Oswego County Sets Another New Record High Number of COVID-19 Cases – 

OSWEGO COUNTY – Oswego County Public Health Director Jiancheng Huang announced today, Dec. 30, that 85 additional residents have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive cases to 3,658.

“This is another new record high number of positive COVID-19 cases in a day in Oswego County,” said Huang. “It is the result of continued non-compliance within our communities. Protective measures such as face-masking and avoiding non-essential gatherings must become our personal priorities if we hope to stem the rising tide of new infections.”

Huang said that in the field of epidemiology, it is widely believed that four actions can protect communities from disease. “They are personal preventive measures, testing, contact tracing and quarantine and isolation,” he said. “As our community continues to see a tremendous increase of positive cases being reported, stopping the spread of the COVID-19 depends on these measures.

“Our testing capacity has increased greatly through private, non-profit and public collaborative efforts,” he elaborated. “The number of test samples collected went from 3,200 in mid-October; to 4,300 in mid-November; and 5,400 in mid-December. For many months, we have diligently conducted contact tracing and identified those who should be quarantined and isolated.”

Huang added, “While we are enthusiastically looking forward to 2021 with a new sense of hope in the arrival of new vaccines, I urge everyone to remain vigilant in their protection practices. Please remember to wear your face masks, practice social distancing, and wash your hands frequently. These are still the best ways to protect the whole community.”

This report is current as of 3 p.m. Dec. 30.

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

• Total # of tests conducted: 104,357
• Total # of positive cases: 3,658
• Total # of positive cases released: 2,699
• Total deaths: 34
• Total # of positive cases active: 925
• Total # of negative results:  99,638
• Total # of people in mandatory isolation/quarantine:  1,777

Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup reminded residents that the virus is rampant throughout the county and people should assume they can be exposed to COVID-19 anywhere they go in Central New York.

“I urge all of our residents to take action and do their part to stop the spread of this disease,” 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.”

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 will be closed Friday, Jan. 1 for New Year's Day. Otherwise, it 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.