Orange County To Reduce In-Office Staff To Help Slow Coronavirus

GOSHEN, NY — Orange County will be reducing in-office county staffing in an effort to continue navigating through the new coronavirus pandemic.

County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus authorized all county department heads to enact Continuity of Operation Plans and to reduce staff in offices through telework and rotation of staff.

Neuhaus said, with the rising number of active cases of the virus in the county and around the nation, everyone needs to take protective actions to ensure the health and safety of the workforce, while continuing to provide essential and necessary services upon which the public relies.

"We have now reached a public health threshold that requires the reduction of the number of employees in the workforce to slow the spread of COVID-19 and preserve our county operations," he said.

Neuhaus said he consulted with Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman and Human Resources Commissioner Steve Gross in making the decision, which will help to preserve the workforce and county operations by creating distinct operational teams.

The idea is to help ensure that if one group gets sick, the other will not be infected and can continue to operate and provide services, county officials said.

Effective Monday, the recommendation is that groups work in shifts on a weekly or bi-weekly cycle. Employees should also reduce in-person, in-office contact, utilizing phones, email and virtual meeting software.

Neuhaus stressed employees should continue following coronavirus health and safety guidelines by wearing masks, social distancing and frequently disinfecting their work areas and common areas.

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