While large colleges and universities across Western New York are working to manage double digit COVID-19 cases, local community colleges are just posting their first case, or no cases at all.

What You Need To Know

  • There is one active COVID case on the JCC Jamestown campus
  • There are no cases on the JCC Olean campus
  • JCC is working with health leaders from both counties to ensure guidelines are met and followed
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"Very lucky and very relieved, and yet nervous all the time that could change on a moment’s notice," said Daniel DeMarte, Jamestown Community College president.

DeMarte reports only one active COVID-19 case on campus Monday, the second at the college since one broke out the first day of classes on August 24.

Despite the low number, leaders say they've spent a majority of their time dealing with the virus since March.

"Which means we've not been able to focus on the strategic plan we implemented a year ago where we really started to see some good momentum. All of that has been set aside as we do our best to make sure the campus is safe for students and our staff," said DeMarte.

To help do that, the college meets regularly with Chautauqua County Public Health Director Christine Schuyler, to ensure proper plans are in place and guidelines are being followed.

While there are residence halls on campus, both DeMarte and Schuyler credit the low numbers to fewer people living on campus.

"The community college has more commuters. And not so much communal living and sharing of things," said Schuyler.

"Not at this time," said Dr. Kevin Watkins, Cattaraugus County Public Health director.

Dr. Watkins also reports no cases on the JCC campus in Olean.

Dr. Watkins also works with DeMarte to identify anyone who might have been in contact with someone positive.

"Making sure that we have information that we need to isolate and quarantine those who have been positive," said Dr. Watkins.

Both campuses have taken a number of measures to keep staff and students safe.

Anyone who enters JCC must check-in, wear a mask, and get a wrist-band to freely move about the campus.

"If there's any place that can recover from this, if there's any place that has the right attitude, if there's any place that has the right people, [it’s] here," said DeMarte.

The fall semester will transition to mostly remote learning after the Thanksgiving break.