March 14, 2022

OSWEGO COUNTY – The Oswego County Health Department announced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has once again lowered the County’s COVID-19 community level. The level was reduced to ‘low’ last Thursday.

“In the CDC update, most of the counties in the state and the U.S. are now at the ‘low’ level,” said Oswego County Public Health Director Jiancheng Huang. “Even so, we still need to reduce personal and community risks, especially for vulnerable individuals. We have a wide variety of control measures to choose from. The vaccine remains the most effective tool for prevention. I encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated and stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines to help protect themselves and our community.”

Oswego County Associate Public Health Educator Diane Oldenburg reminds residents, “While Oswego County and New York State are making great progress in the control of COVID-19, masks are still required in certain locations. These include health care settings, nursing homes, adult care and correctional facilities, detention centers, homeless and domestic violence shelters, public transit and transportation hubs, as well as buses, trains and planes in accordance with federal regulations.” 

From Monday, March 7 through Sunday, March 13, an additional 218 residents tested positive for COVID-19. This includes results from lab-confirmed tests and at-home tests. In addition, two more COVID-19-related deaths were reported by the NYS Department of Health, bringing the total to 182. “Our condolences go out to the loved ones of these two people,” said Huang.

The following report reflects data collected from Monday, March 7 through Sunday, March 13:

• Number of lab/provider tests: 2,911
• Number of lab/provider positive cases: 172
• Percentage of lab/provider positive cases: 7.48%
• Number of at-home positive test results: 46

An additional 16 Oswego County residents were hospitalized due to COVID-19 between Sunday, March 6 and Saturday, March 12, according to the hospitalization report received by the Oswego County Health Department. New hospitalization numbers are not part of a running total of hospitalizations. For hospitalization details such as age groups and vaccination status, go to the Oswego County COVID-19 Dashboard at https://oswegogis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/3fd162cd12264b418dc03bdebd7f5300.

The Oswego County Health Department holds weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinics and vaccines are also available at local pharmacies and health care provider offices. Face masks are required at all clinics and at-home COVID-19 test kits will be distributed to those getting vaccinated at a County clinic while supplies last.

Go to health.oswegocounty.com/vaccines for a full list of upcoming clinics.

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.

Oswego County Medical Director Christian Liepke, M.D. said, “While vaccination continues to be our best defense against COVID-19, it’s also good to know that there are now medicines that have received emergency use authorization from the FDA and the CDC for the treatment of the virus. People who test positive for COVID-19 should contact their primary care provider right away to find out if they meet certain eligibility criteria to begin treatment.” 

Oswego County developed a portal for residents to report positive at-home COVID-19 test results, exposure to the virus and get the necessary isolation/quarantine paperwork for schools and employers. Go to https://health.oswegocounty.com/COVID-19 and click on the appropriate link.

Test results received from doctor’s offices, pharmacies and other testing sites DO NOT need to be self-reported. However, if isolation orders are needed 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 immediately notify any close contacts. The close contact should then go to the State’s website at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-contact-tracing to find out if they meet the criteria for quarantine. If they do, they should report the exposure on the County Health Department’s online portal. 

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

• Get vaccinated and keep your COVID-19 vaccinations up-to-date.
• Stay home if you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick.
• Wear a well-fitting mask.
• Stay six feet from others.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Test to prevent virus spread to others
• Wash your hands often.
• Follow recommendations for isolation and quarantine.

For more information, go to the Oswego County Health Department’s COVID-19 page at https://health.oswegocounty.com/COVID-19 or call its COVID-19 Hotline at 315-349-3330. 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.

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.