Barlow Answers The Public’s COVID-19 Questions

OSWEGO – Mayor Billy Barlow held a virtual town hall tonight beginning at 7 p.m. to answer questions posed by the public in regards to COVID-19.

He began with a brief update with how the city has been handling the pandemic and then compiled questions from residents.

Barlow reminded the Stop the Spread stay at home order is still in effect. He thanked the public for its support and cooperation in regards to flattening the curve. Any mass gatherings are prohibited and tips can be called in at 315-342-8120 or emailed to [email protected]. Playgrounds and city amenities such as basketball courts are closed. Parks remain open to go for walks, but social distancing is required. City Hall is still closed and any related forms can be found online.

Barlow answered the following questions. Resources and the video can be found at the bottom of this article.

• Trisha B. – Is there any plan for law enforcement to enforce wearing masks in retail stores?
  • The city is asking retailers to help do their part in enforcing this in stores and police will continue to provide education as to why people should be complying. He also reminded people that wearing a face covering does not “give you a free pass to do whatever” and social distancing still needs to be observed.
• Andrea and Brian B. – What’s happening to folks who are being released from jail?
  • There is an appearance ticket that is issued at the scene of the arrest in most cases. If they are arraigned, it is done so via Skype.
• Andrea and Brian B. – Can we, as a county, make the decision to reopen, or does the governor of the state decide?
  • Oswego has the Stop the Spread order, the [playgrounds] have been closed, Wright’s Landing has been closed, etc. He said those orders can be lifted locally, but the approval to reboot the economy and begin opening businesses and other activities is up to the governor. Regions can come together to present based on their specific situations and can be approved or denied.
• Russell K. – What is the city’s stance on food trucks opening around town?
  • The city designates locations for food trucks. The spaces that have been rented so far for the spring, summer and fall 2020 have been asked to hold off on opening until further notice and will be issued rental refunds for the time they could not open.
• Mike S. – I think the opening of Wright’s Landing Marina should be looked at again, especially with the reopening of state-run marinas. I think this will allow you to show your trust in the public to maintain social distancing. Another added benefit would be to give the public a sense of hope, that what we are doing is working, because of this we can now enjoy the marina. The public should understand the city-owned marina is a luxury, not a right and that if we’re not responsible with the opening it will have to be closed again.
  • Barlow said he had made the decision to close Wright’s Landing before the state closed marinas because it is experiencing three different issues: COVID-19 (the intent of the business is to bring people in from other areas), various construction projects are also going on at the marina and the water level of the lake due to Plan 2014, which continues to damage the marina and city property in the area. He said because of the combination of these reasons it will remain closed until July 13.
  • “It’s a matter if we’re going to open at all this year,” Barlow said. “July 13 is going to be the absolute earliest, if at all.. That is the last decision we want to make. That is the last thing we want to do.”
• Greg D. – Can you discuss the timeline for repairs for flood prevention for the parking lot at Wright’s. High water seems to be an issue each year now and we’re wondering how soon the parking areas will be ready.
  • The construction projects going on at the marina include raising the parking lots by three feet to prevent flooding in the future. That is in the design phase and the aim is to get that project out to bid later this summer then start that project late 2020/spring 2021.
• Sue W. – Is SUNY [Oswego] going to reopen and will the Oswego City School District reopen?
  • The SUNY system is run by New York state, so that decision will be up the Governor Andrew Cuomo. He said he believes the state will consult with the presidents of individual campuses. For the school district, that decision is also up the state.
• Thomas F. – We’ve been told the number of cases and the number of tests administered to date, but we’ve heard little about the capacity of our local healthcare system, like Oswego Health and other local or regional hospitals. What’s their capacity and do you believe it to be enough?
  • The number of ventilators hovers around 15 and the number of beds hovers around 50.
  • “To date, that has been more than adequate,” Barlow said. “Given that we believe the worst may be behind us, I feel comfortable with the capacity. The established COVID system is not stressed locally and has not been stressed at Oswego Health as it relates to COVID. Obviously Oswego Health has been dealing with other issues.”
  • He said Oswego’s hospital does not have as much capacity as the larger surrounding areas so they pushed, and continue to push, social distancing to keep the positive cases and COVID-19 related hospitalizations down.
• Beverly D. – What is your stance on allowing businesses to reopen? Governor Cuomo said we’re closed until May 15, but what do you expect to happen after that?
  • He said while he agrees with the regional approach, it does not make sense to treat two area such as Oswego and Onondaga County separately because people who live in Onondaga County can work in Oswego County and vice versa. He said use and activity needs to considered. Golf courses and boat launches were reopened in the state because it is easier to social distance there. He said rather than reopening businesses based on area, it should be based on it ability to social distance.
• Tom C. – What is the city doing to help small businesses who have been hurt by this pandemic?
  • The city made $275,000 available at $10,000 increments for small businesses in the City of Oswego and has been given to those businesses. The city also distributed a flyer with the information of local restaurants doing take out and/or delivery. There is still some funding available for small business owners through Operation Oswego County.
• Kevin M. – We’re beginning to see various governments and institutions mention furloughs and mass layoffs to mitigate some of the financial losses because of the virus. Is the City of Oswego considering doing the same and if so, what services will be impacted or reduced?
  • He said because the city has properly planned and managed since the beginning of the pandemic, he does not think the city is in that situation at this time and is confident services will not be negatively impacted in the immediate future.
• Regina B. – I’m currently a graduate student at Syracuse University finishing my Master’s in social work in August. I’m finishing up my clinical internship at Farnham in Oswego County at this time, and I was wondering if I could volunteer my time to work the mental health crisis hotline for Oswego County. How would I get involved?
  • He said he was not sure if there is anything set up for Oswego County to accept volunteers like that, but recommended looking at organizations like Farnham, Victory Transformation, or Catholic Charities, who can always use another volunteer’s help.
• The county executive for Onondaga County reports number of cases in the City of Oswego and surrounding areas. The Oswego County Health website only lists the total number of COVID cases in the county. What are the total number of identified cases in the City of Oswego?
  • He said the last update he received was that there are three positive cases within the city limits.
• Cindy S. – Have any of the positive cases been hospitalized in the Oswego Hospital? When is antibody testing of asymptomatic people going to start happening in Oswego County?
  • Yes.
  • There are two different kinds of tests – the swab test determines if you are COVID-19 positive. The antibody test determines if you have already had the virus. He said Cuomo has been pushing the federal government to make more of that related equipment available to have labs get the testing done quicker. He said areas that have been hit harder by the virus, such as downstate, will have antibody testing before the areas with much fewer cases, like Oswego.
  • “City government, county government, is in that conversation,” Barlow said. “We’d love to see that antibody testing here but the logical way, the reasonable way about it is once that antibody testing capability is ramped up even more than it is now, you will see it deployed to the areas hardest hit.”
• Jamie H. – Is contact tracing occurring in Oswego County?
  • The Oswego County Health Department investigates where a COVID-19 positive person has gone and who they have had contact with and alert those contacts. Those contacts typically will then enter a 14-day quarantine.
• Kevin A. – Did Governor Cuomo take any of our ventilators downstate?
  • No, they found ventilators elsewhere.
• Donna D. – I work in a grocery store in Oswego and I wear a mask while working but a lot of people are still coming in without masks.
  • He said details have been sent to the large retail stores. He reminded everyone that wearing a face covering does not make one immune to the virus and other measures must also be taken.
• Leanne V. – I’m self-employed in Fulton without good health insurance. What if I get the symptoms and need to get tested? What do I do and how expensive is it? If I can’t afford it what do I do?
  • Reach out to your primary care doctor, if you have one, and have them advise you. If you have signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and you don’t have a primary care physician or you don’t have insurance, you should contact the County Health Department 315-349-3330 or the New York state COVID-19 Hotline. Testing is free statewide for individuals.
• Michelle H. asked why a certain business (Barlow did not say its name) was deemed essential. 
  • Local government does not deem businesses essential or not. The criteria is determined by the state but is enforced locally. Businesses can apply to the state if it falls in a grey area.
• Tracy R. – Due to COVID, will city-wide events such as the farmer’s market, city events and Harborfest be delayed?
  • The farmer’s market is delayed to start July 9. The Summer Concert Series – July 16. Wright’s Landing Marina is closed until at least July 13. A decision regarding Harborfest has not been determined at this point. The city and the board are planning for the festival normally but will need to make a decision in the next 30 days.
• Kathy N. – City workers picking up yard debris aren’t masked; they aren’t social distancing. Walmart has too many people without regard to social distancing. Aldi’s is doing a great job. Supplies city-wide are still scarce. Great job keeping numbers down city-wide of COVID-19.
  • Barlow said they are working with retail stores with enforcement details. City workers just got a new shipment of masks in so they will be distributing them soon.

Facebook Live questions:

• What’s going on in civic plaza? Is the city on track with updates?
  • The $85 million sewer separation project to separate the storm water system from the sewer water system is in its last phase. That construction will take place all summer.
• Will schools be closed the rest of the academic year?
  • The decision will be made on a state-wide basis.
• What should we do, as citizens, if we see families visiting stores together?
  • “There is no reason to be going to the store every day. There is no reason to be going to the store for items that are not essential items,” Barlow said. “If you have to go, one person from the household only. There’s no reason to bring the entire family into the store.”
  • Oswego Police and Fire Departments have been doing social distancing details outside places like Walmart, Lowes and Price Chopper to educate the public as they walk in.
• Was an alternative spot for the farmer’s market considered? One that has better social distancing?
  • He said another issue with having the farmer’s market open is not just social distancing, but mass gathering. Even if it was in a parking lot, there would still be a lot of people in a smaller space. Other options can be explored and reassessed.
• Larry W. – Does the city have masks and if so, how can I get one?
  • OPD and OFD have masks at their information tables (when they are there) outside grocery stores like Walmart. He said if you cannot find a face mask, use what you have such as a handkerchief, shirt, or bandana, etc. (A link on how to make a mask with or without a sewing machine can be found here.)
• If someone travels from out of state and visits family, what do they do?
  • New York state does not have a law requiring mandatory quarantine for people out of state, but out of respect to the community and the people you will be around, you should take it upon yourself to voluntary quarantine for 14 days.

Barlow thanked the community members for their questions and closed the town hall. The full video can be found at the bottom of this article.

Available 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

• Oswego County YouTube Updates
  • These videos are briefings given by Oswego County officials Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
• City of Oswego Emergency Assistance
• Fulton Coronavirus Hotline – 315-895-4767
• Fulton COVID-19 updates
• Oswego County Health Department 
• Oswego County Health Department COVID-19 dashboard
• New York Department of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Unacast Social Distancing Scoreboard
• Where to get help with food and general assistance

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