In an effort to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Madison County Department of Health (MCDOH) has partnered with the Town and Village of Cazenovia to test wastewater for COVID-19 from the wastewater treatment plant serving the Village of Cazenovia. The presence of COVID-19 in wastewater can be an early indicator that cases of COVID-19 in the community may be increasing. Research has shown that non-infectious RNA (ribonucleic acid) from the virus that causes COVID-19 can be detected in wastewater as many as three to seven days before those infections lead to increases in case counts or hospitalizations. This emerging information is being used by Madison County in conjunction with our community case numbers and other COVID-19-related data to further inform decisions as we respond to the pandemic.

Recently, wastewater sample results collected from the wastewater treatment system serving the Village of Cazenovia was positive for COVID-19. This maybe an indicator of an uptick in COVID-19 activity in the community. We are informing residents so that they are alert and remain vigilant in their efforts to social distance, wear face coverings, and adhere to prevention efforts such as frequent hand-washing.

Madison County Department of Health is asking residents to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19. Those symptoms include fever, cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and/or difficulty breathing. If symptoms develop, please stay home and contact your doctor for guidance on testing. In the event of an emergency, please call 911.

Madison County partners with SUNY Upstate to hold COVID-19 diagnostic mobile testing clinics, the next test date is October 15, 2020 in Wampsville and another is scheduled for October 22, 2020 in Cazenovia. Testing is available to anyone interested at no cost to the patient, however they are by appointment only. Anyone who would like to be tested should call 315-464-2582 select option 0 to set up an appointment.

Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020

Location: Madison County Complex Parking Lot, 138 North Court Street, Wampsville, NY

Time: 3 – 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020

Location: Cazenovia Public Library, Lower Back Parking Lot, Riverside Drive (off Mill Street)

Time: 3 – 7 p.m.

For more information, visit https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/2479/Coronavirus-COVID-19.