Dear Lakesiders,
As we communicated yesterday, we have been actively engaged in safely and proactively responding to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in our area. Within the last 24 hours we have been made aware of several Lakeside staff members who have tested positive for the virus. We have taken all necessary precautions to not only meet, but also exceed state and federal guidelines and safety protocols.
As of Nov. 17, our offices, including the Slack House Historic Café, were closed and Daniel Rogers, President and CEO, has mandated a two-week staff quarantine effective immediately until the start of business, Monday morning, Nov. 30. The Fountain Inn will also close beginning Thursday morning. Maintenance and grounds staff will continue as essential workers, working independently and outside as needed. Daniel has been in constant communication with Kurt Geisheimer and Tom Jones, the Lakeside Association and Lakeside Association Board chairs. Staff will be working from home and proactively engaged in adhering to local, state, and federal safety guidelines.
As these cases were reported, we followed all required protocols set by the Ottawa County Health Department: notifying people who may have been in contact with the individuals, quarantining certain individuals who were exposed, providing appropriate guidance for people to follow, and extensively cleaning and sanitizing all Lakeside office buildings. To protect their privacy, information about employees will not be revealed. People who may have been in contact with the individuals were directly notified by Lakeside Chautauqua.
These situations are a reminder that no one and no place is immune to this virus, and we must all do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. You can do this by:
- Wearing a mask/face covering as much as possible,
- Continuing to social distance (at least 6 feet) between individuals,
- Avoiding groups of 10 people or more,
- Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds,
- Avoiding touching your mouth, nose or eyes,
- Covering coughs and sneezes with your arm,
- Cleaning frequently touched surfaces,
- Avoiding those that are sick, and
- Staying home if you are sick
The typical COVID-19 symptoms are: cough, fever, sore throat, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, congestion or headache. If you begin to experience any of these symptoms, please quarantine yourself and contact your health provider immediately.
Again, protect yourself, family, friends, neighbors and our Lakeside community by taking the precautions listed above.
We are counting on you to do your part to keep everyone at Lakeside safe.
