By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
On June 19, Village of Cazenovia Mayor Kurt Wheeler provided an update on the local response to COVID-19.
According to Madison County Health Department statistics, the number of COVID-19 cases in Cazenovia jumped from zero on June 15 to 11 cases on June 18.
Wheeler said the recent spike in cases in the Cazenovia area is an important reminder that residents must continue to adhere to the basic principles of prevention.
“If citizens follow the protocols of social distancing, using a mask when they cannot distance and washing their hands thoroughly after every outing, they will remain very safe,” he said. “People should not hesitate to go shopping or engage in outdoor activities as long as they observe those basic rules.”
According to Wheeler, the current cluster of cases was not the result of community transmission in a public park or business, but was instead due to person-to-person transmission within a defined group at a private function.
“We should all be mindful about how quickly the virus can spread if we ignore basic safeguards,” Wheeler said. “Despite this setback, our reopening continues to go well in the larger context, with the Central New York region slated to advance to Phase IV on June 26.”
Detailed guidance from Governor Cuomo’s office regarding recreational activities is available at
governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/SportsAndRecreationMasterGuidance.pdf.
Additionally it was announced that low-risk youth sports are expected to begin in early July.
The Fourth of July parade will form at 3:30 p.m. and step off at 4 p.m. from Green Street.
“Cazenovia plans to maintain as much of our traditional July 4th celebration as possible,” said Wheeler. “ . . . To help keep everyone safe, the parade route has been extended to allow spectators to spread out over a longer distance and not gather as closely in the downtown area . . . Barring revised guidance from the state, we are planning on a vehicle and float parade at this time.”
This year’s route will go from Green, north on Sullivan to Ten Eyck, south on Lincklaen, east on Albany and north on Forman back to Green. The total length will be about two miles, versus the traditional one-mile route.
Residents are asked to observe the parade from their own yards or to spread out along the route.
Participants and spectators will also be asked to bring masks and use them if they cannot socially distance.
“We hope to have a high level of participation from local groups as we always do, to not only celebrate our nation’s independence but our success as a community in tackling the pandemic together,” said Wheeler.
Contact Project CAFE parade organizer Molly Brown at [email protected] to sign up or get more information. Additional information is also available at 315-655-9380.
Cazenovia area residents and visitors will also be able to take part in the “Independence Run” from July 1-7 in lieu of the traditional July 4th races.
Visit runsignup.com/Race/NY/Cazenovia/CazenoviaIndependenceRun for more information. The annual Sidewalk Sales in the Historic Business District will be held on July 2, 3 and 5.
For additional COVID-19 updates and resources, visit the CazCOVIDResponse website at sites.google.com/view/cazcovidresponse/home.
