March 7, 2022

OSWEGO COUNTY – The Oswego County Health Department announced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lowered the County’s COVID-19 community level from ‘high’ to ‘medium’ last Thursday.

“This is a result of our community’s collaborative efforts to stop the spread of the virus,” said Oswego County Public Health Director Jiancheng Huang. “Even so, Oswego County’s case numbers are still higher compared to many other counties in the state, so we need to remain vigilant. This means that residents need to get vaccinated and boosted if they are eligible, and keep at-home COVID-19 rapid tests on hand.”

Huang added that the CDC’s data showed that only 303 booster doses were administered last week across the county. “This is down from 440 doses the previous week, and even further still from the nearly 1,000 doses that were administered two weeks ago,” he said. “We continue to hold vaccination clinics and many local pharmacies and health care provider’s offices are also helping with vaccination efforts. I urge residents to go to one of these places and get vaccinated or boosted if they are eligible.”

From Monday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 6, an additional 241 residents tested positive for COVID-19. This includes results from lab-confirmed tests and at-home tests. In addition, three more COVID-19-related deaths were reported by the NYS Department of Health, bringing the total to 180. “Our condolences go out to the families and loved ones of these people,” said Huang.

The following report reflects data collected from Monday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 6:

• Number of lab/provider tests: 3,227
• Number of lab/provider positive cases: 180
• Percentage of lab/provider positive cases: 7.46%
• Number of at-home positive test results: 61

An additional 12 Oswego County residents were hospitalized due to COVID-19 between Sunday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, March 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. 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 https://health.oswegocounty.com/information/2019_novel_coronavirus/covid-19_vaccine.php 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/information/2019_novel_coronavirus/index.php 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/information/2019_novel_coronavirus/index.php 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.