OSWEGO COUNTY – Oswego County Public Health Director Jiancheng Huang announced today, Dec. 28, that 79 additional residents have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive cases to 3,501.

“We are sad to report that another one of our neighbors has died,” said Huang. “This marks the 34thcoronavirus-related death in our county. I would like to express our condolences to the family and friends of this person and to all of those we have lost to this terrible disease.”

He said, “In addition to the continuously increasing number of deaths in our community, today also marks the second highest single day case report since the pandemic started. The highest, 80 in one day, happened exactly a month ago on Nov. 28. So far this month, we’ve had only one day when we reported less than 25 cases; the rest of our daily reports announced 40 or more. During the entire month of October, we never had a day when we reported more than 15 cases. These numbers are not merely statistics. They are people who represent the sad and indisputable fact that COVID-19 is rampant in our communities.

“As you have seen, behind the mounting new cases is the increasing number of deaths of our community,” he continued. “I urge all of our residents to take action and do their part to prevent spreading this disease. We must reduce the number of positive cases. This is the path to preventing future deaths.”

Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup added that residents need to work together to help prevent the spread of the disease. “Take personal responsibility for your behaviors to keep yourselves, your families and your community safe,” said Chairman Weatherup. “Wear a face mask over your nose and mouth in public, wash your hands frequently and practice social distancing. Comply with isolation and quarantine rules and, most importantly, avoid non-essential gatherings.”

This report is current as of 3 p.m. Dec. 28.

Please know that these numbers fluctuate frequently. Recovered people are not deducted from the total number of positive cases.

• Total # of tests conducted: 102,745
• Total # of positive cases: 3,501
• Total # of positive cases released: 2,645
• Total deaths: 34
• Total # of positive cases active: 822
• Total # of negative results:  98,232
• Total # of people in mandatory isolation/quarantine:  1,619

Locations of potential public exposure are posted on the health department’s COVID-19 page at health.oswegocounty.com/covid-19. The public is urged to protect themselves as if they could potentially be exposed every time they are in public.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, chills, repeated shaking with chills, gastrointestinal illness and new loss of taste or smell.

Health officials strongly urge residents to take these precautions:

• Stay home if you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick.
• Wear a face mask or covering over your nose and mouth.
• Avoid non-essential gatherings of all types.
• Keep six feet from other people.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Call your healthcare provider from home if you are experiencing symptoms such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath.
• Do not go to the emergency department unless you are experiencing life-threatening conditions.

More information is posted on the health department’s COVID-19 page at health.oswegocounty.com/covid-19.

Call the Oswego County Health Department COVID-19 hotline at 315-349-3330 if you have any questions. The hotline is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For information about emotional supports, visit the Oswego County Department of Social Services Division of Mental Hygiene at www.oswegocounty.com/mentalhygiene.

New York State provides online links to report violations of health and safety restrictions and requirements for businesses, gatherings and individuals. To file a complaint about a business, location or incident in your community, go to https://mylicense.custhelp.com/app/ask. To file a complaint against your employer or place of work, go to https://labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/laborstandards/coronavirus-complaints.shtm.

Under New York State Public Health Law, the Oswego County Health Department is the sole local public health authority regarding the COVID-19 pandemic response over all persons and entities within the County of Oswego. The Oswego County Health Department works closely with New York State Department of Health regarding COVID-19 monitoring, response and reporting.