OSWEGO COUNTY – The Oswego County Health Department announced today that an additional 815 residents tested positive for COVID-19 this past week. This includes positive results from lab-confirmed tests and at-home tests from Monday, Jan. 31 through Sunday, Feb. 6. Three more COVID-19-related death were reported by the NYS Department of Health this last week, bringing the total to 164.

“While the infection rate against the County’s total population remains high, we have seen a downward trend in new cases reported these last three weeks,” said Oswego County Public Health Director Jiancheng Huang. “As these recent case numbers have deceased, so too have the hospitalization numbers. In addition, we are happy to report that booster doses have increased by about 10,000 among Oswego County residents in the last month.”

COVID-19 remains active throughout Oswego County and Huang reminds residents that the vaccine is still a powerful tool to not only prevent hospitalizations and deaths, but also severe symptoms of the virus.

“We have often asked residents to get ‘fully vaccinated’ over the last several months,” he said. “Being ‘fully vaccinated’ means that you have received your primary dose or series of the vaccine. Being ‘up-to-date’ means that you have received all of your vaccinations, including the booster dose when you are eligible. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html).

“We have planned many community vaccination events throughout the county and many local pharmacies and health care providers are also administering the vaccine every day,” Huang continued. “I encourage residents to keep up your efforts to get vaccinated and get your booster dose if you are eligible. In public health terms, please, get your COVID-19 vaccination ‘up-to-date.’”

The following data shows a day-by-day breakdown of testing conducted Monday, Jan. 31 through Sunday, Feb. 6:

This report reflects data collected on Sunday, Feb. 6:

• Number of lab/provider tests: 315
• Number of lab/provider positive cases: 51
• Percentage of lab/provider positive cases: 16.19%
• Number of at-home positive test results: 12
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This report reflects data collected on Saturday, Feb. 5:

• Number of lab/provider tests: 375
• Number of lab/provider positive cases: 39
• Percentage of lab/provider positive cases: 10.40%
• Number of at-home positive test results: 4

This report reflects data collected on Friday, Feb. 4:

• Number of lab/provider tests: 646
• Number of lab/provider positive cases: 98
• Percentage of lab/provider positive cases: 15.17%
• Number of at-home positive test results: 27

This report reflects data collected on Thursday, Feb. 3:

• Number of lab/provider tests: 877
• Number of lab/provider positive cases: 90
• Percentage of lab/provider positive cases: 10.26%
• Number of at-home positive test results: 29

This report reflects data collected on Wednesday, Feb. 2:

• Number of lab/provider tests: 884
• Number of lab/provider positive cases: 118
• Percentage of lab/provider positive cases: 13.35%
• Number of at-home positive test results: 30

This report reflects data collected on Tuesday, Feb. 1:

• Number of lab/provider tests: 803
• Number of lab/provider positive cases: 118
• Percentage of lab/provider positive cases: 14.69%
• Number of at-home positive test results: 34

This report reflects data collected on Monday, Jan. 31:

• Number of lab/provider tests: 620
• Number of lab/provider positive cases: 88
• Percentage of lab/provider positive cases: 14.19%
• Number of at-home positive test results: 77

An additional 23 Oswego County residents were hospitalized due to COVID-19 between Sunday, Jan. 30 and Saturday, Feb. 5, according to the hospitalization report received by the Oswego County Health Department. New hospitalization numbers are not part of a running total of hospitalizations.

The age distribution of the 23 new patients is: 4.35% aged 0 to 18 years; 13.04% aged 19 to 45 years; 39.13% aged 46 to 64 years; and 43.48% aged 65 years and older.

Individuals fully vaccinated with a booster shot or third dose made up 4.35% of new hospitalizations, while 43.48% were vaccinated but overdue for a booster dose and 52.17% were not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated.

As of Monday, Feb. 7, 38,409 Oswego County residents have received their third shot or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

As part of its ongoing effort to promote vaccination in the community, the Oswego County Health Department continues to hold vaccination clinics across the county, including some in collaboration with the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and local schools. In addition, vaccines are also widely available at local pharmacies and health care provider offices.

This week, clinics will be held at the Oswego County Health Department’s Nick Sterio Public Health Clinic, 70 Bunner St., Oswego on Tuesday, Feb. 8 and Wednesday Feb. 9.

The Feb. 8 clinic is for children aged 5 to 11. Health Department staff will administer first and second doses of the pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Please note appointments are required for this clinic.

The Feb. 9 clinic is for individuals aged 18 and older. Health Department staff will administer only second doses of the Moderna vaccine from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Health department staff will also hold a clinic from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10 at the Hannibal School District Office, 928 Cayuga St. Staff will administer first and second doses of the pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, as well as first, second and booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for anyone aged 12 and older.

Walk-ins are welcome, although appointments and online pre-registration are appreciated to help reduce wait times and maintain efficiency. Go to https://health.oswegocounty.com/information/2019_novel_coronavirus/covid-19_vaccine.php.

The Oswego County Office for the Aging can help people aged 60 and older who need help navigating the internet to make appointments. Call 315-349-3484.

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

“Vaccination continues to be our best defense against COVID-19,” said Oswego County Medical Director Christian Liepke, M.D. “The vaccine helps to lower the risk of hospitalization and death from the virus. However, it’s good to know that there are now medicines that have received emergency use authorization from the FDA and the CDC for the treatment of COVID-19.

Dr. Liepke continued, “Patients must meet certain eligibility criteria such as vaccination status, age and other risk factors to receive these treatments, which must also be administered in a timely manner. As at-home COVID-19 testing becomes more prevalent, it’s important for people to notify their primary care provider if their test result is positive so they can find out if they are eligible for and can begin treatment.” 

Oswego County developed a portal that residents can use to report positive at-home COVID-19 test results and exposure to the virus. Individuals who need paperwork for their employer or school and meet New York State Department of Health criteria can self-attest to a positive test or exposure and get the required documentation.

To report a positive at-home COVID-19 test, an exposure, or to request paperwork, go to https://health.oswegocounty.com/information/2019_novel_coronavirus/index.php and click on the appropriate link on the left side of the screen.

Test results obtained from, or performed by, doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, schools and other testing sites DO NOT need to be self-reported. However, if isolation orders are needed immediately for school, employers or other reasons, people can request these documents using the portal’s “Report a Positive Laboratory Test” option. 

The health department encourages residents who test positive to personally notify any close contacts as soon as they know their result. The close contact should visit New York State’s “Approach to Isolation and Quarantine” website at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-contact-tracing to see if they meet the criteria for quarantine. If the contact meets the criteria for quarantine, they should report the exposure on the health department’s online portal. 

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.

Residents are urged to continue taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including:

• Get vaccinated if you are 5 years of age or older.
• Stay home if you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick.
• Wash your hands often.
• Keep six feet distance between you and those you do not live with, especially if you are unvaccinated.
• Wear a face mask inside public spaces you visit or patronize, where you work, or in crowded outdoor settings, regardless of your vaccination status.
• All residents should follow COVID-19 prevention measures local businesses and workplaces may have in place. Check the New York State website at forward.ny.gov for additional guidance.

For more information, go to the Oswego County Health Department’s COVID-19 page at health.oswegocounty.com/covid-19 or call its COVID-19 Hotline at 315-349-3330. The county’s COVID-19 hotline is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Callers may need to leave a message and a staff member will return the call.

Residents should also contact their medical providers directly for personal medical advice about COVID-19 and vaccinations or booster shots.

For information about emotional supports, visit the Oswego County Department of Social Services Division of Mental Hygiene at www.oswegocounty.com/mentalhygiene.

Effective Dec. 13, New York State requires that masks must be worn in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a full-course vaccination requirement. Oswego County government requires that masks be worn inside all county government facilities.

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.