By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
On May 1, the Madison County Health Department and Madison County Board of Supervisors provided residents with an update on the COVID-19 response during their weekly press briefing.
At the time of the briefing, Madison County reported the following numbers:
1,375 patients tested
39 test results pending
1,169 negative tests
167 positive tests
112 patients recovered
5 deaths
Public Health Director Eric Faisst reported that the number of new cases over the past week had increased five-fold.
According to Faisst, there have been several cases among staff and residents of the Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing facility in Chittenango and among the workers at the Green Empire Farms greenhouses.
Faisst said the Madison County Health Department is working closely with the New York State Health Department, which oversees and regulates nursing homes, to make sure measures are in place to reduce further exposure to residents and staff and to limit risk to the surrounding community.
The Madison County Health Department has also been working with Green Empire Farms since March to make sure safety protocols are in place.
“I think the greenhouse is doing [what] they need to be doing to protect their workers . . .” Faisst said. “Unfortunately, employers can only control what their employees do while in the workplace. Please know that the Madison County Health Department staff are working to make sure that those workers who were positive and those they have come in contact with are being isolated and quarantined to limit any further spread, to receive the healthcare that they need, and [to ensure] that they are educated on best practices.”
The county and state health departments are collaborating to set up a testing site targeting those workers. The site will not be open to the general public.
Faisst said the recent uptick in cases serves as a reminder that the virus is still present and can spread very quickly, and that everyone should continue to wear face coverings, practice social distancing and good hygiene, and stay at home when sick.
The public health director concluded by noting that hospitals are continuing to perform elective surgeries.
John Becker, chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors, reported that the State of New York Executive Branch has discussed anywhere from 20 to 50 percent cuts to localities.
“That’s why it is so important that the region and the counties get back open for business,” Becker said. “It’s good for the state, it’s good for the counties; we’ve got to have some revenue coming in. If we don’t, we are all going to be in trouble. A 50 percent reduction for Madison County would mean $11 million, and I don’t know where we will come up with that. We can’t go to the taxpayers this year and ask for a tax increase, because this pain is shared with everybody and we can’t take it anymore.”
Becker added that he asked the governor to reconsider cuts to localities, particularly those to schools. He explained that in addition to impacting students, cuts to school aid will result in increased school taxes, which are already the highest tax.
The chairman then announced that Madison County is moving forward with its recovery plan.
Last week, the county met with its regional partners in surrounding communities to discuss approaches to safely restarting Central New York.
Internally, the Madison County Recovery Task Force also met to review its preliminary plans. The county is working closely with public health officials, businesses and other community partners.
Becker also reported that the Madison County Office of Emergency Management is hosting, in conjunction with towns, six drive-through hand sanitizer distribution sites.
Residents are asked to remain in their cars and wear face coverings when receiving supplies.
All general, non-medical questions regarding COVID-19 should be directed to the new Madison County COVID-19 Hotline at 315-366-2770.
For more information about the novel Coronavirus, visit Madison County at madisoncounty.ny.gov/2479/Coronavirus-COVID-19, call the New York State Coronavirus Hotline at 1-888-364-3065, and visit CDC at cdc.gov/coronavirus.
