Madison County asks residents to alternate the days they go out for necessary items

WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. — Madison County officials on Tuesday asked residents to alternate the days that they go out for necessary items to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The request is effective Tuesday and continues through April 28, the Madison County Board of Supervisors and Madison County Health Department said in a news release.

Officials are not only asking residents to stay home, but also to “limit the days” they are in public locations. “To keep things uniform,” Madison County is asking people to abide by the same every-other-day rules as neighboring Onondaga County.

If you were born in an even year, the county asks you to go out and get necessary items from a store or visit a local park on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. If you were born in an odd year, the county asks you to go out and get any necessary items or go to a local park on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

As for the two Sundays involved, the first Sunday (April 12) during the stay-at-home order is reserved for people born during an odd year. The second Sunday (April 19) during the stay-at-home order is reserved for people born during an even year.

“We are asking residents to voluntarily double down on their social-distancing efforts here in Madison County,” John Becker, chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors, said. “For weeks, we have been saying stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19. We thank our residents for doing their part, but we have noticed that people are becoming comfortable. They are no longer staying home. There are more and more people going to public places like stores. We cannot become complacent. You should only be going out for necessary shopping. If you do go shopping, don’t make this a family event, shop solo. With this new effort, we hope to limit even further the number of people out in our community.”

Essential workers should still go to work for their shift, Madison County said. As per the state, non-essential businesses are still closed, with all employees having to work from home.