MASSENA -- On the heels of the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department reporting more than a dozen COVID-19 cases in Massena, Village Mayor Timmy J. Currier has released a statement urging residents to understand the importance of social distancing and urging the community to “PAUSE.”

“PAUSE” comes from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive orders barring gatherings of more than a few people and ordering all non-essential workers to do their jobs from home.

According to a document from county public health, Massena has more COVID-19 cases than any other community in St. Lawrence County, with 14 as of noon April 1. There are 37 throughout the entire county, according to Public Health Department officials.

“These numbers should cause all of us to ‘PAUSE’ and take the social distancing and personal protection guidelines provided by CDC very seriously. If you have been staying home, only leaving your house for essential reasons, thank you!

“If you have not, now is the time for you to take this seriously, do your part and help us slow the spread. Every single citizen has a responsibility to this community, and a greater responsibility to your family members and fellow citizens to protect each other,” Currier said.

As a reminder:

• A shopping trip is not a family event; one cart, one person.

• All trips for supplies should be determined and completed in one outing. Don’t use shopping as your therapy.

• Social gatherings are not permissible and, in fact, are dangerous and irresponsible. All citizens, regardless of the age, are included and not exempt from this.

If you need to get out of your house, practice social distancing and use personal protections and consider doing yard work, going for walk or opening your window and talking with your neighbor, the statement said.

“I understand how hard this is on all of us! These are challenging times; however, this is a serious life and death situation and it is vital that over the next 30 days each of us do our part to stop the spread. If you choose to ignore the safety precautions and rules that have been implemented you are not only putting your lives at risk, but many others, as you are witnessing how quickly this disease is and can spread!” Currier said.