Urges Community Assistance in Containing Virus

FONDA—Montgomery County is experiencing a rapidly increasing number of positive Covid-19 test results. Despite their best efforts, the Public Health Department is having difficulty keeping up with the large volume of cases and has started to prioritize case investigation/ following up according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

“This is a time when we need to pull together as a community,” said Montgomery County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort. “It’s critical that we do not let our guard down and continue to use best practices such as wearing masks, hand-washing, social distancing and most importantly following the protocols outlined for quarantine and isolation.”

Ossenfort said to please be aware that individuals with a positive test result or all close contacts of a positive individual will not be contacted each day due to the high influx of calls. He said to please continue to isolate yourself when sick or awaiting test results and quarantine if you are a known contact of a Covid-19 positive case.

“Our nurses have been working tirelessly on nights, weekends and holidays to answer calls and assist the public during this pandemic,” said County Public Health Director Sara Boerenko.  “We are doing everything we can to keep up as the number of positive cases increase, but we ask that you please have patience and do your part to assist by limiting gatherings and by please staying home and continuing to isolate yourself when sick or awaiting test results.”

Officials will provide a Covid-19 update Friday at 10:30 a.m. via the Montgomery County Facebook page @MontgomeryCoNY.

If you are awaiting a Covid-19 test result or have a positive test and need to seek medical attention, please notify the healthcare facility of your test results prior to arriving.  If you are a contact of a positive and develop symptoms, contact your primary care provider for further guidance on testing. If you are a high-risk individual, contact your doctor even if you are experiencing mild symptoms.

Symptoms of Covid-19 include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue , muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste and or smell, sore throat, congestion or a runny nose, nausea vomiting and/ or diarrhea. Some positive individuals have no symptoms.

As always, residents can help protect themselves from COVID-19 with actions such as:

• wearing face covering when in public;
• washing their hands regularly with soap and water, spending 20 seconds thoroughly scrubbing hands;
• practicing social distancing by maintaining 6 feet between themselves and others; and
• Staying home when they are sick to rest, recover and help prevent the spread of virus and disease.