Erie County Update: May 13, 2020
One new case reported as local businesses reminded to follow safety protocol
Kathy Dahlkemper welcomed the "absolutely beautiful Erie County day," reporting that there was one new positive case of COVID-19. The individual is in their 40s, and is located in Zone one (the City of Erie).
This brings the cumulative number of positive cases to 123, with 2,797 negatives (up 63) . There have been 100 recoveries for a total of 23 active cases (two less than yesterday). To date, there have been two deaths of Erie County residents due to COVID-19.
Some of the breakdowns, per the lab-confirmed cases, show the following:
Sex
45% male
55% female
Race
74% Caucasian/White (because of the NEDS classification within this category, 18% of this group are Hispanic/Latinx)
20% African-American/Black
3% Asian
2% Multi-racial
1% Unknown
In the surrounding areas, Crawford County stands at 21 positive cases (no change since Monday), while McKean County remains at eight cases, with one death announced Tuesday. Venango County has seven positive cases. Warren County now has two cases – in its first new case since April 3.
Chautauqua County is at 44 cases (up one) and four deaths. Ashtabula County has 199 cases (up six) and 24 deaths (up five).
The county's environmental task force wished to remind all opened businesses that it is mandatory to sign the safety procedures poster, posted where visible. This document can be downloaded and printed from the county's COVID-19 – Business Resources page online. Included in those procedures is the mandated appointment of a "Pandemic Safety Officer" to respond to employee and subcontractor questions concerning those requirements. State government has also translated the document into Nepali, Arabic, Mandarin, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Swahili, and Russian.
Dahlkemper acknowledged one particular "model business" of the day, who is adhering to social distancing guidelines impressively: Nickel Plate Mills on Parade Street.
The Erie County Department of Health recently began a program to distribute informational door-hangers on where to go for up-to-date information on COVID-19, reopening info, and more. Neighborhood organizations and community leaders will go door-to-door in high-need communities to place these.
