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Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. We'll post regular updates from NPR and regional news from the WRVO newsroom. You can also find updates on our live blog.

Onondaga County up to 53 coronavirus cases, positive case involves market in Solvay

Tom Magnarelli
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WRVO Public Media
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon at the CNY Philanthropy Center, last week.

On Monday, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said it is a good trend that there were three straight days of declines in coronavirus testing at a triage test site in Syracuse.

“Our hope is that people who are symptomatic with respiratory illness are getting testing and we’re getting to the point where we’ve started to get ahead of all those cases in our community,” McMahon said. 

The number of positive coronavirus cases in Onondaga County rose to 53, up from 45 on Sunday. Test results are taking about 3-5 days to come back. If someone took a test, they are mandated by law to be quarantined until there are results. The county has a help line for people in quarantine at 315-218-1987.

County officials are asking for help from the public on a case involving Ascioti's Market in Solvay. County Executive Ryan McMahon said anyone who went to the market on Tuesday, March 17, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. should contact the health department or a primary care physician.

Upstate University Hospital Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Stephen Thomas said in terms of beds, staffing and ventilators, the hospital is in a “green” status, meaning they are in good shape. Upstate is also currently good on PPE or personal protective equipment, such as gowns, gloves, masks and respirators.

The county is asking that any PPE donations be made to the Department of Emergency Management. They can be reached at Emweb01@ongov.net or 315-435-2525. 

Onondaga County has also secured 60 ventilators in planning for potential surge capacity in hospitals.

“We’re not going to give away our supply chains right now because it is that competitive,” McMahon said. “The more people that find out about supply chains, you’ll have a price at the beginning of the day, then when you’re trying to execute on that price at the end of the day, your price doubles.”  

McMahon also reminded residents about the importance of social distancing. 

"The fastest way we get to normal is by implementing social distancing policies and that means not letting our children go on play dates,” McMahon said.

He also said college students coming back from spring break should put themselves in quarantine, which typically lasts 14 days.

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.