oneida county public health director retires

Jason powles.

As the pandemic pounds the mohawk valley region ....with record new daily infections, hospitalizations and infection rates.....oneida county is losing its director of public health.

Phyllis ellis had long planned to retire this year...and she's sticking to that plan.

Newschannel 2's joleen ferris is live in the studio with details on her departure.

Joleen.

Thanks kristin.

The county executive said when phyllis ellis came on board, she planned to stay four or five years.

She's been in the role for seven.

She's definitely the healthcare equivalent of a high-ranking battlefield general in the war on this virus.

Public health handles contact tracing, and has a hand in just about every aspect of this fight.

The county executive called this a bittersweet day.

Ellis said she's been honored to serve....and touched on serving in such an extraordinary time and made one....final....plea.

23:06 'this is one of the greatest public health issues in my lifetime.

In mycareer and in most people's lifetime as well.

So in over my 40 years in healthcare in my public health experience, i do understand that public health mitigation works.

If this is my last opportunity to address this issue, i implore evveryone to please continue to follow the public health guidelines that we have been talking about this year.

We know they work" 23:31 the county executive noted that he'd normally hug her at the end of her tearful remarks today..but he can't.

Phyllis ellis's last day as the county's director of public health is a week from today-the 16th.

We asked the county executive during today's live briefing about her replacement; this isn't exactly a time when that position can be vacant.

Picente said today is about phyllis.

He will release information about who will serve next, whether interim or permanent, possibly as early as tomorrow.

Back to you.

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