Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus announced on Sun., Mar. 15 that as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, he has extended the State of Emergency for Orange County for 30 days from Mar. 15. As of Sunday, Orange County now has seven positive COVID-19 cases.
“By extending the State of Emergency, we are taking important protective actions to help to secure the health and safety of the general public,” Neuhaus said. “I urge the public to follow all guidance from the Orange County Health Department, to remain calm and to stay tuned for important information.”
Under State law, upon declaring a State of Emergency, the County Executive is authorized to make various Orders. Orders initiated by Neuhaus include the following directives:
- All school classroom and extracurricular activities (public and private) in Orange County are ordered closed through Mar. 27.
- All nursing homes and long-term care centers are closed to visitors, except for those families dealing with end of life.
- All meetings and activities for people over 60 years of age will be restricted, canceled or postponed.
- Emergency purchasing power for key responding County departments.
Orange County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman advised that the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 continues to be to practice basic, common-sense personal hygiene. This includes washing your hands frequently and thoroughly, refraining from touching your face and avoiding unnecessary contact with others. Should you feel ill, it is imperative to contact your healthcare provider first.
Do not go directly to the doctor’s office, an emergency room or other healthcare facilities. These simple steps will help prevent the spread of the virus and protect you and your loved ones, as well as the critical healthcare workers.
If you are an Orange County resident and have recently traveled outside the U.S. and have questions regarding COVID-19, please contact the Orange County Department of Health at 845-291-2330. If you feel you are experiencing symptoms, call your medical provider immediately. Due to the high volume of calls, we encourage residents who have basic questions to visit the Orange County Health Department’s webpage at www.orangecountygov.com/health.
For general questions, the public may also contact the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) 2019 Novel Coronavirus hotline at 1-888-364-3065 to speak with an expert who will answer questions. This is open 24 hours a day.
