The Peru Gazette

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Are Your Neighbors in Need?

Avoid Risks Associated with Distancing Requirements

A man in his 40’s per Mayor Read

Source: Second COVID-19 death in Clinton County | Coronavirus | pressrepublican.com

Source: How to Make a CDC-Approved Cloth Face Mask (and Rules to Follow) | WIRED

Message received from Tracy Ebersole

TODAY!! The Easter Bunny is coming to Town… at 5pm leaving Peru School Playground, left towards the Gazebo then left towards Stewart’s ending at St Augustines. Please, please practice social distancing and if you can’t please stay in your vehicle. We want everyone safe and the kids to be able to see the Easter Bunny.

Source: IRS extends more tax filing deadlines – The Washington Post

4-11-20 Clinton County Health Department COVID-19 Case Update

Plattsburgh, April 11, 2020. “Today we mourn the death of a second Clinton County resident due to complications of the COVID-19 virus, stated John Kanoza, Director of Public Health for Clinton County. This is an extremely difficult time for the family and friends of both individuals and a very sad time for our entire community. We have known from the start that COVID-19 can be deadly. It’s only human to hold on to hope that such a terrible consequence might pass us by, but today we know otherwise.”

On Friday, CVPH Medical Center reported the first COVID-19 death in Clinton County as that of an 80-year-old woman, who entered the hospital on April 2nd. On Saturday, a second COVID-19 patient passed away.

As the first news of a possible worldwide pandemic began to appear, Clinton County leadership and departments, our hospital and health care providers, school systems, businesses, not-for-profit organizations and other entities pulled out previously developed emergency plans, checked that they were up-to-date, and readied themselves for implementation. Now several months in, these organizations are continually working together under a Unified Command System to respond to new cases of the virus and to meet the needs of residents who are in isolation or quarantine, along with the needs of individuals who are staying at home to help slow the spread.

On Thursday night, the Clinton County Health Department (CCHD), with the support of the Unified Command leadership for Clinton County’s response to COVID-19, employed an up-until-now unused strategy to control the spread of COVID-19 in an apartment building in the City of Plattsburgh. A building-wide legal quarantine was issued at the Russell Barnard Apartments on Flynn Avenue after the number of confirmed cases among residents rose to four along with an additional suspect case.

With the detection of this possible hot spot, CCHD notified the incident commanders of the County’s Incident Management Team and sought approval for plan of action. Critical partners, including City of Plattsburgh government, City police, City fire, County Sheriff, and EMS responders along with the building operator, Plattsburgh Housing Authority, were included in a coordinated effort to notify residents and assess immediate needs. Follow-up among partners and with building residents has been on-going. Eric Day, Director of Clinton County’s Office of Emergency Services noted, “Our goal in an incident such as this is to be nimble and responsive.”

Clinton County Legislative Chairperson, Mark Henry commented, “Thursday’s actions illustrate the importance of the County’s emergency decision and planning process. Clinton County agencies are overseeing and coordinating the response to the quarantine order at the Russell Barnard building. The Clinton County Department of Social Services (DSS), and Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) are working with building operator Plattsburgh Housing Authority and partner organizations JCEO and United Way to ensure that affected residents will receive the critical support they need during this difficult time for them and their families.”

In regard to the two members of our community lost to COVID-19, Mr. Kanoza stated, “Even with our best efforts, we have learned that COVID-19 has its own plan. However, one strategy that has proven to be particularly effective in slowing the spread of this virus is staying at home and distancing ourselves from each other”. Over the last week Clinton County statistics indicate what might be a “flattening of the curve,” a phrase used to describe the slowing of new cases of the virus. According to Mr. Kanoza, “This shows that social distancing works. We implore all residents to remain steadfast and to continue these efforts for a bit longer.”

CCHD issued these numbers regarding the number of COVID-19 cases in Clinton County for Saturday April 11, 2020. There have been 363 tests performed resulting in 43 lab confirmed cases, 28 of whom have recovered. There have been 2 deaths.

“This is a notice that I have not been looking forward to but I have decided not to reopen the Ground Round Grill and Bar in Plattsburgh. My family has been operating restaurants in Northern NY and Vermont since 1956. After serving in the Navy from 1968 to 1972 I joined my father in the hospitality business.
With none of my three children interested in the business I hired Julie Kramer who eventually became the COO/CFO and vice President of Nine Platt Corp 18 years ago. One year ago I decided that it was time for me to retire and start the process of selling or leasing the Ground Round building. I advised the staff that at some point the building would change ownership but that I wanted it to be controlled and properly operated. I knew this would take time and we did not have a buyer or a tenant at that point. The unexpected turn of events with Covid-19 virus we were forced to close the restaurant. We took this as an opportunity to do some deferred maintenance which is nearly competed but we also had to lay off our entire workforce. Our vacation policies were followed and we assisted the staff in the completion of unemployment claims.
This was difficult but necessary and knowing that I, as well as the staff, would go through this again I decided last Monday April 6 that we would not reopen.
Nine Platt Corp will continue operating the Best Western Plus Plattsburgh and we will meet our obligations to staff, vendors, service technicians and customers. We are working out details of any gift cards that have not been redeemed with either the 99 restaurant, or our hotel. Details of that will be released in the near future.
Julie and I thank you for your patronage, friendship and we are very proud of the work our staff has done to provide excellent food, service and accommodations …………..and to be nice to people.”

Sincerely,
Robert Smith
Owner

By John T. Ryan

Peru – An elderly Peru couple is in good hands thanks to a concerned school bus driver, Supervisor Brandy McDonald and others. Last Tuesday a Peru School bus was delivering food to children in a local trailer park. When she stopped at one residence an elderly lady approached the school bus and asked for help saying that she and her husband hadn’t had food in three days. Knowing that McDonald responds to people in need the driver called asking for help. Brandy quickly reacted. He explained, “I don’t think the lady understood how to reach out to people. The husband was in a wheel chair. Their caregiver was sick in the hospital. They were alone. They didn’t know what medicines they were taking. When I asked her what food they needed, she responded ‘anything.’”

Correction made in paragraph #1. The school bus driver was a.female, not a male.

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Source: Scott extends ‘stay home, stay safe’ order through May 15 – VTDigger

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