Erie County Update: April 28, 2020
Two new cases reported in Erie County, while the Department of Health's Melissa Lyon joined
There were two new positive cases of COVID-19 reported in Erie County. One patient is in their 40s, while one is under the age of five (the second patient in this age bracket), Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper noted. This brings the area to a total of 84 cumulative positive cases and 1,770 negatives. There have been 56 recovered cases to date for a total of 28 active cases. There have been two deaths in Erie County due to COVID-19.
Crawford County stands at 19 positive cases (no change since Friday), while McKean County remains at five (no change since April 21), and Warren County at one (no change since April 3). Chautauqua County still currently has 31 cases and three deaths. Ashtabula County now has 110 cases and 11 deaths (no change since yesterday).
Dahlkemper referenced Karen Tobin's (Director of Environmental Health Services at Erie County Department of Health) report of compliance rates around the county. On Saturday, the was a recorded 95.5% compliance in Erie County's five zones, with an 84.3% rate within the City of Erie. Yesterday, data gathered from Health Department inspectors saw that rate slip further to 62.3% in zone one, and 91% overall.
Melissa Lyon, director of Erie County Department of Health, joined Dahlkemper via Zoom. She reiterated the importance of masks and social distancing. She also outlined the relationship between those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and the Health Department, as their team makes phone calls to the positives and identifies their contacts, who they will also reach out to, asking them to quarantine for 14 days.
PA Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine announced today that the state would announce which counties would proceed to the Yellow phase on Friday, May 1. It is still uncertain whether Erie County will be one of these counties, though it is presumed likely – with both Dahlkemper and Lyon hesitantly noting that it was a possibility. Under the Yellow phase, some restrictions, such as the stay-at-home order, would be eased.
