Write a commentThe following is the transcript of the COVID-19 News Conference statement made by Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup on April 8th:
Good afternoon. Today is Wednesday, April 8. I’m Jim Weatherup, Chairman of the Oswego County Legislature.
With me today are Diane Oldenburg, Senior Public Health Educator for the Oswego County Health Department, and Sara Sunday, Administrator of the Oswego County Office for the Aging.
First, on behalf of the County Legislature and all of us on the county’s COVID-19 response team, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the two patients that we lost this week.
While we have anticipated and prepared for the spread of coronavirus in our county, I had hoped that we would not have to make this sad announcement.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of social distancing. People can carry this virus and be asymptomatic. They may not know that they are infected.
As we prepare to celebrate Easter, we are seeing more and more social media posts about people still planning to get together with their family for Easter. I find this very alarming. Family traditions are important to us all and Easter is an important holiday, but it’s not worth putting your family at risk, or the public if you work in an essential job with the public. I am not suggesting that you not celebrate Easter, I am however strongly encouraging you to do so in the confines of your own home with only the members of your own household present.
Please respect others and take personal responsibility for your behavior.
Next, I will call on Diane Oldenburg to provide today’s daily numbers:
Statement by Diane Oldenburg:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
- Total # of people tested or scheduled to be tested: 803
- Total # of positive cases: 36
- Total # of positive recovered: 18
- Total # of negative results: 702
- Total # pending results: 61
- Total # of people in precautionary quarantine: 76
- Total # of people in mandatory isolation or quarantine: 94
- Total # completed/released monitoring: 726
And as the Chairman mentioned, we have had two deaths from COVID-19.
Thank you, Diane.
Hard times can bring out the best in some people, and unfortunately, the worst in others. Today we issued a news release warning people about COVID-19 scams, some of which are targeted specifically at seniors.
Although the office is currently closed to walk-in customers, the Office for the Aging continues to provide services to seniors across Oswego County during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I invited Sara Sunday, Aging Services Director, to share information today about how her department is helping seniors during the COVID-19 crisis. Sara will also share important information about a scam that is currently going around New York State.
Statement by Sara Sunday, Director, Oswego County Office for the Aging
Thank you Chairman Weatherup.
It saddens me to say that during one of the scariest times of our lives, when seniors are already the main target of the coronavirus, people are looking to take advantage of our older residents.
At this time of social distancing, our seniors are requested to isolate to maintain their safety. This is opening the door to unscrupulous people, targeting our vulnerable seniors, looking to take advantage with their scams.
To combat these scammers, remember a few key things:
- If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is;
- Don’t answer the phone if you don’t know the caller;
- Government offices such as Social Security, Medicare, or the IRS will not call you, or discontinue benefits if you do not provide your information over the phone;
- Never provide your personal information such as your date of birth, social security number or Medicare number over the phone;
- Grants will not ask you to pay an amount up front or a processing fee in order to receive funds;
- Currently, there are no at home COVID19 test kits
- Federal stimulus checks will be deposited into the account on file for your social security retirement payments;
- When in doubt, hang up the phone and call someone you trust: the Oswego County Sherriff, local police, or the Office for the Aging, to ask about the legitimacy of the caller.
- Unsolicited telemarking calls are prohibited during a declared state of emergency. If you receive an unsolicited call, you should report it to the Do Not Call Registry by calling 1-888-382-1222 or online at donotcall.gov
Please know that the Office for the Aging is here to help our seniors!
We continue to register people for home delivered meals and weekday deliveries are being made.
If you or someone you know is 60 or older and in need of a nutritious daily meal, please call the office for the aging at 315-349-3484.
Staff are working remotely so a message will need to be left and then a case manager will call back, from a blocked number. They will identify themselves by name and that they are from the Office for the Aging.
We are also providing food boxes to seniors in need. If you are getting out to shop, shelves can be bare of the necessities you are seeking.
To help with social distancing, and make sure you are receiving the items you need, we have been seeking donations from a very generous community.
The office for the aging accepts donations in a drop box in front of the office at 70 Bunner St, Oswego.
The box is monitored, and donations are only accepted during office hours, Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. Items collected are wiped down, bagged and can be picked up at the office or delivered to seniors throughout Oswego County.
Items include canned fruits, vegetables and soup, peanut butter, toilet paper, hand soap, laundry detergent, tissues/paper towels and pet food. Please call the office if you are in need.
If you have questions on your health insurance, an insurance claim or need information in Medicare options, please know we can help. Insurance counsellors are available to provide information and assistance over the phone.
Please know that we are here to help. If you are in need of services or have questions, call at 315-349-3484 or e-mail at ofa@oswegocounty.com.
Thank you Chairman Weatherup.
(Statement by Chairman Weatherup)
Thank you, Sara.
Lastly, I want to remind people that the Governor’s executive order regarding non-essential trips includes some trips to the solid waste transfer stations.
Of course, we want our residents to continue to dispose of garbage, household waste and recyclables in a timely manner. But we’ve also seen a recent influx of people making multiple trips to the transfer stations.
We understand that many people have extra time on their hands and want to complete spring-cleaning projects around the home.
For the health and safety of our solid waste personnel, as well as the public using our facilities, we ask people to avoid non-essential trips to the solid waste facilities until the Governor lifts the Executive Order on non-essential travel.
To make these “essential travel” requests even more effective I will also be requesting that our residents join with me in adopting a limited travel plan similar to that introduced by Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and supported by Madison and other counties. While none of us have the authority to enforce this as a matter of law, in the interest of public health and safety, we can police it and keep track of those who ignore it.
The “voluntary” travel restriction plan is to have residents who were born in an odd year eligible to run essential errands on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
People who were born in even numbered years can do likewise on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Sundays, we are encouraging folks to just stay home.
The more that we can keep people apart the greater our chance of stopping the spread of this terrible scourge.
Please continue to practice social distancing and continue to rely on reliable sources of information.
Go to health dot oswego county dot com forward slash covid hyphen 19 for the latest news releases, daily updates, and video presentations or visit oswego county dot com.
The health department’s COVID-19 hotline number is 315 349 3330.
We are all in this together, so I thank you again for your continued patience and cooperation.
