MONEYSAVER APRIL 07, 2020
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NEWS
By JOELLEN WANKEL Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital Thursday shared information related to local cases of COVID-19. According to hospital officials, OGH has one patient who tested positive for COVID-19 and three patients under investigation, while BRMC does not have any positive cases. However, BRMC does have one patient under investigation. Officials noted that the Cattaraugus County Department of Health confirmed seven positive COVID-19 cases, while the McKean County Department of Health continues to report one positive case. “The lack of testing kits throughout the U.S. continues to be an issue and therefore, the lack of confirmed cases probably isn’t a true measure of COVID-19 activity in our communities. Therefore, it is important for our patients and residents to practice social distancing, staying home unless necessary, practicing good hand hygiene, etc., to prevent the spread of this virus,” said William Mills, MD, senior vice president, quality and medical affairs, UAHS.
UAHS officials share information, reminders to stay safe
Response Funds. Officials explain that donations to this fund will be used to directly support front line staff as they face this pandemic. Funds raised will stay with each respective hospital. For more information, or to make a donation, contact the BH Foundation, 814/3623200,www.brmc.com/ foundation, or the OGH Foundation, 716/3757445, www.ogh.org/ foundation. Finally, officials issued a reminder that the New York and Pennsylvania governors have issued business and school closings in an effort to keep people at home. According to hospital staff, this really is an Temporary tents were placed outside the emergency departments at Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital on Tuesday. The tents will be used to assist in “quick triage” for patients to the emer- important step to help slow the spread of gency departments. the illness. Medical A new shipment telemedicine telemedicine. Please making homemade face staff are working of masks arrived this The hospitals’ contact your provider for masks and donating tirelessly to prepare week, allowing officials practices at Foothills more information. PPE, people have had and care for patients. to move forward with Medical Group, Omega “Offering this food delivered from Taking preventative implementing universal Family Medicine and alternate way to see your area restaurants to our measures are vital to masking among all Bradford Regional provider is our response front line staff and local help healthcare facilities BRMC and OGH staff. Medical Services to support social companies are producing manage patient care “We moved to are offering phone distancing,” Jeff Zewe, face shields on 3-D during this pandemic. universal masking to and telemedicine president, chief executive printers. While these protect our healthcare appointments to patients officer, UAHS, said. In addition, Intandem restrictions can be workers from exposure who prefer to stay home Positive interaction donated 1,000 square emotionally and to infected patients who during the pandemic. during the pandemic feet of storage space financially frustrating but may be asymptomatic Patients interested in an Officials noted for the hospital to store it’s important for area or have not yet tested alternative appointment the community has supplies or equipment. residents to do their part positive, as well as to should contact their shown both hospitals The Bradford Hospital to keep yourself, your protect patients and staff primary care provider. a lot of love and Foundation and Olean family, your friends, and from others,” Dr. Mills Please note that not kindness through this General Hospital your neighbors safe and said. all appointments can pandemic. As previously Foundation have healthy, according to Communication via be done via phone/ mentioned, groups are established COVID-19 UAHS officials.
McKean County Jail inmates, Health official: More infection in staff healthy at this time rural Pa. than stats show By MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER
While McKean County is listed by the state health department as having only one positive case of COVID-19, a state official said Thursday that they know more cases are present. “We think the accuracy of our testing is very good, but there is community spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Rachel Levine, the state’s health commissioner. “We know the true number of cases are far Staff and inmates at the McKean County Jail are staying healthy at this time, said above our case count. McKean County Sheriff Dan Woods on Wednesday. We are taking that into consideration.” There has been only By JOELLEN inmates in correctional jail has been suspended. limited testing in the area, WANKEL facilities has led to “Visitation is really and officials with Upper concerns about how fast suspended until further Allegheny Health System SMETHPORT — The illness can spread in notice. I can’t predict a have said they believe McKean County Jail is other, harder hit areas. date, it is suspended until there are more cases than weathering the storm of While other facilities it is safe and appropriate tests have confirmed. the current pandemic, have opted to release to (lift the suspension),” An erroneous report using a “business as inmates due to concerns Woods said. Thursday of 26 cases and usual” approach to daily about the pandemic, In a note related to one death in Cameron operation and handling Woods said that all matters handled by the County had some locals concerns related to the releases from the jail are sheriff’s office, Woods worried, but Cameron spread of COVID-19 through the judge and by explained that the State County Coroner Ted when necessary. court order. There is no of Pennsylvania has Walters confirmed to According to Sheriff current policy for the jail granted an extension The Era Thursday night Dan Woods, both staff to release inmates due to for pistol permits that that the information was and inmates are healthy COVID-19 concerns. expired March 19 or inaccurate. at this time. As with many other later. The permits will “No, we have one case “We have no issues, no facilities where the remain valid until May and no deaths,” Walters cases at the jail,” Woods individuals are at a 30. At that time, they said. He admits to noted. higher risk if exposure may be re-evaluated if considerable alarm when The close proximity of occurs, visitation to the circumstances dictate. his wife told him of the
TNS Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, who issued a statewide stay at home order Wednesday, is shown with state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine.
state health department’s error. “If you look right below us on the list (of counties with positive cases) you’ll see Carbon County. It’s them, not us.” On Thursday, Cameron and McKean counties each had one case, and Potter County had two. Levine said the rural areas aren’t expected to be as hard hit by the virus, as the population density is less than in areas like Philadelphia. “A lesson here is the importance of social distancing,” she said, reiterating what has become her mantra at daily briefings: “Stay calm, stay home and stay safe.” When asked if the Department of Health would break down the positive cases per
municipality rather than county, Levine said no. “I know that people would like to know, but we’re asking people to stay home,” she said. So it doesn’t matter what municipality someone is in if everyone is following the rules. “That individual will be at home. The best thing you can do is please stay home.” She answered several questions about an anticipated surge in the number of positive cases statewide, explaining that it isn’t possible to know exactly when the surge may hit. “As Dr. Fauci has said the virus will determine the timetable,” Levine said, referring to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National See RURAL on page 2....