Town’s response to Covid-19 crisis

[Lee Chowaniec]

At Monday evening’s town board meeting, in his official report Supervisor Ronald Ruffino declared his ‘loaf of bread statement’ was taken out of context. His point was using an analogy to describe the seriousness of Covid-19 and steps the town would use to combat the spread of the virus in Lancaster.

He also announced recent national, state and county statistics regard confirmed cases and deaths. He only provided information on the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Lancaster – 95.

At the public comment session, I asked Supervisor Ruffino on whether there were any incidents where citations were issued to individuals violating the ‘gatherings’ mandate he had proposed at the last board meeting. He reported: “None that I know of.” Code Enforcement Officer Matt Fischione reported three incidents where contractors were contacted and the situation was remedied, No police report was given despite the fact that Ruffino focused on the police departments support in cracking down on ‘gathering’ violators,

When asked whether the town would be enforcing the newly mandated wearing of face masks, Ruffino declared he didn’t know how to answer yet as the mandate just went into effect. We both agreed on the importance of wearing face coverings in confined locations. Wegmans and Tops stated they would continue to serve customers not wearing masks.

When asked for specifics regarding the reported 95 Lancaster confirmed Covid-19 cases, Ruffino declared that the county would not provide any other information to the town except the number of confirmed cases. He stated that Emergency Management Coordinator Ron Rozler had been trying to get more details but was rebuffed by the Erie County Health Department.

Rozler remarked that the county would not release information other than numbers of individuals testing positive to ensure personal privacy. HIPA regulations were also mentioned as reasons for information denial. Rozler added that the town only found out about the nine nursing facility deaths through a recent Buffalo News report.

I stated my disappointment in not getting specifics and declared that Lancaster residents had a right and a need for such information to determine how impacted the town is by the virus and its severity in order to make good decisions on taking risks leaving their homes for what they consider ‘essential’ reasons.

How safe is my town? Of those 95 confirmed cases (and we know there have been many more untested cases):

• How many deaths – other than the nine from the nursing facility

• How many hospitalizations

• How many in ICU – on ventilators

• Are the 46 confirmed nursing home cases included in the 95 total

The town and its residents have a right to this information. The town should demand this information and post it on its website.

As in the county, Lancaster’s confirmed Covid-19 case numbers are trending upward. What is the significance of the increase? How safe am I conducting business in Lancaster and what precautionary best practices should I be following? What is going on in my town?

[mark blazejewski]

At Monday evening’s town board meeting, in his official report Supervisor Ronald Ruffino declared his ‘loaf of bread statement’ was taken out of context. His point was using an analogy to describe the seriousness of Covid-19 and steps the town would use to combat the spread of the virus in Lancaster.

The comment as I understand it, appeared within the boundaries of a Lancaster Bee story concerning Lancaster's enforcement of "Pause" policies, and as such, do not seem to have been taken out of context.

(I note parenthetically that the Lancaster Bee, to the best of my knowledge, has not corrected a misquote, or otherwise presented with clarification, the "intended" comment within Mr. Ruffino's suggested original, accurate context.)

At this point, I am willing to hold that the comment was a sloppy, if not reckless, application of a metaphor suggesting a prohibition on the purchase of essential and basic human needs, and were not "intended" at to be taken at face value.

That is why some sought clarification.

As I previously posted:

A clumsy attempt at a cute metaphor would be a venial sin; forgiveness quite understandable.

Perhaps words that would have highlighted the urgent need for food and bread, to the exclusion of truly non-essential purchases such as lottery tickets, would have resulted in a supportive public understanding of his comments?

[Lee Chowaniec]

What I learned today

In Georgia and South Carolina, Republican governors announced they'll ease restrictions this week despite neither meeting White House recommendations of a two-week downward trend in cases before lifting measures in phases.

CDC director warns second wave of coronavirus this winter could be worse

Trump meets with Cuomo. Trump didn't communicate any specific timeline for New York to reopen. Cuomo said it is New York’s goal to double testing in New York state from 20,000 to 40,000 per day. Virus experts declare inconsistent results in anti-body testing – too many false positives, too many false negatives.

WNY at peak level now for the last 5 days with no curve trending down.

County Executive Mark Poloncarz reported today:

The latest hospitalization case data for Erie County hospitals is trending in the wrong direction.

Latest Covid-19 hospital admissions for Erie County hospitals through April 19 indicates that the highest number of Covid-19 patients admitted on April 19 (247).

There was a slight reduction in ICU beds (114), though an increase in ICU airway assists to 95. Deaths was 8.

When comparing admissions to discharges, April 19 also saw nearly 4 times as many patients admitted for Covid-19 to Erie County hospitals than discharged: 34 (blue bar) to 9 (red bar). The last four days combined saw 130 overall admissions (admissions + conversions) versus 78 discharges. The trend line is going in the wrong direction.

According to CDC guidelines:

So as long as we can drop the curve we will be on target for May 16 four phases (each approximately three weeks in length):

Phase 1 - 100% workforce reduction in effect, no schools, daycare facilities open. Relisting of non-essential businesses, social distance policy still applies in all public settings, PPE requirements for all public.

Phase 2 - reopen with 50% work force. Social distance policies still in effect, PPE not a requirement. No social gathering of 10 or more. No schools or daycare can reopen.

Phase 3 - reopen of all business. Social distance policy revised to include mass gathering above 50. No PPE required.

Phase 4 - back to business as usual.

Based on time frame alone that puts us Into late July early Aug, providing we start phase 1 May 16.

Lancaster news – 95 confirmed cases, 10 dead from Harris Hill Nursing Facility. Sad! Still have no idea how my town is faring. Scary stuff. Does anyone but me give a ****?

[Lee Chowaniec]

The same individual who provided me this information last week sent me this updated information:

As of 4/15/2020 the following Erie County nursing home deaths were reported:

Father Baker Manor - 6

Harris Hill Nursing Facility, LLC - 9 (Lancaster)

Garden Gate Health Care Facility - 11

As of 4/20/2020

Father Baker Manor - 9

Harris Hill Nursing Facility, LLC - 10 (Lancaster)

Garden Gate Health Care Facility – 12

And our town can’t get this information? Or keep us updated as to what's happening in the town?

[mark blazejewski]

And our town can’t get this information? Or keep us updated as to what's happening in the town?

Two fascinating questions Lee which lead me to speculate as to how much information is Supervisor Ruffino disseminating to our other elected town officials, the nature of any such information, and is that information provided to them in a time-sensitive way?

It seems to me that the information needs to be communicated to those officials with urgent dispatch; they are entitled to kept promptly up-to-date, and not marginalized to reading history.

Regarding public dissemination, as I have previously opined, absent information of a truly "classified" nature, the public has every right to know why it is necessary for it to continue to observe the such stringent precautions.

Personally, I am very worried about the virus, but I am equally worried about gratuitous government control as well.

[Lee Chowaniec]

According to this report, my hand made mask is useless.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/ar...ks_142994.html

There are of course conflicting reports on mask efficiencies. Can anyone post a report that counters this one?