A fourth person in Onondaga County has died of COVID-19. Health department officials say he was a man in his late 80s with significant underlying health conditions and was hospitalized. At his daily briefing Saturday, County Executive Ryan McMahon said the disease comes on fast and hits some people hard.
"Those in our community who have health issues who contract this disease have a hard time. Certainly we're thinking about our neighbors and their families who've lost their lives. These families can't mourn the way they should be able to mourn because of this. This is sometthing we're cognizant of, and one of the ways this virus is impacting us."
The county has had a total of 349 positive cases, and 200 people who have recovered. Twenty-nine are hospitalized, and 14 are in critical condition.
There are 245 active cases, which McMahon says is the number to watch. If that number goes down, he says we're flattening the curve. So far, he says it's not happening enough to consider opening non-essential businesses.
McMahon also called attention to another interesting number. So far, 4,672 people have been tested. Of those, 4,323 have been negative. He says that means the vast majority were sick with something other than COVID-19.
McMahon emphasized that people working at essential businesses should stay home if they're sick. He says that's becoming an issue with some of the cases they're seeing.
"We can't have cases where people are sick, worried about what might happen at work, are fighting something off, and they're going to work anyway. That cannot be the case. There has to be zero tolerance with this. If you're sick at all with any symptoms, stay home. There are clearly cases where people have gone to work sick, and they shouldn't have gone to work. If you're sick, worried about what you're boss will say, you think you might be treated unfairly, stay home. If you're given a hard time, call my office, we'll work with the employer. We can't have sick people going to work."
McMahon urged those who have recovered to use the password-protected online application process where they can input information regarding health status. He says this will expedite the release process from isolation for positive cases. Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta and her team have guidance on what they need to see to release, and will use information gathered from that application and follow-up communication to determine when it's time.
McMahon reminds those who've recovered to continue to follow social distancing and other safety protocols. That includes wearing masks or other face coverings, per new CDC recommendations. McMahon says Dr. Gupta fully is fully supportive.
