He went on to say the decision impacts about 80 people who no longer need hospital care and will free up that amount of hospital beds.
“It takes a strain off our hospital capacity … so that was very good news,” McMahon said in his Facebook Live remarks.
The nonprofit Loretto is a health-care organization providing services for older adults throughout Central New York. The organization serves close to 10,000 individuals each year through 19 locations in Onondaga and Cayuga counties.
Daily pandemic data
McMahon also reported 401 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, which increases the county’s case total to 16,353.
The county executive also reported three deaths, including two who died in a nursing home and a 48-year-old male who died in a hospital. Onondaga County’s pandemic death toll has reached 337.
McMahon also noted that Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta, who celebrated a birthday on Friday, said she hopes citizens will avoid large gatherings this holiday season, noting that her staff is “emotionally drained” from its work in dealing with virus cases.
The county executive said 313 county residents are currently in local hospitals with COVID-19, up 10 from Thursday. That figure also includes 57 people recovering in an intensive-care unit. He also noted the overall number of people in hospital beds in Onondaga County (including residents from other counties) is down 40.
“It’s good news because we now have 40 more beds that are available … to treat people if they get sick,” said McMahon.