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Health and Safety

Buffalo Center Questions to Dr. Gale Burstein Answered During PSS General Membership Meeting

Dear Colleagues,

We asked, you submitted, they listened and responded.

As part of the Professional Staff Senate Joint Senate/General Membership February Meeting; Dr. Gale Burstein, Erie County Commissioner of Health, was the guest speaker.

Many questions were submitted in advance by you, the members of the UUP Buffalo Center Chapter, to be addressed by Dr. Burstein. We were pleased to see that 3 of our questions were submitted for her response. They included:

1.       Do you think that it is advisable to operate a food service facility on the same floor and in the same building as a COVID Vaccination Center with no physical separation between the activities?

Dr. Burstein first wanted to make sure that everyone is adhering to the preventive measures (masks, distancing, proper flow of traffic to prevent crowding, good ventilation, good disinfection and cleaning). She further recommended the consideration that food service consider being take out only, and further recommended that  people eat somewhere else.

2.       We have not heard much about contact tracing. How is that being done in Erie County?

Dr. Burstein answered this question in great detail during her 50 minute formal presentation.

3.       Is it worthwhile to take a COVID test before traveling or visiting with vulnerable relatives after receiving the vaccine? Will the test detect whether you are a carrier who might still be able to infect others?

Dr. Burstein stated that it is good preventive measure that you get a COVID 19 test when you travel. The PCR test is recommended as this test is much more sensitive than a rapid test, and will more accurately detect whether you are a carrier.

The full meeting presentation can be found at: https://www.buffalo.edu/pss.html

The UUP Buffalo Center wishes to thank PSS Chair – Tim Tryjankowski, and PSS Vice Chair – Don Erb (both Buffalo Center UUP members); for their invitation to us to supply questions for Dr. Burstein.​

In Solidarity,

Ken Kern
Chapter President
UUP Buffalo Center