Covid-19 is now spreading at a high rate in Onondaga County, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That’s up from the county’s previous substantial rate of spread.
The county is now seeing over 102 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people, based on a seven-day average, the CDC says.
A map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows levels of Covid-19 transmission in New York counties.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC in late July began recommending masks indoors for even vaccinated people in areas of the country seeing substantial or high rates of Covid spread. Onondaga County had been seeing substantial spread for over a week before reaching high levels today.
The new mask guidelines cover areas with 50 or more Covid cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period or where 8% or more of Covid tests are coming back positive.
A total of 50 counties in New York now have substantial or high rates of Covid spread, including multiple locations in Upstate New York. Here’s the full list:
High:
- Albany County
- Bronx County
- Broome County
- Chenango County
- Delaware County
- Dutchess County
- Hamilton County
- Herkimer County
- Kings County (Brooklyn)
- Lewis County
- Nassau County
- New York County (Manhattan)
- Onondaga County
- Orange County
- Queens County
- Rensselaer County
- Richmond County (Staten Island)
- Rockland County
- Saratoga County
- Schenectady County
- Suffolk County
- Sullivan County
- Warren County
- Westchester County
Substantial:
- Cayuga County
- Chautauqua County
- Chemung County
- Cortland County
- Erie County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Greene County
- Madison County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Niagara County
- Oneida County
- Orleans County
- Oswego County
- Otsego County
- Putnam County
- Schoharie County
- Seneca County
- St. Lawrence County
- Tioga County
- Tompkins County
- Ulster County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- Yates County
New Covid cases and hospitalizations have been surging in New York since the start of July. Cases statewide are up over eightfold and hospitalizations have more than tripled.
In Onondaga County, new cases have jumped from the single digits to dozens a day. Hospitalizations have increased from a dozen to 30.
Officials have said the more contagious delta variant of the coronavirus is to blame for the latest surge.
Despite the spike in cases, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not issued any new statewide mask mandates or other new Covid precautions. He has said new rules must come from local governments since the state’s pandemic emergency ended in June.
Cuomo said earlier today he plans to resign in 14 days after a report from the state attorney general concluded he sexually harassed multiple women. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will take over.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has said he has no plans yet for a broad mask mandate. But he has signed executive orders requiring masks at senior facilities and inside buildings at the New York State Fair, which kicks off Aug. 20.
McMahon and others have said the Covid vaccines remain the best tools for beating back the pandemic. All of the vaccines approved so far are effective against delta and other variants of the virus.
The shots prevent cases and are especially good at halting serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS
Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources
Onondaga County to recommend temperature checks, screenings in schools this fall
Masks in schools? Do covid vaccines work against delta? Top Upstate doctor answers your questions
Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com
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