Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter

http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9

By: Nicholas D. D’Angelo

Managing Editor 

In recent days, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Niagara County have skyrocketed to 91. However, there is no question that the number is much, much higher as testing has been unavailable throughout Niagara County for weeks. This means that there are likely hundreds of cases of COVID-19 throughout our communities.

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented action. Given that Niagara Falls is leading the county in confirmed COVID-19 cases, it is clear that further safeguards must be put in place by elected officials to protect residents across our city.

My proposal? A public curfew of 8:30pm.

Although I do not regularly agree with Governor Andrew Cuomo on policy, in recent days he advised that there is no reason for people to be out past 8:30pm and I agree with him. Without the state issuing a shelter-in-place order, preventative measures need to be put in place at the local level to help suppress the spread of this virus.

Although it is difficult to be cooped up at home all day, residents must stay at home as much as possible. It isn’t just to protect themselves, but to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others as many individuals are carriers who show no symptoms. It has also been reported that individuals can be infected with the virus for days before beginning to show symptoms. Just another reason why residents should refrain from non-essential travel.

The City of Niagara Falls needs to take decisive action to further prevent community spread of COVID-19. We all need to come together and do our part to prevent the spread of this virus.

If not a curfew, what ideas do you have to further prevent the spread of COVID-19 throughout our community?