The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
FOLLOWING PROTOCOLS
Oneida County to issue executive order requiring a mask or face covering to be worn in all retail and food establishments
Wearing masks and social distancing will likely be the new normal for weeks to come. Oneida County is monitoring its numbers and enforcing safety protocols to keep the virus at bay.
The county has so far seen a total of 378 total positive cases. Of that number, 215 cases remain active, 148 have recovered, and 15 cases have died while testing positive. 29 cases are currently hospitalized—26 within the county, 3 outside.
Along with the regularly updated county data, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. announced that facility related COVID-19 cases will be added to the county’s dashboard.
As this new normal starts to set in, Picente is ordering employers to enforce their patrons to wear masks when in their stores. Wearing a face mask is a simple procedure that helps stop the spread of the virus and needs to be taken seriously, he said, adding, “I can’t stress it enough.”
Picente said he witnessed several stores allowing patrons inside without some sort of mouth and nose covering, and that this needs to stop.
“The only chance we have of moving ahead is if we stick to these restrictions, now,” Picente stated.
Oneida County Direc
tor of Public Health Phyllis Ellis will be issuing an executive order requiring a mask/face covering to be worn in all retail and food establishments in Oneida County.
Picente stated that stores must enforce their customers to wear face masks or to not let them inside. Local law enforcement can be employed when needed. If businesses don’t comply, they risk receiving a fine.
To be clear, certain individuals should not wear face masks, including children under two years of age, and individuals who have trouble breathing or who are unable to take their masks off on their own. The county’s order pertains to businesses enforcing able individuals to wear a face-covering when in their store.
Along with this, Picente announced that Oneida County will be providing 50,000 cloth masks to local municipalities for distribution to the public this week. For those who need a face covering, a bandanna, scarf, or DIY face mask can be acceptable. The CDC has guidance and instructions on their website for more information.
The issue of testing continues to be a hot topic in the debate over how to get control over COVID-19. Picente noted some announcements from Gov. Andrew Cuomo concerning new testing sites popping up across the state in the near future, with Oneida County in the plans for a new site of its own. More updates on that will follow, Picente said.
Testing continues at the Rite Aid in New Hartford for those who qualify by appointment only. So far, the Rite Aid has yielded 178 test results, with eight of those coming back positive. These results are included in the daily numbers.
Picente said he continues to work on a plan for reopening the county when the timing is right, and he is working with local restaurants on developing their own set of guidelines as well.
Restaurants will have to consider distant seating arrangements, how patrons interact with the menu, among other logistics before official arrangements for reopening can be made. Nothing has been finalized yet, and as of right now, nothing will be able to reopen until at least May 15 per the governor’s orders. There may be wiggle room regarding this date if the numbers can stay down consistently
in the county.
In regards to recent activity across the state involving antibody testing and analyzing the data, Ellis wants residents to know that this information helps researchers and health officials better understand this virus.
She stressed that individuals with antibodies should still practice the same safety protocols as everyone else during this time; there simply is not enough known about the virus, and having antibodies does not mean you’re in the clear and cannot spread the virus to others or contract it yourself.
Ellis explained further that having antibodies also does not indicate if a person has had COVID-19, which would need to be determined by a diagnostic test. Testing for antibodies gives researchers a better idea about exposure and other important factors when studying this virus, she said.
Picente echoed Ellis’s concern that the presence of antibodies in the community may give individuals a false sense of security. He stated firmly that everyone needs to continue to do their part and social distance, wear masks and stop the spread. Reopenings will be delayed even longer if people don’t comply and the numbers start to spike,
he said.
Additionally, the following new public exposure warnings have been issued by the county:
• On April 19, 2020, an Oneida County resident who has tested positive for COVID-19, who is an employee at the Walmart located at 4765 Commercial Drive in New Hartford, worked a shift from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Risk to the public is low as the individual was wearing a mask. Anyone who was in the store during that time period should monitor themselves for symptoms until May 3 and contact their health care provider if symptoms develop. You do not have to automatically self-quarantine.
• On April 20, 2020, an Oneida County resident who has tested positive for COVID-19 was at the Tops located at 217 Erie Blvd W. in Rome between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Risk to the public is low. Anyone who was in the store during that time period should monitor themselves for symptoms until May 4 and contact their health care provider if symptoms develop. You do not have to automatically self-quarantine.
• On April 21 OR April 22, 2020, an Oneida County resident who has tested positive for COVID-19 was at the Price Rite located at
501 Bleecker St. in Utica between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Risk to the public is low. Anyone who was in the store during that time period should monitor themselves for symptoms until May 6 and contact their health care provider if symptoms develop. You do not have to automatically self-quarantine.
• On April 24, 2020, an Oneida County resident who has tested positive for COVID-19 was at the Walgreens located at 49 Kellogg Road in New Hartford between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Risk to the public is low. Anyone who was in the store during that time period should monitor themselves for symptoms until May 8 and contact their health care provider if symptoms develop. You do not have to automatically self-quarantine.
For public exposure updates on other COVID-19 resources, visit the Oneida County website.
Picente took a moment to acknowledge what he called a “remarkable” outpouring of support so far for the Mohawk Valley COVID-19 Response Fund, which he reported to have received over 1.2 million in contributions. The funds go towards supporting organizations that help those in need. This is a “great level of giving” from the community, he said.