On Dec. 5, 2020, Onondaga County had a seven-day average of 60.66 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people, according to state data.
This year on Dec. 5, the seven-day average is 69.29 per 100,000.
“It has been a rollercoaster ride,” said Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta.
What are some of the differences between now and this time last year?
The vaccine was yet to be widely available to the public, whereas now the booster shot is open to all adults. And masks were still required, whereas now masks are simply recommended.
“I am honestly very concerned about [people not wearing masks.] We have a good vaccination rate. It’s good, but not perfect,” Gupta said. “So to make sure we have a protective layer around us, these are the best friends.”
Gupta said in December 2020, she was elated by the first vaccine clinic, hesitant but eager that it would be the solution.
“But then we started to see, of course, when the community opens up more and then misinformation. People started to raise unfounded concerns about the vaccine, which were untrue,” said Gupta.
She said nearly two years of a pandemic and vaccination resistance has taken its toll.
“We started to see — of course you have more number of people unvaccinated — you saw more activity,” Gupta said. “The virus started to populate at that point, creating more infection. And that created more work with the already tired workforce, whether it’s mine, the hospitals, the outpatient doctors that I work with and everybody has somewhat low morale because of that.”
She said her office continues to work to assure the safety of public health, but the greatest challenge remains the inability to assure the unvaccinated that the vaccine is safe.
“We have a solution, we have a solution and we can turn the tide. The puzzle here is what can we do to stop this misinformation and help people get reassured that the science is there, the transparency is there, you have all the facts and so many millions of people got vaccinated and the vaccine is working. The vaccine is working,” said Gupta.
