Both Erie and Monroe counties have recently instituted new COVID-19-related orders, but Onondaga County is, for now, resisting the urge, citing lower infection rates.
Last week, Erie County required everyone over the age of 2 to wear masks in public indoor locations.
On Tuesday, the Monroe County executive issued a state of emergency, increasing coronavirus testing, mandating masks in county buildings and pushing for private businesses to impose mask mandates.
In Onondaga County, however, no new measures are being taken.
On Tuesday, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said he wouldn’t be imposing any new COVID orders, and the three area hospitals have the capacity for new patients.
“We’re looking at the data, and we had a good week overall. We might have a tougher week next week. We don’t know yet. And certainly, if there is a sustained period where it looks like transmission rates are very high and going to eventually impact hospitals based on past experience with the virus, then we have to look at potential mitigation,” McMahon said.
The county is not seeing the same surge in COVID-19 numbers as the others.
The seven-day average of positive COVID tests per 100,000 for Onondaga is 40.9, according to state data. For Monroe County, it’s 50.8, and for Erie County, it’s 64.
“And so that if we do have to act, and I do have to make tough decisions that will make people upset for a period of time, that they take that decision seriously. And they know that this is not a knee-jerk reaction. That this is thoughtful, and this is not something we jumped to when others suggested we should of, and so that people comply. Because you can say whatever you want on this podium, but it’s useless if nobody complies,” McMahon said.
It’s a similar trend when it comes to regional hospitalizations.
According to the state Health Department, the seven-day average of COVID hospitalizations per 100,000 in Central New York is 22. Meanwhile, Western New York is 34, and the Finger Lakes Region is 34.7.
