Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said Tuesday he was glad to see only two new cases of COVID-19 reported locally. “I can’t remember when we only had two,” he said.

A day later, the numbers were even better.

On Wednesday, the county Health Department announced only one new case — part of a prolonged pattern of fewer new cases, active cases, those in the hospital and in quarantine.

To date there have been 9,285 confirmed cases, 9,120 recoveries and 157 virus-related deaths. There are currently eight active cases, two people in the hospital with the virus and 36 in quarantine.

COUNTY SEEKS RESULTS FROM AT-HOME TESTS

COVID-19 testing options have expanded over the past several months, including increased availability of several at-home kits.

The Chautauqua County Health Department is requesting that residents report any positive test results from at-home tests to the department by phone (1-866-604-6789) or email (cchealth@chqgov.com).

When an individual tests positive for COVID-19 in a clinical setting, the result is automatically reported to the local Health Department. The positive result triggers the local Health Department to conduct a disease investigation (interview) and conduct contact tracing. Isolation orders are issued, which can be provided to an employer or other official setting as proof of a prior positive result.

Some at-home COVID-19 tests are supervised by a lab or medical professional, usually via video chat, and results are either mailed to a lab for processing, or processed at home. If the test syncs to an app or is sent out to a lab, these results are automatically reported (e.g. Ellume, Lucira, Cue, Binax Now with NAVICA app).

Other at-home antigen tests, such as the Binax NOW Self Test, are simple and affordable, but do not include a mechanism to report results into the state’s electronic database.

Proof of a prior COVID-19 infection and recovery within the last 90 days is an acceptable form of proof to grant entry into some public events and other settings (e.g. overnight camps) in lieu of proof of full vaccination status or a negative test within an appropriate timeframe. Additionally, prior positives within 90 days can avoid quarantine when exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case. However, the positive test showing prior infection must be documented in the New York State Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System in order to count for these purposes.

COVID-19 case numbers are declining fast, but it is very important to maintain surveillance of this disease so that our community can act quickly to prevent further spread of disease.

COVID-19 vaccines are widely available in Chautauqua County. These vaccines are safe and highly effective in preventing severe disease and death due to COVID-19. The Chautauqua County Health Department urges all individuals ages 12 and up to get vaccinated. If you have concerns about the vaccine, contact your primary care provider with your individual needs. Visit chqgov.com/public-health/covid-19-vaccination-clinics to find local vaccination opportunities.