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Many more COVID cases announced in Greene County

Oct 14, 2020 6:33 am
Greene County COVID-19 cases jumped from 47 on Oct. 9 to 95 on Oct. 13, after no reporting this weekend, according to a social media post by the Greene County Public Health Department. And 11.9 percent of the tests announced on Oct. 13 were positive, a number that is very high for anywhere in New York. The Greene County Public Health Department claimed this outbreak is not their fault. "Over 85 percent of our positive cases are located within Greene Correctional Facility, which is governed independently from Greene County Public Health," they wrote on social media. "Greene Correctional Facility made the decision to do a large-scale testing since the initial outbreak. In doing this, they found multiple positive cases inside the prison. Those in contact with the positive cases have been contact traced and required to quarantine, if necessary depending on interaction." This large jump in cases comes after recent announcements about cases in the Catskill and Greenville schools, and the Greene County Office Building in Catskill. Despite their recent case at their elementary school, Catskill schools announced they will begin in-person instruction Oct. 15. Ronel Cook, Catskill's Superintendent of Schools, said they would not be changing anything since the one COVID-19 case was announced last week. "I encourage you to check your child’s temperature at home before they come to school. Your cooperation with this screening and with our reopening plan is greatly appreciated and will help lead to a safer school environment," Cook wrote on the Catskill schools website. Columbia County, meanwhile, announced five new cases Oct. 13. And also on Oct. 13, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Ohio, Michigan, and Virginia have been added to New York's list of states where travelers are required to quarantine for two weeks when they come here. And the Times Union reported that dozens of Averill Park students, teachers, and staff must quarantine after a student at the Rensselaer County high school tested positive for COVID-19. And someone from Colonie Central High School in Albany has tested positive for COVID-19, the school district confirmed on Oct. 13.