said she personally rinses produce with water and a bit of vinegar.
Ryan later said he was “blown away” by the number of people who called or tuned in to sunday’s session on Facebook Live.
“This shows people are wanting and need good, straight information,” he said. “When people are informed, everyone is safer and healthier.”
He also cautioned residents not to get too “sucked in” to television news reports that can make everything feel dark and hopeless.
“It’s a healthy habit not to get sucked in to that — just check once in a while,” he said. “We’re not hearing about all of the positive stories in terms of people recovering.”
Elsewhere, Dutchess County had seven confirmed positive cases as of Sunday, while Orange County had six, Greene County had two, and Delaware County had one.