MONTICELLO – As of late Friday afternoon, Sullivan County had no confirmed cases of the coronavirus and county officials want to keep it that way.
County Manager Joshua Potosek declared a state of emergency and initiated measures “to preserve service delivery and health and welfare.”
Effective, Monday, March 16, county government offices will be staffed as lightly as possible, some with only one employee, so as to minimize the chances of COVID-19 exposure and transmission.
Certain facilities like the Care Center and DMV will continue to be fully staffed in order to provide necessary services to the public.
Potosek said the majority of county employees will continue to work during normal hours, but as provisions have been made to give them access to their digital workspaces from home.
Except for families of loved ones receiving end-of-life care, visitation to the Care Center at Sunset Lake in Liberty is suspended indefinitely. That is to protect the county’s most vulnerable residents from the virus, which can be lethal for older adults.
“My own wife is a resident of the Care Center, so this news was devastating to me,” said County Legislator Luis Alvarez. “But I understand why it is being done, and like many other families, I am enduring this very painful sacrifice for the welfare of those we care for at the center.”
All county-served senior nutrition sites have been closed indefinitely in order to limit potential exposure to senior citizens, who are most at risk from coronavirus. Meals on Wheels delivers will continue; however, and officials are working on further efforts to meet the nutritional needs of residents.
https://www.facebook.com/sullivancountygov/videos/217403296124506/
