Officials in Chemung County and Schuyler County declared states of emergency Saturday as Upstate New York communities continued to take action to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Steuben County also said a state of emergency will go into effect Wednesday.

Chemung and Steuben officials ordered public schools to close until mid-April. The Odessa-Montour School District and Watkins Glen School District in Schuyler will be closed Monday, reopen Tuesday so students can receive remote learning materials, and then close through April 13.

In Chemung, students will attend school Monday but will not return until April 14. Steuben officials directed schools to close Monday through April 12.

Chemung districts are the Elmira City School District, Horseheads and Elmira Heights.

Steuben districts are Addison, Arkport, Avoca, Bath, Bradford, Campbell-Savona, Canisteo-Greenwood, Corning-Painted Post, Hammondsport, Hornell, Jasper-Troupsburg, Prattsburgh and Wayland-Cohocton.

New York state has more than 500 confirmed cases and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state's first death from COVID-19 early Saturday, an 82-year-old woman with pre-existing conditions who died in a Brooklyn hospital.

School updates:Elmira school cancellations, closures

Chemung County Public Health Director Peter Buzzetti said, "Our primary goal at this time is prevention, dismissal of schools is an important part of a continued aggressive approach."

Pre-packaged breakfast and lunch will be available at all schools within the Elmira City School District for pick-up, Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 11 a.m., at all school locations.

District officials said children who are enrolled in the Elmira City School District, along with their siblings under the age of 18 who reside in the same household, are eligible to receive meals.

Further information on food during the school closure will be available on the district website Monday.

Steuben's state of emergency to go into effect March 18

Steuben County Manager Jack Wheeler and Public Health Director Darlene Smith met with school superintendents to develop a unified plan for an extended dismissal of students.

Schools will use Monday and Tuesday to prepare staff and students for the extended dismissal.

“Continuing our collective efforts of ‘social-distancing’, we have directed an extended dismissal of schools in Steuben County," Smith said. “School dismissal is an effective public health measure to prevent and slow the transmission of COVID-19.”

Officials said there has not been a positive case of COVID-19 in the county.

“We urge the citizens to rely upon facts provided by health officials and not to default to undue fear,” said Wheeler. “This declaration follows suit of many counties in New York and states across the nation, which is meant to support social-distancing efforts. While our daily routines may change in the short-term, we will respond in a calm, unified manner as a community.”

Schuyler County: Coronavirus threat imminent

Public Health Director Deborah Minor said, “While we have zero confirmed cases of COVID-19 at this time, this action comes out of an abundance of caution in positioning ourselves to protect the health and welfare of our citizenry.”

Emergency Services Director William Kennedy said the threat of the coronavirus to the area is now imminent to residents and visitors of the county.

"This declaration provides Schuyler County with the flexibility to prepare and respond to this rapidly evolving situation," Kennedy said in a statement.

The state of emergency does not contain specific orders or prohibitions for residents at this time.

The declaration directs county agencies and departments to provide all emergency assistance deemed necessary.

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Coronavirus around the Southern Tier and New York

Broome and Tioga counties also declared states of emergency Saturday and closed schools. Tioga County has a positive case of COVID-19, but Broome does not have a positive case despite Gov. Andrew Cuomo's announcement Thursday afternoon that Broome had its first positive case.

The New York State Health Department confirmed a University at Albany student who tested positive is from Broome County.

Tompkins County announced Saturday there is one positive case and more than 50 are under quarantine.

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