Ryan McMahon approached the Easter Weekend COVID-19 update with a concern that families may be gathering at a time when cases are rising and the need for social distancing is still high.
"We're worried about today, tomorrow. Stay safe, we know you're the safest with the people you live with. Celebrate the holiday with your immediate family and really assess if you need to get the broader family together."
The Onondaga County Health Department confirmed that a 9th resident has died from the Coronavirus, a woman in her 70’s with underlying health conditions. There are 25 new cases for a total of 481 positive cases. McMahon is not surprised there are 7 new contact cases.
"Out of the 25 new cases today, 7 of those are contacts from somebody else who had COVID. It's kind of to be expected. That's why it's so critical that were doing all we can to social distance to starve the virus. Because it's not just that one positive; it's the household contacts that we know will increase with that."
The Onondaga County Health Department is tracking 1,129 residents as they remain either in isolation or quarantine. People identified as having COVID-19 are in isolation and those identified as having been in contact with those individuals are placed in a home quarantine for a period of 14 days or longer. McMahon cautions residents to avoid gatherings this weekend.
"So you don't want to be in a quarantine. Stay home. It's a good way to keep yourself out of a quarantine."
The County Executive says data shows that the county earned a 50 percent social distancing grade in the last week during the voluntary shelter in place and he wants residents to shoot for a goal of 60 percent next week. He says if people went out to pharmacy or to get groceries last week a few times, maybe they could limit it to once in the upcoming week or not at all, if possible.
"I think if we're taking this seriously and not giving this the time to spread. We have to quit letting this thing feed on us. How does it feed? Through contact."
The county is seeing the lowest number of pending tests since triage testing began. Right now, there are 283 tests awaiting to be processed. Out of 274 tests received on Friday, 7.6 percent resulted in positive diagnosis of COVID-19. Still, McMahon wants people to realize the concern is very real as people fight for their lives in the ICU and the Coronavirus should not be compared to the flu. McMahon says the county is also going to following the lead of other governments by beginning to monitor wastewater treatment facilities around the county because the virus can be found there.
"One of the ways that COVID-19 is tracked is through sewage. Other communities are starting to do this. We've had conversations with Syracuse University about a partnership there. We're going to start doing this. This will be helpful now as we know it's here. It will also be helpful as we monitor through the year... and later in the year, under the assumption there is no vaccine - and even if there is a vaccine - COVID-19 will come back later in the year and we'll be able to see it in our community related to wastewater capacity and sewage."
McMahon finished his Saturday update by acknowledging there will be no COVID-19 press conference from him on Easter Sunday but, he offered words of encouragement in his closing remarks.
"This is about hope this weekend. We're going to get through all of this and we will certainly be much stronger when this is behind us. So, please everybody, be safe."
