A Dutchess County resident has tested positive for COVID-19.

"We expect there will be others," County Executive Marc Molinaro said, "and we expect we will ride out this storm with residents."

To that extent, Molinaro announced steps in the hopes of discouraging the growth of coronavirus locally. He spoke on Thursday afternoon, moments after Gov. Andrew Cuomo listed Dutchess among the counties in the state that have a confirmed case and likewise announced sweeping measures to reduce the spread of the illness.

Molinaro declined to specify where the patient is located or where that person has traveled in recent days. However, he said the case has no direct impact on any local school district.

The county is tracing all family members and other contacts with whom the individual may have been in close proximity.

“Absent a broad public health concern,” Molinaro said the municipality of patients would not be disclosed. "It's very important, one, not to spread widespread panic and two, to recognize that every individual has patient protections that ought to be honored."

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Dutchess County Health Commissioner Dr. Anil Vaidian said the county was notified of the positive test on Friday morning. He said the virus was contracted within the U.S., but not within the county.

Statewide steps included restricting access to nursing homes and banning gatherings of 500 people or more; the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, shortly after the Governor's announcement, announced all its shows would be postponed at least 30 days.

In addition to the confirmed case, the county was monitoring 24 individuals as of Thursday, a number that included 22 in self-isolation and two in mandatory isolation.

Dutchess County Department of Community and Behavioral Health Commissioner Dr. Anil Vaidian said the confirmed patient contracted the virus within the U.S., but not within the county. He noted the case is not linked to a confirmed Ulster County case in which a Town of Rochester man came into contact with six Dutchess residents.

“This was expected since the identification of the first cases of COVID-19 in the region," Vaidian said, noting his office was notified of the confirmed test Thursday morning.

Vaidian said his department had been monitoring the individual in mandatory isolation, after they visited an area hospital with a fever and cough.

Molinaro called the diagnosis "an ongoing and evolving situation," but said "this specific case does not identify or present any widespread public health concern."

The announcement came on the same day Orange County announced its first case, and the day after Ulster County announced its second case. Ulster had four cases as of Thursday afternoon. A case in Western New York, in Monroe County, was revealed Wednesday, also.

Molinaro said “Dutchess County remains in seamless interaction” with the state in its response to the illness, and noted the county has been in "regular communication" with area mayors, town supervisors and colleges.

On Friday the county will activate its emergency operations center. Molinaro said staff will operate as a "war room" 24 hours a day.

The county is recommending the suspension of any large public gathering through the end of April. Molinaro said that includes high school after-school events such as athletic contests.

Area colleges have also taken steps to slow the spread to their students. In addition to the SUNY and CUNY system shifting most students to online learning and asking students to leave campus, Dutchess Community College is extending its spring break by seven days; classes are scheduled to resume March 23, with the exception of some lab and clinical classes. Marist College also extended its spring break by a week, with classes set to resume March 30.

Vassar College made the decision to shift to online classes for distance learning, effective March 23 through April 10, according to a statement from the school. The decision will be reevaluated April 6.

State attempts to reduce spread

Cuomo on Thursday also announced a ban on any gathering of 500 people or more. Planned gatherings of less than 500 are also being asked to reduce capacity by 50%. The ban will take effect 5 p.m. Friday except for Broadway theaters, which were ordered to close 5 p.m. Thursday.

The capacity restriction and ban on large gatherings does not apply to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and mass transit.

Moments after the announcement, the Bardavon 1869 Opera House announced all its events at its Poughkeepsie location and UPAC in Kingston are postponed through April 11.

Earlier Thursday, the City of Beacon announced its St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Green, scheduled for Saturday, was postponed.

The state also is imposing restrictions on nursing homes across the state, prohibiting anyone but medical staff to enter in hopes of preventing infection of the elderly, who are particularly susceptible to the coronavirus disease's effects.

Cuomo said facilities can make exceptions for those looking to visit a family member who is particularly ill or facing death, though they will be required to wear protective gear.

Cuomo said the limitations will remain in effect indefinitely. The state will revisit them daily, but he said they remain likely to remain as the state's number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to increase.

Cuomo said the state needs to take dramatic steps to cut down on events with a high density of people.

“Science dictates these decisions,” Cuomo said. “This is about science. This is about data. And let the science and let the data make the decisions.”

Cuomo's decision came as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased to 328 statewide, an increase of 112 from Wednesday. Of the total, 148 are in Westchester County, home to one of the country's most significant clusters in the city of New Rochelle.

Katelyn Cordero: kcordero@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4870; Twitter: @KatelynCordero.