Madison County Board of Supervisors and Madison County Health Department today are asking residents to alternate days they go out for necessary items in order to stop the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Effective today and going until April 28, officials are not only asking residents to stay home, but also to limit the days they are in public locations. To keep things uniform, we are asking people to abide by the same rules as our neighboring Onondaga County. If you were born in an even year, it is suggested you go out and get necessary items from a store or go to a local park on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The second Sunday during the stay at home orders is reserved for people born during an even year. If you were born on an odd year, it is suggested you go out and get any necessary items or go to a local park on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The first Sunday during the stay at home orders is reserved for people born during an odd year.
“We are asking residents to voluntarily double down on their social distancing efforts here in Madison County,” said Madison County Chairman John M. Becker. “For weeks we have been saying stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19. We thank our residents for doing their part, but we have noticed that people are becoming comfortable. They are no longer staying home. There are more and more people going to public places like stores. We cannot become complacent. You should only be going out for necessary shopping. If you do go shopping, don’t make this a family event, shop solo. With this new effort, we hope to limit even further the number of people out in our community.”
“Everyone needs to do their part to fight this battle against COVID-19,” says Madison County Health Director Eric Faisst. “Social distancing is one of the best defenses we have against COVID-19. Please remember when you do go out in public, do not make it a social affair. Shopping should be a solo activity. If you have an elderly neighbor, see if you can do some grocery shopping for them while you are out so they do not have to go out in public. We are all in this together and we will make it through if we all do our part.”
Essential workers should still go to work for their shift. As per the state, non-essential businesses are still closed. If you have a concern regarding a non-essential business that is continuing to operate, please visit the New York State Department of Labor’s Complaint Form or call 1.833.789.0470. If you have a concern about essential businesses like restaurants, hotels, or grocery stores, please call the Madison County non-medical COVID-19 hotline at 315-366-2770. Additionally, if a resident has a concern about large gatherings happening in your area, please report the gathering by calling the Madison County Sheriff’s non-emergency number at: 315-366-2311. The Sheriff’s Office is enforcing Governor Cuomo’s executive order.
If you do go out in public the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. The general public should NOT use surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders.
Stay informed.
For more information about the novel Coronavirus, visit Madison County at https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/2479/Coronavirus-COVID-19, call the Madison County non-medical COVID-19 Hotline at 315-366-2770, and visit CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
