Oneida County reports record number of COVID-19 cases with 214

UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County on Tuesday reported a record 214 new positive cases of COVID-19, and its health department is pleading with people who have tested positive for the virus, or been exposed to a positive case, to stay home and isolate.

The department makes the request “as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in Oneida County and across the state and nation,” per a Tuesday afternoon news release.

The 214 new positive cases bring the county’s total to 4,352. Its COVID-19 death toll stands at 141.

“Our health department is working diligently seven days a week to reach all positive COVID-19 cases, but with the high caseload volume that is continually coming in, this is taking some time,” Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. said in a statement. “Please be patient. If you are positive for COVID-19, isolate from everyone, monitor your symptoms and advise all contacts that they have been exposed and need to quarantine.”

Those who have been exposed to COVID-19 — including all household members of a positive case — need to quarantine for 14 days from the last date of exposure. Individuals who have been exposed to a positive case and have tested negative, must quarantine for the full 14 days. This virus can present itself at any time within those two weeks.

If you do not feel well, please contact your health-care provider. Testing is available in Oneida County to everyone. Some testing is free. For testing options, please visit https://ocgov.net/health/coronavirus.

“As the holiday approaches, we understand feeling the need for normalcy and the desire to gather with friends and family,” Oneida County Health Director Phyllis Ellis said. “However, COVID-19 is present in our community and continuing to spread. We strongly advise everyone to take precautions.

Tuesday COVID-19 report

In its Tuesday update, Oneida County indicated 42 patients are hospitalized in the county, including 35 at Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) and seven at Rome Memorial Hospital.

Oneida County’s Tuesday report also says the county has 1,151 active positive cases and that 3,060 positive cases have been resolved. The county says 1,151 people are in mandatory isolation and 1,427 are in mandatory quarantine.