ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATE – May 5, 2020

ERIE COUNTY, NY – The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) has updated its COVID-19 testing to include anyone who believes that they may have been exposed to or at risk for COVID-19.

This update will expand upon previous testing criteria, which included any individual with symptoms of COVID-19, including any of the following: fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, diarrhea, new loss of taste or smell.

Individuals who are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (asymptomatic) at the time of sample collection would not be subject to a Commissioner’s Isolation Order. However, any asymptomatic person who receives a positive COVID-19 test result is subject to the Commissioner’s Isolation Order.

Any individual who has COVID-19 symptoms at the time their sample is collected will be under a Commissioner’s Isolation Order until their test results are available. Anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms before they receive their results should take immediate steps to remain at home, isolate themselves from others in their household and consult with their physician.

Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms are strongly encouraged to contact their primary care physician to help manage their care.

To start the COVID-19 diagnostic testing process through the Erie County Department of Health, call (716) 858-2929. Foreign language interpretation is available.

The expansion of Erie County’s criteria is possible because of the increase in testing capacity by the Erie County Public Health Lab, the New York State Department of Health, and our partners in the health care community including Kaleida Health.