As he concluded his panel discussion in Goshen, Congressman Maloney had a reassuring assessment for the audience. “Resources are on the way from the Federal Government,” he said. “And the state and county are coordinating their approach. By the end of the day we’re going to get through this.”
The session was held in the auditorium of the Emergency Services Building this afternoon. On stage was a long table, with the congressman seated at the middle. A County Executive sat on either side of him, and then came members of the medical profession.
The audience was large for the middle of a work day. One of the speakers assumed that most of the guests were members of the medical profession.
More than one speaker referred to the current experience as “the tip of the iceberg.” County Executive Marc Molinaro said there were no confirmed cases in Dutchess, but two people were being tested. Congressman Maloney said that the current mortality rate is 1.4 percent, but that could vary.
St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital is changing its visiting hours and the age of acceptable visitors.
The executive dean of Tuoro College in Middletown reported that all classwork at his school is going to be done on line. There will be no in-person classes. He added that a group of students who were due to come from Russia have been told to stay home.
But that doesn’t mean the county is shutting down. When a guest asked about Woodbury Common, County Executive Steve Neuhaus said it would remain open. He explained there will be signs posted throughout the Common showing people how to avoid the virus.
At the end of the session, Congressman Maloney summed up the position of the people on the panel. “We’re taking this very seriously,” he said, “but we don’t want to alarm people.”
