Oneida County confirms second coronavirus case; 130 awaiting test results

UTICA , N.Y. — Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. on Wednesday confirmed the second positive case of an Oneida County resident with the coronavirus (COVID-19).

During an afternoon press briefing, Picente said the person had traveled domestically, tested immediately after traveling, and is quarantined. Picente withheld any additional details including where the person had traveled to within the United States.

As of this afternoon, Oneida County has 218 people in mandatory quarantine. Picente says 130 people were tested and are awaiting results.

There has been an overabundance of testing requests in the county, he says, and materials to test are in short supply.

“We might not be getting more, and we are preparing for that,” he says. Testing materials are being routed to hospitals and areas of greater need, he adds.

Oneida County Director of Health Phyllis Ellis says with tests in short supply people who are worried they have symptoms or were possibly exposed to Covid-19 should self-isolate themselves and their family for 14 days. If the symptoms get worse during that time, they can talk to their health-care provider about testing.

The county reported its first positive case Tuesday. The individual had traveled abroad and returned on March 12. The patient remains in quarantine.

There is one reported positive case in neighboring Herkimer County. The patient in that case returned to the hospital Tuesday evening, according to news reports.

Contact CNYBJ at news@cnybj.com

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