Syracuse, N.Y. — Another five people died in Onondaga County this weekend in addition to the 11 deaths reported Saturday — making this the deadliest weekend here since the coronavirus pandemic began.
“Sadly we had another brutal day,” Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said on social media this afternoon.
Since March, 304 people here have died because of the coronavirus, according to the county.
Four of the people who died most recently were hospitalized, he wrote. Three were men, ages 82, 81 and 77. A 94-year-old woman also died.
The fifth person died in nursing home, which the state oversees.
“This has been a devastating week for our community,” McMahon wrote.
And it’s been a devastating month: 1 in 4 coronavirus cases confirmed here since March have been detected in December.
Today, the county reported another 400 newly confirmed cases. About 10% of those — 43– were related to senior living facilities, according to McMahon.
Just four of the new cases were traced to K-12 schools. Two of those four involved students who tested positive, according to McMahon.
Saturday was the deadliest day since the pandemic began, with 11 deaths reported by McMahon.
The only other day the toll was higher was back in May. But that spike came after state officials announced nearly 20 nursing home deaths in one day, rather than as they actually occurred.
The second-worst weekend was May 16 and 17, when a total of 12 deaths were reported.
Hospitalizations today were up by two patients, for a total of 261. Of those, 47 people were in intensive care.
Another 31 people hospitalized are ready for discharge but must first test negative before returning to their residences inside nursing homes.
That means there are just 230 hospitalized patients still being treated for Covid-19, a sign of hope, McMahon tweeted.
Overall, 30% of the people hospitalized now are nursing home residents, he said.
“Another positive,” McMahon wrote, “the vaccine will be distributed to nursing home residents this week. We will get through this.”
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