According to the NYS Forward website, 345 tests were done in Greene County on October 12th and 41 of those tests were positive. This is a daily average number of 11.9%, which is much higher than our total average of 2.0%.
Over 85% of our positive cases are located within Greene Correctional Facility, which is governed independently from Greene County Public Health. Greene Correctional Facility made the decision to do a large-scale testing since the initial outbreak. In doing this, they found multiple positive cases inside the prison. Those in contact with the positive cases have been contact traced and required to quarantine, if necessary depending on interaction.
To be clear, Greene Correctional Facility is a NYS prison. Greene County does not own the prison or have jurisdiction over NYS prison operations.
As of the time of this release, the NYS prison population at Greene Correctional Facility has 88 positive cases, and has quarantined 200 inmates apart from its general population.
The Greene County Department of Public Health is monitoring, tracking and conducting contact tracing of county residents employed at the prison. County residents can make an appointment for Free Coronavirus Testing at the County Office Building at 411 Main Street, Catskill, NY. To schedule an appointment – Call 518-719-3600 and select Option 1.
County Officials continue to urge all residents to be diligent about protecting themselves and others from exposure to the virus – practice social distancing, hand washing and wear face coverings when in close contact with those outside the home.
For the most up-to-date, official information on Greene County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Follow our Department of Public Health on Facebook, and find links to information and resources on GreeneGovernment.com
