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HEALTH DEPARTMENT QUESTIONED ON REPORTED COVID OUTBREAK IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Modified: February 1, 2021 8:55am
Created: February 1, 2021 8:55am

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February 1, 2021

January 28, 2021

Dr. Gale Burstein
Erie County Health Commissioner
95 Franklin Street, 9th Floor
Buffalo, NY 14202 

Dear Commissioner Burstein, 

It has come to my attention that there has been a COVID outbreak amongst at least nine Erie County workers located at 460 Main Street, Floor 2.  Photographs show what amounts to the equivalent of crime scene/yellow caution tape that has been wrapped around outside the door of a break room frequented by workers.  The Office of Erie County Comptroller and taxpayers want to know what measures have been taken to ensure the safety of Erie County employees. 

Dr. Burstein, please answer the following questions:

  • When were you first made aware of the outbreak at 460 Main Street?
  • How long after learning of the outbreak were corrective measures taken?
  • How were workers notified of the outbreak?
  • What corrective steps were implemented, other than the previously mentioned sign and yellow caution tape?
  • Upon learning of the outbreak, were employees sent home immediately to work remotely?
  • What measures were taken to clean and sanitize the area believed to be the source of the COVID outbreak?
  • What steps were taken to ensure all workspaces at 460 Main Street were sanitized?
  • Since this is a location used primarily by Social Services, what contact tracing efforts were made to reach members of the public who may have been exposed?
  • Have the impacted employees been tested?  If so, are they in quarantine?  

Resources have been provided by the federal government to ensure the health of the county workforce.  I look forward to hearing from you regarding this very troubling news.  Our county employees are valued and need to be protected.

 

Sincerely,

 

                                                                                                                               

Stefan I. Mychajliw, Jr.
Erie County Comptroller

 

CC: Honorable Erie County Legislators
Marie Cannon, Commissioner, Erie County Social Services

Enclosure

 

For a PDF of the letter, pleae CLICK HERE