MONTICELLO — Effective yesterday, all visitors to the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello will be screened for COVID-19 exposure prior to conducting business in the building. Except for public meetings, all visits must be by appointment.

Office operations and legislature meetings will continue.

“This is a precautionary step,” explained County Manager Josh Potosek in a press release on Wednesday. “Sullivan County is seeing a steady increase in coronavirus cases, which I anticipate will continue and possibly accelerate during and after the holidays. We cannot afford to have this virus spread unchecked through our government facilities, so we're remaining vigilant.”

Anyone coming to the Government Center must be there for an office appointment, to buy Move Sullivan bus tickets, or to attend a meeting. No loitering will be allowed, and all visitors must wear masks and appropriately social distance, unless medical conditions require otherwise.

Please do not attempt to visit if you have a fever or otherwise do not feel well.

Upon arrival in an office or at a meeting, visitors will be asked a series of screening questions and will be required to provide their name and a phone number or email address by which they can be reached by Public Health in case of COVID-19 exposure. This information will be kept strictly confidential.

“Our other County facilities already operate in this manner or are closed to the public,” noted Potosek. “By taking this action, I hope to avoid repeating the kind of shutdown we experienced at the outbreak of this pandemic. We want to continue welcoming the public in as safe and convenient a manner as possible.”

Possible Exposures

Sullivan County Public Health Services reported on Wednesday evening that they had confirmed at least four COVID-19 cases at Peppino's Restaurant in Callicoon

Public Health is advising anyone who was at the restaurant, located at 31 Lower Main Street in Callicoon, during business hours on the following dates that they may have been exposed to coronavirus:

• November 14

• November 15

• November 16

• November 17

“Four employees have tested positive thus far, and we anticipate there will be more cases,” said Public Health Director Nancy McGraw. “If someone thinks they have been exposed and develops symptoms, they should self-quarantine for 14 days and call their healthcare provider, or call Sullivan County Public Health Services at 845-292-5910.”

Contact investigations are ongoing; anyone who tests positive will go into mandatory isolation, and as close contacts are identified, they are encouraged to seek a test and ordered into mandatory quarantine. For an updated list of testing locations, visit www.sullivanny.us.

The same day, Sullivan County Public Health Services also confirmed that a Rock Hill Dollar General employee tested positive for COVID-19 and may have exposed others while working.

Public Health Services is advising anyone who was at the Dollar General, 37 Glen Wild Road, Rock Hill on the following dates that they may have been exposed to coronavirus:

• November 15

• November 16

• November 17

• November 18

“Both employees and customers may have been exposed to COVID-19,” said McGraw.