People under the age of 29 are quickly becoming a significant portion of new COVID-19 cases in Onondaga County. Summer is typically a season for graduation parties and other social gatherings for young people.
County Executive Ryan McMahon reported that around 1/3 of new cases can be attributed to this age group.
“We have a problem with younger people socializing. We get that. We understand it. It makes sense,” said McMahon. “At the same time, we can’t have 40 kids at a party and spreading this thing the way that it has without wearing masks and protecting ourselves.”
Now, McMahon is asking for parents’ help, specifically with 17, 18, and 19-year-olds. He’s hoping to increase testing for this population, so mobile testing next week will be in collaboration with schools. The Syracuse Community Health Center will also remain open during the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for testing.
The county is also working on containing a coronavirus cluster at a local memory care facility. McMahon said they do not have the medical capabilities of a nursing home, so any resident who tests positive is sent to the hospital. Of the 51 people in the hospital, 25 of them are from the memory care facility.
Economically, the county continues to take blows in sales tax. The most recent payment covered March through May and decreased by $4.6 million year over year. McMahon is hoping the federal government makes a move soon.
“Anything that was easy to cut, we had $2 million of cash for infrastructure. We cut that months ago,” said McMahon. “We’re down to the bone now. We’ve been at the bone. Essentially, if we don’t get federal help it’s just going to be very, very ugly.”
He said he is encouraged by recent movement in the Senate, which could potentially provide relief soon. In all, Onondaga County is now down almost $23 million for the 2020 budget.
