Molinaro urges residents to ‘stay the course’ to slow COVID-19

DUTCHESS COUNTY — In addition to keeping residents informed as to where the county stands amid the advancing coronavirus health crisis and answering their questions, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro urged everyone to take the proper precautions to reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19, during his second county-wide Telephone Town Hall on Thursday, April 2.

Since Molinaro’s first Telephone Town Hall on Wednesday, March 18, the county has gone to great lengths to keep its communities connected and offer support to those struggling during the pandemic. Such efforts include establishing the online portal Dutchess Responds (see article, online), creating emergency shelters and additional care facilities and launching the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

The COVID-19 Data Dashboard was introduced on Tuesday, March 31, by the county executive. The service is now available online, at www.DutchessNy.gov/CovidDashboard, “with multiple data points including current positive COVID-19 case confirmations, mapped by municipality,” according to Molinaro’s office. It provides data on testing, hospitalizations, deaths and recoveries, as well as call volume.

“With testing substantially expanded here in Dutchess County, we have quantitative, reliable data presented in a way that  is clear and easy-to-access for the public,” stated Molinaro. “This localized data helps our public health and emergency response personnel, municipal partners, businesses and residents fully understand the scope of this virus’ growing impact on our community.”

And there have been more cases of COVID-19 reported in the region along with nine deaths in Dutchess County as of noon on Tuesday, April 7.

Molinaro’s recent Telephone Town Hall was live streamed on the Dutchess County Government Facebook page.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., Molinaro gave an update on how the county is dealing with COVID-19, highlighting its work to identify more county residents infected with the respiratory illness. In terms of reaching the apex, Molinaro said the timeline might vary: in New York City, he said, the peak could very well be two to three weeks away while for Dutchess County, it could be anywhere between two to four weeks away.

In terms of how the county can “flatten the curve” and prevent the outbreak from affecting too many people, Molinaro said the county will continue to “do the things we said we ought to do,” such as banning large gatherings, closing schools, limiting travel and asking people to stay at home and practice social distancing.

“At the end of the day, that is the message: stay home,” he said, “Stay home and weather this crisis as best we can and slow the transmission from person to person, and in doing that, we will flatten that curve.”

He stressed the need to limit social interaction.

“The more we do to stay home and slow that transmission, the quicker we will reach the apex and the fewer lives that will be impacted,” Molinaro said. “The message we have overall is to stay the course, stay home and limit your travel as best you can.”

On Friday, April 3, Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY 19) also held his second Telephone Town Hall to answer questions from his constituents pertaining to COVID-19. According to his website, www.delgado.house.gov, “Rep. Delgado will hold telephone town halls every week during the coronavirus health emergency to hear from the community, answer questions, and connect folks with resources and local experts.”

Delgado held two telephone town halls already, on March 20 and March 27. For an audio file of the telephone town hall meetings, go to the congressman’s website.

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