OSWEGO COUNTY – Oswego County Public Health Director Jiancheng Huang announced today, June 15, that one additional resident has 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 8,111. There are currently 23 active positive cases.

“Our seven-day accumulated daily case counts remain low, and we are still in the ‘moderate’ community transmission group according to the CDC,” said Huang. “We must continue to raise our vaccination rates to better protect our communities. I urge those who are eligible for the vaccine to get their shot now. The vaccines are safe, effective and widely available now. They are free and you do not need health insurance to get one.

“As we continue to move forward, we will reduce the frequency of our COVID-19 reporting,” he added. “Instead of issuing a daily report on weekdays, we will send out a weekly report on Monday afternoons, starting next Monday, June 21. This will allow the health and other departments to focus resources on vaccination clinics and other COVID-19 recovery activities.”

This report is current as of 3 p.m. June 15.

• Total # of positive cases currently active: 23

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: 230,295
• Total # of negative results: 219,148
• Total # of positive cases: 8,111
• Total # of positive cases released: 7,996
• Total deaths reported by the New York State Department of Health: 92
• Total # of people in mandatory isolation/quarantine: 170

The Health Department continues to work with communities across the county to hold vaccination clinics. Appointments are currently available for those aged 18 years and over for the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It will be administered at the G. Ray Bodley High School, 6 William Gillard Dr., Fulton tomorrow, June 16 starting at 4 p.m. and at the Richland Fire Department, 30 Phillips St., Richland on Saturday, June 19 between 9 and 11 a.m.

Visit the department’s COVID-19 vaccine page for details. Go to https://health.oswegocounty.com/ and click on the link for “Local Information About the COVID-19 Vaccination.” All Oswego County COVID-19 vaccination clinic registration links are posted here.

Be sure to check back if a clinic looks like it does not have any appointments available. Appointments may become available if other people cancel or re-schedule theirs or if more vaccine becomes available.

The Oswego County COVID-19 Hotline is also available to help people make appointments and answer any COVID-19-related questions. It is open 8:30 am. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 315-349-3330.

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

All those attending an Oswego County Health Department vaccination clinic must have proof of age to receive their shot. Proof of age can be a drivers’ license, birth certificate, passport or school ID. Those without an appointment and proof of age will not be vaccinated.

The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine approved for those aged 12 and above right now. The Moderna and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccines are both only approved for those aged 18 and above. For information about the COVID-19 vaccines, click on the “Fact Sheet” link for each one at https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/. 

The Oswego County Health Department has noticed that some individuals have been reluctant to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine because they do not have health insurance.

“I want to reassure residents that there is no charge for the vaccine,” said Supervising Public Health Nurse Jodi Martin, with the health department’s preventative services division. “The small administrative fee that gets billed to health insurance is not charged to individuals. No one will be turned away for lack of health insurance or the inability to pay the fee. All you need is an appointment and proof of age. Go online to our vaccination page or call the Hotline to make an appointment and get vaccinated today.”

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 Saturday. Call 315-598-1514 to schedule a ride in advance.

Chairman Weatherup reminds residents that the virus is still active, and people should assume they can be exposed to COVID-19 anywhere they go. “With restrictions lifted, I urge residents to protect themselves in public spaces, especially if they are not vaccinated,” he said. “Now is not the time to let our guard down and abandon safety practices. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, now is the time to get your shot.”

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.

Residents are urged to continue to take precautions against the spread of COVID-19 including:

• Get vaccinated if you are 12 years of age or older.
• Stay home if you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick.
• Wash your hands often.
• Wear a face mask.
• Keep six feet distance between you and those you do not live with, especially if you are unvaccinated.

Be sure to follow the masking and distancing rules implemented by local businesses and workplaces. In addition, there have been no changes made to guidance for schools and school activities. Check the New York State website on re-opening for the latest information on business and activity guidance. Go to forward.ny.gov.

 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. Phone lines are open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 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.