Onondaga County reports 34th COVID-19 death, possible exposure from infected Walmart employee riding Centro

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon on Friday announced the county’s COVID-19 death toll has risen by one to 34.

He announced the death during his daily coronavirus briefing at the Oncenter.

At the same time, the Onondaga County Health Department said an employee at the Walmart store at 6438 Basile Rowe in East Syracuse had tested positive for COVID-19 and used Centro bus lines for transportation to and from work on certain days.

COVID-19 death

The deceased is a Caucasian male in his late 50s who had “significant” underlying medical conditions, McMahon said to open his remarks.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family and everyone we’ve lost this week, this month,” he said. “It is very difficult for these families to grieve under the current rules and regulations. Again, the community mourns another loss of another one of our neighbors.”

Of those who have died from the virus, 26 are Caucasian, four are of another race, and four are African-American, according to McMahon. The dead include 21 females and 13 males.

McMahon also reported that Onondaga County now has 947 cases of COVID-19, up 27 from Thursday. That was down from the prior day’s increase of 44.

Those with infections include 39 people in a hospital, up one from Thursday. Of those hospitalized, nine are in critical condition, up one from on Thursday.

McMahon also reported that 574 people in the county have recovered from COVID-19, up 13 from Thursday.

Possible Walmart, Centro bus line exposure

Members of the public who visited the Walmart store at 6438 Basile Rowe in East Syracuse on these days and times may have been exposed:

• Monday, April 20 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 21 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 22 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Friday April 24 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 25 between 6:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Monday, April 27 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 28 between 9:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 29 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Members of the public who used the following Centro bus lines may have been exposed:

Mon 4-20, Tues 4-21, Wed 4-22, Fri 4-24, Mon 4-27, and Wed 4-29:

• Route 216 departing Electronics Parkway at 6:55 a.m.
• Route 120 departing Transit Hub at 7:40 a.m.
• Route 123 departing Walmart at 5:38 p.m.
• Route 116 departing Transit Hub at 6:20 p.m.

Tues 4-28:

• Route 123 departing Walmart at 5:38 p.m.
• Route 116 departing Transit Hub at 6:20 p.m.

Sat 4-25:

• Route 123 departing Walmart at 4:18 p.m.
• Route 116 departing Transit Hub at 5:00 p.m.

The individual wore a face mask while working and while riding the bus. The Walmart store continues to adhere to CDC guidelines to protect the health of their customers. Centro confirms that buses are wiped and disinfected daily.

Health Department investigators are in the process of identifying all close contacts of the individual and notifying them. Anyone who may have been exposed on the days and times listed should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing for 14 days after their potential exposure.

If symptoms do develop, stay home and call your doctor for further guidance about testing. If you are elderly, have underlying medical conditions, or are immunocompromised, call your doctor early even if your illness is mild. In an emergency, call 911.