The Peru Gazette

Courtney Tetrault is Superintendent of Peru’s Water and Sewer Department which delivers water to hundreds of users in Peru. This morning the Peru Gazette asked Tetrault what measures the department has taken to ensure its services function during the Coronavirus crisis. He explained, “We discussed this at the last Town Board meeting. We’ve split our personnel into two crews. I’m working with Dan Gonyea. Chad Frechette is working with Chris Malin. We are working 3 days on, 3 days off.” The two-crew setup means that a licensed water system operator is always on duty and COVID-19 personal separation is being maintained as much as possible.

The chance of a positive Coronavirus infection severely impacting the Water-Sewer Department and Peru residents has been reduced, although not eliminated.

“Right now, we must prioritize the safety of all New Yorkers. We need to limit the movement of people from New York City and surrounding hot spots. We need to flatten the curve and infection rate, so we can keep as many people safe as possible.

“I understand that New York City is rapidly reaching the apex of its struggle with coronavirus and that they are in desperate need of resources. But the Governor’s approach to transferring patients upstate and not limit travel from downstate is likely to cause a peak infection rate up here at the same time. If both New York City and the rest of the state are overrun at the same time, our state may not be able to adequately ensure the safety of all of our citizens.

“Our ventilators and protection equipment must remain here with us for when North Country and upstate hospitals need to use them to care for our residents. Our hospitals already possess precious few ventilators and PPE, and we are going to need all of them to care for our vulnerable population. We can’t have these vital resources taken from us AND be expected to care for a deluge of downstate patients, as well as our own.

“In this time of a statewide and national crisis, you just can’t send COVID-19 patients north and ship our medical resources south.”

Today I want to share with you a crucial message, a message consistent with what our government leaders are telling us: The most challenging days of this pandemic still lie ahead of us. That’s a hard thing to hear after weeks of anxiety and disruption. But it’s absolutely critical that we don’t become complacent in the coming days and weeks. Our hospitals, providers and state leaders have been planning diligently for an expected surge in COVID-19 patients. We’ve added bed capacity, canceled non-essential medical procedures, transitioned to telehealth when possible and stood up alternative COVID-19 testing sites. We’re working with the states to confront this coming surge by collaborating on setting up alternative care sites and participating in all medical planning activities. But the actions that each and every one of us take today can decrease the surge’s expected numbers and ease the burden on our health care workers. So I’m asking our communities to please double down on the key tactics for combating this pandemic: Stay at home; practice social distancing if you have to go out; wash your hands properly and often; and avoid touching your face.

It’s up to all of us to make sure the devastating, worst-case scenarios of some COVID-19 models don’t come to pass. I want to emphasize the need to stay informed and focused on the work that lies ahead. We can all play a role in slowing the spread of this virus. Continuing to take even the simplest precautionary steps – leaving home only for absolutely essential trips, or keeping at least six feet away from your neighbor when you’re out for a walk – will have an exponential impact on the health and safety of our families, friends and communities.

Thank you for your continued efforts and your partnership in confronting this pandemic.

For more information on COVID-19 and the steps UVM Health Network is taking to address it, please see our updated website.

Sincerely,

John

John R. Brumsted, MD
President and CEO, The University of Vermont Health Network