The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Oneida County announces texting platform for contact tracing
UTICA, N. Y. » Oneida County has shared COVID- 19 updates during the third week of December.
The county health department began utilizing a mobile texting app on Monday that will allow it to expand the reach of its COVID- 19 contact tracing efforts and increase the efficiency of the process, officials say. The system will target those who have received a positive test result.
The texting platform used, called Rumble up, is trusted by hundreds of organizations and campaigns across the country to quickly engage any size audience via SMS or MMS, according to officials. The interface will allow the Health Department to notify thousands of people simultaneously of their positive test results and provide them with important follow- up instructions for isolation, notifying close contacts, limiting contact with housemates, practicing properhygiene, and what todo if symptoms worsen.
“Texting is a popular, quick, easy way to share information,” said County Director of Health Phyllis Ellis. “This app will allow the Health Department to give accurate, necessary information tomore people in less time. The better we are able to do this, the faster isolation and quarantining can happen.”
Mohawk Valley Health System has received the first batch of COVID- 19 vaccines for the region, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente announced Wednesday. Earlier in the week, he described the vaccine as “the light at the end of the tunnel,” though acknowledged that there’s still a ways to go in the fight against the virus.
Around 1,000 doses were received for the region and surrounding healthcare systems, Picente said. About 300are form o hawk Valley Health System to distribute immediately to those in phase one of vaccination, which predominately includes healthcare workers.
Utica, Rome, and other areas in Oneida County were placed in a restrictive yellow zone by the state on Monday. Yellow zone rules as outlined by the state include:
• Non- residential gatherings - 25 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
• Residential gatherings - 10 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
• House of worship - 50% of maximum capacity
• Indoor and outdoor dining permitted, 4 person maximum per table, and bars and restaurants close at 10: 00 PM for onpremises consumption
• Schools can remain open with 20% weekly testing of inperson students and faculty
Schools in the yellow zone have already chosen to go remote through the holidays, Picente said.
Officials remind residents that a limited gathering should not neglect mask- wearing and social distancing protocols.
As Christmas approaches, Picente gave residents a message. “Christmas needs andwill bed ifferent this year. I know it’s hard for everyone to accept, and that goes for myself included. But it will only be different in the size of our gatherings, not in the depth of our spirit,” he said.
He urged residents to take advantage of available testing if they do plan on seeing loved ones for the holidays. Masks and social distancing should also be enforced at any gatherings along with testing, he said.
“I know people are going to do what they want to do,” Picente acknowledged. “We’re trying to keep everyone as safe as possible.”
People’s actions on Thanksgiving had an obvious effect, Picente said. He wants residents to avoid further spreading the virus because of another major holiday.
According TOCOVID- 19dataas of Dec. 16, the county has 4,212 active cases, 136 hospitalizations ( including residents admitted in and out of county), and 180 COVID- 19 related deaths.