COVID-19 Statistics Update, May 8, 2020

May 8, 2020 Kassadee Bradshaw
Michael Backus explains which County Clerk's office services are and are not available during the May 8 briefing. Image from Oswego County government's YouTube channel.

OSWEGO COUNTY – According to the Oswego County Health Department, as of 3 p.m. today, there have been two additional cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) since yesterday. The cumulative reported number is 72 cases across the county and of those, 57 have recovered and three have died.

Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup briefed the public today in a YouTube video. He began with a shoutout to everyone involved in the recent milk distribution in Central Square. He said since the county’s first two cases 49 days ago, the health department has tracked and monitored more than 2,000 people and almost all who have tested positive have recovered.

“Over the past few days we have seen a few more positive test results. This shows that coronavirus is continuing to spread in our community,” Weatherup said. “The virus will continue to affect our lives for the foreseeable future. We need to continue avoiding group gatherings and continue to practice other protective measures.”

Michael Backus, county clerk, gave information on how the County Clerk’s Office is continuing service. Backus said a few topics they address everyday include pistol permits, notary services, court filings, business certificates and passports.

  • Pistol permits are still available to be processed (call 315-349-8620).
  • Notary services are available by appointment (call 315-349-8620).
  • The court system has largely been closed and so the office is only accepting emergency court filings at this time (visit www.nycourts.gov for more information).
  • Business certificates can be processed via email or mail (call 315-349-8618).
  • Passport services have been suspended indefinitely during the pandemic and are waiting on the Department of State to know when those services can resume.

“When we do reopen, and hopefully that is very soon, there will no doubt be things that continue to change,” Backus said. “We are already implementing electronic filing and other many recording devices for courts and land recordings and we continue to work on ways to electronically manage records for the county. As change continues to come, we will be ready.”

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: 12 (yesterday: 10)
  • Total # of positive cases: 72 (yesterday: 70)
  • Total recoveries: 57 (no change since yesterday)
  • Total # of deaths: 3 (no change since yesterday)
  • Total # people tested: 2,012 (yesterday: 1,963)
  • Total # of negative results: 1,869 (yesterday: 1,818)
  • Pending results: 65 (yesterday: 69)
  • Total # of people in precautionary quarantine: 55 (yesterday: 56)
  • Total # of people in mandatory isolation/quarantine: 61 (no change since yesterday)
  • Total completed/released from monitoring: 2,089 (yesterday: 2,037)
  • 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, Richland, Sandy Creek, Schroeppel, Scriba, Volney, West Monroe and Williamstown.  

Note, no new additions were added today. 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: 330,407 (the day before: 327,469)
  • Total # of deaths: 21,045 (the day before: 20,828)
  • Unacast social distancing score (as of today): D

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

Other updates from the state include:

  • Nonessential businesses will stay closed through May 15.
  • All K-12 schools and college facilities statewide will remain closed and continue to provide distance learning, meal delivery and childcare services for the remainder of the school year.
  • 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 Yorkers without health insurance can apply through NY State of Health through June 15, 2020; must apply within 60 days of losing coverage.
  • New York State’s moratorium on COVID-related evictions will be extended until August 20 with fees for missed or late rent payments banned during the moratorium.
  • Due to a reduction in court services caused by COVID-19, the state is extending the window for victims to file time-barred cases under the Child Victims Act for an additional five months until January 14, 2021.
  • Governor Cuomo announced the members of New York’s Reimagine Education Advisory Council—made up of educators, students, parents and education leaders— to help districts reimagine schools as they prepare to reopen.
  • Dozens of events are scheduled across the state next week as part of the Nourish New York Initiative to help put food on the table for 20,000 households.
  • The results of the state’s completed antibody testing study show 12.3 percent of the population have COVID-19 antibodies.
  • A new contest asks New Yorkers to create and share a video explaining why wearing a mask in public is important. Interested applicants can go to wearamask.ny.gov.
  • New York State-regulated health insurers will be required to waive cost-sharing, including deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, for in-network mental health services for frontline essential workers during COVID-19.
  • 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 3:32 p.m)

  • Total # of positive cases: 1,273,887 (yesterday: 1,244,119)
  • Total # of deaths: 76,475 (yesterday: 74,844)
  • Total # of recoveries: 195,036 (yesterday: 189,910)
  • Unacast social distancing score (as of today): D-

Worldwide: (as of 3:32 p.m.)

  • Total # of positive cases: 3,910,738 (yesterday: 3,809,180)
  • Total # of deaths: 272,778 (yesterday: 267,233)
  • Total # of recoveries: 1,306,204 (yesterday: 1,266,047)

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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