State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras applauded the leadership of new President Dr. Stephen H. Kolison Jr. during a stop in Fredonia on Sunday afternoon.

Malatras met with Kolison, members of the SUNY Fredonia administration and College Council to discuss the growing concerns of COVID-19 on a number of state campuses. Last week, SUNY Fredonia suspended 13 students for violating the Student Code of Conduct relating to COVID-19 and off-campus gatherings.

“I feel very confident in what the president is doing here as we reopen,” Malatras said in a meeting with the news media in Fenton Hall. “I think there should be great confidence … not only to the students, but to the parents and to the faculty and staff who work here and to the broader community.”

Through Sunday morning, the SUNY Fredonia dashboard noted 64 cases of COVID-19 with 63 active. Over the past week, cases have increased from two to the current number.

Before stopping at Fredonia, the chancellor was in Buffalo meeting with SUNY leaders there to announce that the Western New York group of campuses will increase their frequency of required pooled surveillance testing for COVID-19 in response to a recent case surge. Malatras reaffirmed the necessity for full COVID-19 safety compliance by students and the entire college community and stressed the need for close monitoring and strict enforcement to limit the spread of COVID-19. The vast majority of students across SUNY, he said, are complying with safety protocols.

Malatras also launched a SUNY systemwide COVID-19 case tracker dashboard, which was announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The centralized dashboard will provide real time, up-to-date information on COVID-19 cases, testing, and quarantine and isolation space availability across SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities to more efficiently monitor, respond to, and contain the virus.

“When we see COVID-19 surges on particular campuses, we need to increase the frequency of testing to truly understand the full scope of the virus and to respond decisively and in a way that protects students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community,” he said. “I want to thank President Kolison for partnering with my office to increase testing, acting with urgency, and continuing to send strong messages to students about the importance of following safety precautions.

“As Governor Cuomo rightly points out, information is critical to fight this virus. Our new COVID-19 Case Tracker dashboard will give people easy access to the most accurate, up-to-date information about the presence of the virus on their campus – and across SUNY. We have seen repeatedly that the situation with this virus can change drastically in a very short period of time. As we ask students to rise to the challenge, act responsibly, and contain COVID-19 – they deserve transparent, real time information. If we all work together, we can keep COVID-19 cases down and have a successful semester.”

How SUNY is dealing with COVID-19 comes one week after a major outbreak at SUNY Oneonta, which the chancellor referred to as ” a giant wake-up call.” Through Sunday, the campus there had 597 positive cases that has led to the college ending on-campus activities and services and going online for the remainder of the fall semester.

“One party can blow up into the cases that they had,” Malatras said. “That’s the margin of error that we have.”

Malatras also was critical of off-campus activities and parties that are putting communities and others at risk. “I think it’s a selfish act that people need to stop immediately,” he said.

Kolison, who has been at Fredonia since mid August, noted his appreciation for the chancellor’s visit. “This COVID-19 business is not easy … but we are committed to keeping our students safe and our faculty and staff safe at this institution,” he said.

While SUNY Fredonia announced 14 new cases over the weekend, Chautauqua County reported a combined 13 on Saturday and Sunday, which brings the total case number to 507.

Chautauqua County said more detailed information on the new coronavirus cases will be announced on Tuesday.