OSWEGO COUNTY – Oswego County Public Health Director Jiancheng Huang announced today, March 19, that 24 additional residents tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the total cumulative number of positive cases since the county began monitoring for COVID-19 in March 2020 to 6,710. There are currently 167 active positive cases.

Although new positive daily case counts have fluctuated recently, Oswego County has also received more COVID-19 vaccine supplies in the past few weeks.

“This is good news as New York State is opening up eligibility for residents,” said Huang. “Last week, people aged 60 and older became eligible and this week, public-facing government and public employees, not-for-profit workers who provide public-facing services and essential in-person public-facing building service workers all became eligible to receive the vaccine.

“We still have appointments available for our COVID-19 vaccine clinic tomorrow,” he continued. “We will be administering first doses of the Moderna vaccine, which will require follow-up with a second shot on Saturday, April 17.”

The Oswego County Health Department’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 20 at G. Ray Bodley High School, 6 William Gillard Dr., Fulton. Go to https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=BDD088489A8C055EE0530A6C7C16E674 for online registration. 

Those eligible must fall into the 1A or 1B public-facing essential worker group, or be age 60 or over, or have underlying health conditions. For information on eligibility requirements, visit the New York State “Am I Eligible” website at https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/.

Attendees must have an appointment and bring proof of eligibility at the time of vaccination. Acceptable proof includes pay stubs, work ID, a letter from health care provider and proof of age. Those without an appointment and proof of eligibility will not be vaccinated.

Free transportation is also available to vaccination and testing sites as a service of Oswego County government and Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. Rides are available between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For details or to schedule a ride call 315-598-1514.

“Let’s not forget that the virus is still active in our area,” Huang added. “We must maintain our protection practices and not become complacent as we build our community’s herd immunity. I urge residents to continue wearing a face mask, social distancing, washing their hands frequently and avoiding non-essential gatherings.”

This report is current as of 3 p.m. March 19.

• Total # of positive cases currently active: 167

The following numbers are cumulative since the county began monitoring COVID-19 in March 2020. They are updated weekdays to show new cases or changes. Those who have been released are not removed from the running total.

• Total # of tests conducted: 165,268
• Total # of negative results: 156,187
• Total # of positive cases: 6,710
• Total # of positive cases released: 6,454
• Total deaths reported by the New York State Department of Health: 89
• Total # of people in mandatory isolation/quarantine: 370

The Oswego County Health Department is administering vaccines weekly to eligible people based on NYS Department of Health guidelines. In order to be eligible, residents must fall into the 1A or 1B public-facing essential worker group, or be age 60 or over, or have underlying health conditions. For additional information on eligibility requirements, visit the New York State “Am I Eligible” website at https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/.

“We are happy that so many in our community are interested in being vaccinated to help end this pandemic,” said Huang.  “Demand for the vaccine remains high and appointments fill quickly. We ask residents to please be patient and check back often as additional appointments become available each week.”

Local pharmacies are vaccinating those aged 60 years and older. Some are also able to administer to teachers and school staff, and licensed childcare providers. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Hannibal Pharmacy at 315-564-6464, The Medicine Place in Phoenix at 315-695-4200 or The Medicine Place in Fulton at 315-593-8378.

Various Kinney Drugs and Walgreens locations as well as the Wayne Drugs A Health Mart Pharmacy in Oswego and the Price Chopper Pharmacy in Fulton are also administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Please do not call these pharmacies for appointments. For these stores, appointments must be made online through the Kinney Drugs, Walgreens, Wayne Drugs A Health Mart Pharmacy, or Price Chopper Pharmacy websites. Please visit https://www.kinneydrugs.com/locations/appointments/NY/ or https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp?ban=covid_vaccine_brandstory_main_Jan2021 or https://stores.healthmart.com/waynepharmacy/stores.aspx or www.pricechopper.com/covidvaccine to schedule an appointment.

As vaccine supplies can be inconsistent, clinics are usually not scheduled until the provider knows how much vaccine they are receiving from the state and when. People need to keep checking the websites frequently.

People aged 65 and over who need assistance may also call the Oswego County Office for the Aging at 315-349-3484 for help navigating the internet in making appointments.

Eligibility determination and a list of New York State vaccination sites where appointments can be scheduled are available through New York’s “Am I Eligible?” app at https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ or by calling the New York State Vaccination Hotline, 1-833-NYS-4VAX (1-833-697-4829).

Oswego County is part of the CNY Regional Vaccination Network.  Click here for more information: https://www.upstate.edu/coronavirus/covidvaccine/.

Chairman Weatherup reminds residents that the virus continues to be widespread across 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 protect themselves every time they are in public.”

Locations of recent public exposure are posted on the health department’s COVID-19 page at health.oswegocounty.com/covid-19.

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 health care 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. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. 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 local public health authority regarding the COVID-19 pandemic response 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.