Liberty, NY – Sullivan County Health & Family Services Commissioner Stephanie Brown announced today that 41 new cases of COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus) have been confirmed at the County-owned and operated Care Center at Sunset Lake in Liberty. These are in addition to six previously announced cases.
“This is reflective of the increasing cases in Sullivan County and throughout New York, particularly at nursing care facilities,” Brown stated. “We continue to do everything we can to stop further spread, which is why visitation, admissions and face-to-face medical appointments have all been halted to the Care Center for the past month.”
“Thirty-three residents and eight staff members at our nursing home tested positive this week for the virus,” said Public Health Director Nancy McGraw. “The employees have been self-isolating since receiving their results, and the residents have been moved into an isolation ward at the Care Center. Administration and Public Health continue to monitor the situation closely in collaboration with the NYS Department of Health.”
Family members of the infected and exposed have been notified. If an individual responsible for a loved one in the Care Center has not been given a call or email, their relative has not been exposed.
Due to the loss of staff due to mandatory isolation, the County is bringing in and training SUNY Sullivan nursing students to provide appropriate care as nursing assistants.
For more information on the virus and local updates, visit www.sullivanny.us/departments/publichealth/coronavirus.