COVID-19 Statistics Update, May 18, 2020

May 18, 2020 Kassadee Bradshaw
Kenneth Dolan talks about National EMS Week during a county briefing. Image from the county's YouTube channel.

OSWEGO COUNTY – According to the Oswego County Health Department, as of 3 p.m. today, there has been one additional case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) since yesterday. The cumulative reported number is 82 cases across the county and of those, 69 have recovered and three have died.

Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup posted a video briefing the public on COVID-19 updates, including reopening Central New York.

He said over the weekend Governor Andrew Cuomo gave additional guidelines for counties, such as Oswego County, who are beginning phase one. Weatherup is a member of the Central New York Regional Reopening Control Room and is working to clarify some of these directives.

“Outdoor, low risk recreational activities are permitted so long as social distancing and cleaning and disinfecting measures are in place,” Weatherup said.

These activities include:

  • Tennis
  • Non-motorized boat use and rental (rowboats, kayaks and canoes)
  • Gold and driving ranges (except mini golf)
  • Fishing charters and guides (following criteria)
  • Drive-in movie theaters
  • Marinas, boatyards and recreational manufacturers
  • State and local beaches may open Friday, May 22 at half capacity (no group activities like volleyball and football and picnic areas, playgrounds and concession stands will remain closed.)

The Oswego Canal is scheduled to open by July 4, but Lock 7 in the City of Oswego will remain closed until the construction project is complete.

Weatherup also said more testing supplies have been made available in Oswego County and so the county health department was able to test several hundred more residents over the past few days.

Kenneth Dolan, operations manager for McPhee Ambulance, joined Weatherup to talk about National Emergency Medical Services Week and what it means to be an EMS provider.

“The purpose of EMS week is to bring together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day to day life-saving services of medicine’s front line,” Dolan said. “It’s also the perfect time for EMS providers to thank our Oswego County community for your support.”

There are seven ambulance services in Oswego County, including Menter Ambulance, Donald McPhee Memorial Ambulance, Northern Oswego County Ambulance, North Shore Volunteer Ambulance, Oswego City Fire Department, and the Student Association Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SAVAC) at SUNY Oswego. Brewerton Fire Department Ambulance also serves residents in the southern part of the county.

“More than 500 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) answer about 2,000 calls a week,” Dolan said. “Being part of an emergency medical services team requires extensive training and ongoing certifications, but it also brings a great sense of pride and accomplishment at the opportunity to help your community and the opportunity to advance an EMS and healthcare profession for those who choose to do so.”

During the pandemic, the EMS agency leadership has been participating in weekly virtual meetings.

Today’s statistics are below.

Oswego County: (as of 3 p.m.) Note, the total number of positive cases is cumulative and the number of recoveries and deaths are of those numbers.

  • Total # of active cases: 10 (no change since yesterday)
  • Total # of positive cases: 82 (yesterday: 81)
  • Total recoveries: 69 (yesterday: 68)
  • Total # of deaths: 3 (no change since yesterday)
  • Total # people tested: 3,194 (yesterday: 3,017)
  • Total # of negative results: 2,812 (yesterday: 2,632)
  • Pending results: 291 (yesterday: 294)
  • Total # of people in precautionary quarantine: No data released today (yesterday: 281)
  • Total # of people in mandatory isolation/quarantine: 79 (yesterday: 84)
  • Total completed/released from monitoring: 3,058 (yesterday: 2,874)
  • Unacast social distancing score (as of today): D-

All known contacts of COVID-19 positive patients are being notified. In the event that a known case had public exposure when they were contagious, such as someone who worked in a restaurant, the county health department would alert citizens through the news media and social media.

Areas With Cases (alphabetical order):

COVID-19 has been identified in the cities of Fulton and Oswego and the towns of Boylston, Constantia, Granby, Hastings, Mexico, Minetto, New Haven, Orwell, Oswego, Palermo, Redfield, Richland, Sandy Creek, Schroeppel, Scriba, Volney, West Monroe and Williamstown.  

The county does not release the town/city of individual cases. If there has been a new case and a new area has not been added, that means it is in an area that has already been affected before. Once an area is added it is not removed from the list because the county does not say when a town/city no longer has a case.

New York: (as of yesterday)

  • Total # of positive cases: 351,371 (the day before: 350,121)
  • Total # of deaths: 22,729 (the day before: 22,619)
  • Unacast social distancing score (as of today): D-

Watch today’s briefing given by Governor Andrew Cuomo here.

Other updates from the state include:

  • Western New York, Central New York, North County, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley Regions have met all seven metrics required to begin phase one of the state’s regional phased reopening plan.
  • NYS on PAUSE will continue through May 28 for regions that have not started reopening; a region can enter Phase One of reopening as soon as it meets its required metrics.
  • Governor Cuomo released a guide to the state’s “NY Forward Reopening” Plan, along with the state’s regional monitoring dashboard.
  • New York is bringing in international experts to help advise the state’s reopening plan.
  • Testing efforts will be increased to help nursing homes meet guidelines stating all staff be tested for COVID-19 twice per week.
  • In coordination with neighboring states, public and private beaches will open with certain restrictions on May 22, ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
  • New York State has doubled testing capacity to reach 40,000 diagnostic tests per day, and has more than 700 testing sites. We encourage eligible New Yorkers to find a nearby testing site and get tested.
  • Governor Cuomo issued executive orders 202.17 and 202.18 requiring all people in New York to wear masks or face coverings in public, including when taking public or private transportation or riding in for-hire vehicles.
  • New York has issued first-in-the-nation criteria to healthcare professionals establishing an interim definition for COVID-related inflammatory illness in children.
  • New Yorkers without health insurance can apply through NY State of Health through June 15, 2020; must apply within 60 days of losing coverage.
  • Health care workers can text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to access 24/7 emotional support services.
  • New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.
  • Testing is free for all eligible New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider.

U.S.: (as of 4:03 p.m)

  • Total # of positive cases: 1,500,753 (yesterday: 1,478,241)
  • Total # of deaths: 90,312 (yesterday: 89,207)
  • Total # of recoveries: 272,265 (yesterday: 268,376)
  • Unacast social distancing score (as of today): F

Worldwide: (as of 4:03 p.m.)

  • Total # of positive cases: 4,775,000 (yesterday: 4,687,320)
  • Total # of deaths: 37,515 (yesterday: 313,973)
  • Total # of recoveries: 1,612,924

What It Means:

Status Required for Precautionary Quarantine – Person meets one or more of the following criteria:
  • has traveled to China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, or Italy, but is not displaying symptoms;
  • or is known to have had a proximate exposure (being in the same enclosed environment such as a classroom, office, or gatherings but greater than 6 ft from a person displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or someone who has tested positive for COVID-19) to a positive person but has not had direct contact with a positive person and is not displaying symptoms.

Status for Required Mandatory Quarantine – Person has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with someone who is positive, but is not displaying symptoms for COVID-19; or person has traveled to China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, or Italy, and is displaying symptoms.

Status for Required Mandatory Isolation – Person has tested positive for COVID-19, whether or not displaying symptoms for COVID-19.

Status for Total Positive Cases Recovered – Person no longer has fever for 72 hours, symptoms have improved, and they meet the requirements to be released from mandatory isolation set by the New York State Department of Health.

Protocol for Testing – New York State Department of Health

As New York State aggressively expands COVID-19 diagnostic testing capacity, the Department of Health has revised guidance to increase testing for frontline workers, including all first responders, health care workers, and essential employees who interact with the public, while continuing to prioritize resources.

Testing is done at the Oswego Hospital or the Pulaski Urgent Care. Testing is free for all eligible New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider.

Testing for COVID-19 shall be authorized by a health care provider for individuals who meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • An individual is symptomatic or has a history of symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. fever, cough, and/or trouble breathing), particularly if the individual is 70 years of age or older, the individual has a compromised immune system, or the individual has an underlying health condition; or
  • An individual has had close (i.e. within six feet) or proximate contact with a person known to be positive with COVID-19; or
  • An individual is subject to a precautionary or mandatory quarantine; or
  • An individual is employed as a health care worker, first responder, or other essential worker who directly interacts with the public while working; or
  • An individual presents with a case where the facts and circumstances – as determined by the treating clinician in consultation with state or local department of health officials – warrant testing.

Testing for Essential Workers in New York State

Guidelines from the Oswego County Health Department:

  • Stay home as much as possible.
  • Wear a face mask or covering over your nose and mouth.
  • Avoid non-essential gatherings of all types and sizes. (All non-essential gatherings of any size are banned.)
  • Keep six feet from other people.
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home if you are sick, unless you are seeking health care.
  • Call your healthcare provider from home if you are experiencing symptoms such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath.
  • Do not go to an emergency department unless you are experiencing life-threatening conditions.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses.

Resources:

  • Oswego County COVID-19 Hotline: 315-349-3330
  • New York Mental Health Hotline: 1-844-863-9314
  • Oswego COVID-19 Mental Health and Crisis Hotline: 315-343-5507

Links For Statistics:

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