All of Dutchess County has coronavirus

DUTCHESS COUNTY — “I was on the phone with County Executive Marc Molinaro earlier this afternoon, and he confirmed what had been rumored, which is that cases of COVID-19 coronavirus have been identified in every municipality in Dutchess County, including ours,” emailed North East town Supervisor Chris Kennan Tuesday morning, March 24. “And that New York state is the epicenter of the virus in the U.S. This just reinforces that we can and must help ‘flatten the curve’ of COVID-19 infection by staying home and following county and state guidance.”

In fact, a case of COVID-19 just surfaced in Pine Plains, when an emergency department nurse in a level 2 trauma center at an area hospital was “unknowingly exposed” this month. Scott Peters posted about his experience on the Town of Pine Plains Facebook page March 22 and spoke to The Millerton News this Tuesday.

“I understand people are afraid and they didn’t know how to respond, which is why I took it upon myself to post that it was indeed me and to educate people that it was me and I was taking the proper quarantine precautions and not to be afraid,” Peters said. “I’m a lucky one, I guess. I guess I’m the first one.”

Peters said though ill, he was basically OK.

“I would take this over the flu anytime because it was nothing, it was absolutely nothing,” he said, while warning others to take precautions. “If you can, wear a mask. I feel, it’s nothing to be afraid of. I think the flu is worse, but the problem is people are afraid and I think they need to be educated on it… It’s mostly harmful to the elderly population and people who have breathing problems, but I’m sure it produces different symptoms in different people. I can tell mine was very mild. I did not leave my house for two weeks, but I didn’t want to put the community in trouble.”

The Pine Plains Town Hall Facebook posted the following:

“Pine Plains is a community of people who most often work in service to others. We find ourselves on the front lines of storms and epidemics. Fear drives hysterical assumptions and accusations. Take a few deep breaths…”

As of Monday, March 23, the state Department of Health identified 100 cases of COVID-19 in Dutchess County and 20,875 in New York.

Now those who suspect they have the virus can get tested in Dutchess County, where a COVID-19 drive-through collection site opened on Monday, March 23, at the Intermodal Center at Dutchess Stadium, located on Route 9D in Fishkill.

Nuvance Health announced the opening of the Dutchess drive-through collection site, and another in Kingston, in cooperation with Dutchess and Ulster Counties this week.

Nuvance stressed the collection sites are only for people who have called their doctor’s office and had a consultation; who have meet the criteria for COVID-19 and been pre-screened; and who have a scheduled appointment. The collections sites will be open Mondays through Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but hours are subject to change.

Nuvance Health said it may take up to six days to get results from one’s doctor. For details, go to www.Nuvancehealth.org/NYCollectionSites.