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COVID advisories issued, schools adjust

Posted 12/3/20

SULLIVAN COUNTY -- Sullivan County Public Health Services recently confirmed that a patron at the Liberty Diner and an employee at Cellaio (in the Town of Thompson) tested positive for COVID-19.

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COVID advisories issued, schools adjust

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SULLIVAN COUNTY -- Sullivan County Public Health Services recently confirmed that a patron at the Liberty Diner and an employee at Cellaio (in the Town of Thompson) tested positive for COVID-19.

Public Health Services is advising anyone who was at Liberty Diner, located at 30 Sullivan Avenue in Liberty, from November 21 to November 25 from 7 to 8 a.m. that they may have been exposed to coronavirus.

“The restaurant has been and is following appropriate coronavirus protocols, including frequent sanitizing, distancing of tables, dividers between tables, and mask-wearing of staff as well as customers when entering and leaving the diner. However, due to the need to remove masks to consume food, it is possible that others may have been exposed,” said Public Health Director Nancy McGraw.

As for Cellaio, Public Health said there is currently no indication that the employee contracted the virus at the restaurant or impacted anyone else.

Public Health Services has determined that this individual was working at Cellaio, located at 888 Resorts World Drive in Monticello, during the following dates and times: November 26 between 1:50-9:50 p.m.; November 27 between 1:50-10 p.m.; and November 28 between 1:50 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.

“The restaurant closed on Monday and Tuesday, and a deep thorough cleaning was completed. Contact tracing was completed and known close contacts with other staff were identified and were placed on quarantine,” Sullivan County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw stated. “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.”

Representatives for the restaurant have confirmed that the employee followed all health and safety protocols while on property including wearing a mask at all times, and that the restaurant operates the highest commercially available air filtration system in the County, which greatly mitigates the chances of any public exposure.

“While COVID-19 safety protocols were followed, exposures can be unintentional,” McGraw noted. “This illustrates the critical fact that individuals can have no symptoms but still transmit the virus to others if they are infected.”

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.

SCHOOL COVID UPDATES

On Tuesday, the Liberty Central School District received additional guidance from Sullivan County Public Health Services in response to an Elementary School staff member testing positive for COVID-19 over the Thanksgiving recess.

The district has been advised by Public Health Services that contact tracing should begin Nov. 24, the last day the individual who tested positive was on school grounds. As a result of contact tracing, the district found that students from nine classrooms and two additional staff members may have been in close contact with the individual who tested positive for COVID-19.

Parents and guardians of those students have been contacted by a building principal, administrator, or school nurse. The students were sent home prepared to learn remotely and will quarantine for 14 days, as per Health Department guidelines.

The two staff members who were in contact with the individual who tested positive for COVID-19 have also begun a 14-day quarantine period.

The district believes the quarantined students and staff members will return to school Dec. 9, but that date will ultimately be determined by the Department of Health.

Contact tracers from Sullivan County Public Health Services will also reach out to people at risk for contracting the coronavirus and advise them of what steps to take.

Also, on November 27, the Monticello Central School District received word that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The individual was last at work on Wednesday, November 25, and became symptomatic that night. The district reported it to the New York State Department of Health and began gathering contact information.

The employee works in various schools but has limited interactions with students. The staff member does, however, meet intermittently with other and various employees.

For that and other reasons, all Monticello schools (including Project Excel) are closed to in-person instruction through December 11.

“We do not make this decision lightly,” said Monticello Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Evans. “ If we felt we could adequately provide for the health and safety of our students and staff, we would continue to keep our schools open for in-person instruction.”

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