As of today, there are no known COVID-19 cases in Rochester, EOC chief says

Emergency Operations Center Chief Mark Klose, left and Adam Huges, fire prevention chief, inside the EOC located at the City Hall Annex in April. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Rochester's Emergency Operation Center chief said today there are currently no confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city.

"The City of Rochester has done very well," said EOC and Rochester Fire Chief Mark Klose. "In fact, today is the first time since March 15 that we weren't notified by DHHS of a new case in Rochester. It's great news."

Klose warned, however, that now is not the time to let down our guard, adding wearing masks, social distancing and good hand hygiene are key to keeping COVID at bay.

Klose said he couldn't account for why state DHHS numbers today show the city with 15 cases.

In fact, he said the city's case numbers have been dwindling since eight weeks ago when they reached the max case count of 17.

He noted that every day DHHS sends a list of Rochester addresses where a person suspected of contracting the virus or who tested positive for the virus lives. He said for the first time in several months they sent over a list with no city addresses.

Klose said the Emergency Operations Center in the City Hall annex has been closed for almost a month, but he is still working on EOC issues like fielding complaints over compliance with the governor's reopening guidelines. He said mask wearing continues to be the dominant player in such discussions.

"With the recent reopening our interactions with the public are up," he said.

"The biggest concern is the wearing of mask, some don't know who's supposed to wear what," he said. "A private business can make customers wear masks. Like in a restaurant people are supposed to wear masks when they're going to the table. Then they can take the mask off. If they want to use the restroom they should put it back on."

He said restaurants were the biggest learning curve statewide.

Klose said with the nearly three months he and city health officer Bob Veno spent at the EOC, it will be an easy switch if they have to go back if there is another surge.

"I'm hoping a wave doesn't come back, but if does, it will be a very smooth transition,"he added.