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McMahon: Watch infection rate as beaches, libraries, zoo reopens

Tom Magnarelli
/
WRVO News (file photo)
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon.

Onondaga County has reopened the Oneida Shores beach, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and libraries will reopen Tuesday. County Executive Ryan McMahon said while he’s not as concerned about a rise in COVID cases because of those reopenings, his team will be watching the county's infection rate.  

McMahon said there has to be a balance between shutting down society and learning how to live with the virus.

“Now, when you look at where our cases have gone, we’ve flatten the curve, our hospital infrastructure is not in jeopardy, our ability to trace and quarantine is not in jeopardy,” McMahon said.

The metric to watch, McMahon said, is the infection rate, because the number of active COVID cases will continue to climb as more asymptomatic people get tested. One or two days is not a trend, he said. But a week or more of higher infection rates needs to be investigated.

“Our contact tracing, we would know very quickly if these people were at a park or at an event or household party," McMahon said. "We find out that information. That tells you a story, and if one of those stories is a public facility, then you have to reassess that.”

Oneida Shores beach will be open on Memorial Day with capacity limited to 150 people. Beachgoers will have to wear a wristband and a mask if they’re within six feet of other people. Reservations to visit the Rosamond Gifford Zoo can be made online. Visitors will have their temperature checked at the entrance. And Onondaga County libraries in Syracuse will open Tuesday for pickup only.

Tom Magnarelli is a reporter covering the central New York and Syracuse area. He joined WRVO as a freelance reporter in 2012 while a student at Syracuse University and was hired full time in 2015. He has reported extensively on politics, education, arts and culture and other issues around central New York.