OSWEGO – Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow held a virtual COVID town hall meeting last night, addressing the increasing rise of positive COVID-19 numbers in the county; again warning residents of the consequences of non-compliance with current health and safety guidelines.
Two weeks ago, Barlow held a similar meeting in hopes of encouraging people to make the proper decisions in slowing down the positivity rate.
“At the start of November, Oswego County had 648 cumulative cases, meaning from the beginning of the pandemic to November 1 – 648 positive COVID cases,” Barlow said. “Since November first [we’ve had] 977. So, totally uncharted territory. In one month, we got to and surpassed by a long shot, the number of cases we had leading up to November. So, that’s another data point I think should wake some folks up.”
According to the Oswego County Health Department and New York State COVID-19 dashboards, the ten-day rolling average has fluctuated between 55-80 new positive cases each day. Oswego is currently running at a 7.7 positivity rate over the last ten day period, well over the average for yellow, orange and red zone designation.
According to New York States color coded zone metrics, the rates include the following:
Yellow zone – 3.5% positivity rate for ten days
Orange zone – 4.5% positivity rate for ten days
Red zone – 5.5% positivity rate for ten days
“We need to practice social distancing and change our behavior to try to work our way out of those metrics. The fact of the matter is, we are dangerously close to being labeled a yellow, orange or red zone. That’s just a fact. And that brings more shutdowns, just in time for the holiday season. And that’s not something our economy can support. And really, more importantly than that, that’s not where our data should be,” Barlow said. “I find it incredibly entertaining that the people who are against masks and say that masks are foolish and we shouldn’t have to wear them; they’re the same people who are equally as passionate and resistant to economic shutdowns and more restrictions. They’re the people who absolutely hate businesses capacity limits lowered. You can’t have it both ways right now. If we keep acting like business as usual, we’ll eventually be labeled yellow, orange and red. And, you won’t like the outcome.”
The mayor encouraged people to celebrate the holiday season safely by following established health guidelines and keeping gatherings limited to households only.
Special recognition was given to SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley and SUNY Upstate Medical Center’s partnership and support in creating COVID-19 testing for city employees.
Before Thanksgiving, Barlow announced ongoing testing for essential city employees including the Departments of Wastewater Management, Water, Fire, Police Departments and the Department of Public Works.
Barlow said the program would not be possible without the help of Oswego State, mentioning his concern about the city workers and the need to maintain a healthy level of workforce while continuing to service the community throughout the pandemic.
The mayor also gave recognition to the Oswego Fire Department for their continued work in administering the tests. To view the town hall meeting with a question and answer segment included, please click here.
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