By: Elizabeth Doran
Madison County, N.Y. — The number coronavirus cases in Madison County has surged, doubling since Friday, officials reported.
The surge is attributed largely to testing at Green Empire Farms in Oneida (Madison County) and some cases at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Chittenango, Madison County officials said.
Madison County reported 73 positive cases from Green Empire while Oneida County reported another 52 cases from the greenhouse facility. (Each county is reporting cases of its residents who work at the large greenhouse facility that employs 300 to 400 people.)
On Friday, there were 51 active positive cases of coronavirus in Madison County; that has risen today to 120, officials reported. (Active positive cases are people who test positive for the virus but have not recovered.)
Overall, Madison County has had 246 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to its website Monday. On Friday, Madison County reported 169 testing positive. That’s a 46% increase.
Madison County also reported its sixth death from coronavirus — an elderly resident of the Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing in Chittenango with underlying conditions has died, county officials said, who have previously reported a rise in cases at the nursing home.
After several workers at the greenhouse facility began testing positive, the Madison County and state health departments set up a testing site there to test all the workers and those they had close contact with, Madison County officials said.
On the first day of testing, 186 people were tested — and the majority of new cases came from this testing, county officials said.
Oneida County Executive Anthony J Picente Jr. Monday called the greenhouse in Madison County a hot spot.
Madison County Public Health Director Eric Faisst said in a news release that "we now understand how much this virus has spread within this community so that we can better contain it.”
Madison County officials said they are working to ensure measures are in place to limit exposure for the staff and residents of the Grand Rehabilitation facility.
“We understand that this drastic uptick in numbers can be concerning for our residents," Faisst said. ”Please know we are doing everything we can to protect our residents, but we need your help and cooperation."
Faisst said people need to wear a face covering when out in public, especially when they are unable to maintain social distancing, such as when in a store. Also, members of the public should be staying home, he said. Do not go out unless you have to, and if you do go out, wear a face covering.
There will be a news conference at 10 a..m Tuesday to discuss the new numbers.
Article Obtained from: https://www.syracuse.com/coronavirus/2020/05/madison-county-hot-spot-found-cases-surge-after-testing-6th-death-reported.html
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