OSWEGO, NY – Oswego County Public Health Director Jiancheng Huang announced today, Feb. 5, that 30 additional residents have 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 5,889.
There are currently 334 active positive cases.
After a two-month surge in COVID-19 infections, Oswego County has seen cases fall in recent days. The county’s seven-day accumulated case count has decreased by 50%; down from its highest count of 643 on January 16, to 321 on Feb. 1. The nation and the state have also shown a decline in new cases recently.
“The drop in cases, however welcome, does not mean that we are out of the woods,” said Huang. “We are still facing emerging coronavirus variants, a slow vaccine rollout, and continued ‘caution fatigue’ as the pandemic has stretched on for more than 10 months so far.
“Facing the challenge of inconsistent vaccine supply and the threat of coronavirus variants, Oswego County will continue to increase testing, trace close contacts, and vaccinate as vaccine becomes available,” he continued.
“We ask residents to maintain safe behaviors, including hand-washing, face-masking, and social distancing.”
Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup added, “Our County Health Department and our health care partners in the community are doing their very best to get people vaccinated. Unfortunately, we have no control on the supply of vaccine. We can, however, help people get to their COVID-19 testing or vaccination appointments if they are having transportation issues. We are partnering with Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. to provide this free transportation to our residents.”
The Oswego County Health Department is also partnering 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 the Paul V. Moore High School, 44 School Dr., Central Square. It runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9.
Registration is required. Go to https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?DateID=BA5D2C106B570320E0530A6C7C1689D5
This report is current as of 3 p.m. Feb. 5.
– Total # of positive cases currently active: 334
The following numbers are cumulative since the county began monitoring COVID-19 in March 2020. They are updated every day to show new cases or changes. Those who have been released are not removed from the running total.
– Total # of tests conducted: 136,691
– Total # of negative results: 128,785
– Total # of positive cases: 5,889
– Total # of positive cases released: 5,470
– Total deaths reported by the New York State Department of Health: 85
– Total # of people in mandatory isolation/quarantine: 850
The Oswego County Health Department is administering vaccines to eligible groups in the most efficient way possible. For details, please go to the New York State phased distribution guidelines at
https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/phased-distribution-vaccine#phase-1a—phase-1b.
“It is wonderful to know that many of our community members are anxious for this vaccine and we share in the enthusiasm for taking this next step toward ending the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Huang. “Currently in New York State, requests for vaccine far outnumber available vaccine and we continue to ask for patience as we work through this process together. As vaccine becomes available in Oswego County for eligible groups, we will notify appropriate employers of scheduled clinics. Inconsistent vaccine supply makes vaccine clinic planning difficult, and the small amount of vaccine supply that Oswego County has received is not enough to
meet Phase 1a and 1b groups, and our senior citizens’ needs.”
The state has a wide network of vaccine dispensers.
New York State has assigned hospitals to vaccinate the Phase 1a population of doctors, nurses, and medical workers. Local health departments are charged with vaccinating essential workers identified as part of Phase 1b – first responders, educators, front-line workers facing the public such as cashiers, and others.