OSWEGO COUNTY – Oswego County Public Health Director Jiancheng Huang announced today, March 23, 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 6,814. There are currently 204 active positive cases.

“Recent data shows that new positive daily case counts are still consistently higher than the pre-peak numbers we saw before Halloween last year,” said Huang. “With increased COVID-19 vaccine supplies and eligibility expanding, I urge those who are eligible to get vaccinated. There are many agencies in the county that can administer the vaccine now. In addition to the County Health Department, Oswego Hospital, Connext Care, and many pharmacies also offer the vaccine. The more people we can get vaccinated, the closer we are to reaching herd immunity.

“Until then, we must all be diligent in our protection practices, regardless of vaccination status,” he said. “Please, wear a face mask, social distance, wash your hands frequently and avoid non-essential gatherings.”

This report is current as of 3 p.m. March 23.

• Total # of positive cases currently active: 204

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: 167,627
• Total # of negative results: 158,414
• Total # of positive cases: 6,814
• Total # of positive cases released: 6,521
• Total deaths reported by the New York State Department of Health: 89
• Total # of people in mandatory isolation/quarantine: 497

The Oswego County Health Department continues to partner with Pulaski Urgent Care to bring free COVID-19 rapid testing to various locations around the county. The next stop for the mobile unit will be at Cayuga Community College, 11 River Glen Drive, Fulton. It runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30. Registration is required. Go to https://health.oswegocounty.com/information/2019_novel_coronavirus/free_covid-19_testing.php.

Free transportation is available to residents to go to COVID-19 test and vaccination sites through a partnership between Oswego County and Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. Transportation is available Monday through Saturday between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Call 315-598-1514 to schedule a ride in advance.

The Oswego County Health Department has scheduled two vaccination clinics this week. First doses of the Moderna vaccine will be administered at both clinics. Recipients must be available to return for their second dose in 28 days.

The first clinic is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 25 at Laker Hall on the SUNY Oswego campus. Recipients need to return for their second shot on Thursday, April 22.

The second clinic is scheduled from 4 to 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 27 at G. Ray Bodley High School, 6 William Gillard Drive, Fulton. Recipients need to return for their second shot on Saturday, April 24.

Appointments are required for all COVID-19 vaccination clinics. You can make an appointment online at https://health.oswegocounty.com/ by clicking on the link for “Local Information About the COVID-19 Vaccination.” A vaccination hotline is also available to help people make appointments by phone. It is open from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursdays at 315-349-3383.

Vaccines are administered to people based on NYS Department of Health eligibility guidelines. In order to be eligible, residents must fall into the 1A or 1B public-facing essential worker group, have underlying health conditions or be age 50 or over. For details on eligibility, go to the New York State phased distribution guidelines at https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/phased-distribution-vaccine#phase-1a---phase-1b

All those attending an Oswego County Health Department vaccination clinic 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.

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

Local pharmacies will vaccinate those aged 50 years and older. Some are also able to administer to teachers and school staff, licensed childcare providers, and those with comorbidities. 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.