Potential COVID-19 Exposure at a Local Business

The Onondaga County Health Department has confirmed that a customer of TisMart Cigar Shop and Lounge located at 5501 Bartell Road, Brewerton has tested positive for COVID-19. The customer was not wearing a face mask while in the establishment on Saturday, June 13 from 9:30 to 11:30 am.

Health Department investigators are in the process of identifying all close contacts of the individual and notifying them. Members of the public who visited the business on Saturday, June 13 from 9:30 to 11:30 am may have been exposed and should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 until Saturday, June 27.  If symptoms do develop, stay home and call your doctor for further guidance. If you are elderly, have underlying medical conditions, or are immunocompromised, call your doctor early even if your illness is mild. In an emergency call 911. Testing is also widely available, and anyone can get tested for COVID-19 by visiting one of the clinics listed at covid19.ongov.net/.

Onondaga County is now in Phase Three of reopening, and it is crucial that residents be diligent and continue to do their part to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Protect yourself and others by covering your face in public when social distancing (staying 6 feet apart) is not possible, especially on public transport, in stores, on crowded sidewalks, or when working and have direct contact with members of the public. Continue to wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, and disinfect surfaces frequently.

With more businesses reopening, employers must take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the workplace. All employers should implement a plan that identifies and controls all areas and job tasks with potential exposures to COVID-19, conducting daily symptom and temperature screening of employees before they enter the facility, requiring face masks and frequent hand washing, ensuring social distancing, telling employees to stay home when sick, and educating their staff about steps they can take to protect themselves at work and at home.

Information and guidance related to COVID-19 changes daily. We are continually updating our website, covid19.ongov.net to provide easy access to accurate and timely local information. Also regularly visit the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites for statewide and national news about COVID-19.

Fight the Bite: Protect Yourself from Diseases Caused by Ticks and Mosquitoes

As the Onondaga County Health Department continues its efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic in our community, it is important to remember other issues that are affecting our health. The arrival of warm weather brings with it the need to protect ourselves from mosquito- and tick-borne diseases. Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta reminds residents, “While we are enjoying this beautiful Central New York springtime, it is important to consistently use personal protection measures to reduce the risk of mosquito and tick bites that may transmit West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV), or Lyme disease from now through the fall season.”

The Health Department has begun the annual mosquito surveillance and control program for this year. This program collects and tests mosquitoes for viruses including WNV and EEEV. The program also uses larvicides (an insecticide) to control mosquito breeding in standing bodies of water.

Personal Protection Measures
The Health Department reminds residents that there are steps everyone should take to protect themselves from mosquito and tick bites during outdoor activities:

  • Wear shoes, light-colored socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck in your shirt and tuck pant legs into boots or socks. Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. 
  • Consider using insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and other products that have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Use this EPA search tool to help you choose the repellent product that is right for you, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on proper use for safety and effectiveness. Insect repellents should be applied only to intact skin or over clothing. Do NOT apply DEET or Picaridin directly onto children’s skin (apply to your own hands and then put it on the child). Repellent should not be used on babies younger than 2 months old.
  • Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home
It is also important to mosquito-proof your home by replacing or repairing broken screens and getting rid of standing water where mosquitoes breed. Keep your property free of standing water by cleaning clogged rain gutters; turning over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use; changing water in birdbaths every four days; properly maintaining swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs; draining water from pool covers; and, using landscaping to eliminate low spots where standing water accumulates.

Signs and Symptoms of WNV and EEE
Most people who are infected with WNV or EEE do not develop any signs or symptoms. However, both WNV and EEE are potentially serious illnesses. Signs and symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, confusion, tremors (shaking), convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, irritability, drowsiness, numbness, paralysis, vomiting, diarrhea, and coma. Consult your healthcare provider if you have been bitten by a mosquito and develop any of these signs and symptoms.

Check for and Remove Ticks
After outdoor activities, it is critical to check your body for an attached tick. Early removal is important—the longer an infected tick is attached to the skin, the higher the chances are for transmitting disease. According to the CDC, an infected tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. Keep ticks away by mowing your lawn often and removing brush.  Playground toys, decks, and patios should be kept away from wooded areas. In addition, do not feed deer on your property. If you see a tick embedded in your skin, follow the steps below (or watch this video) to learn how to remove it:

  • Take tweezers to the tick’s head or mouth, where it enters the skin.
  • Pull the tick firmly up, in a steady motion, away from the skin.
  • Clean the bite with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide.
  • Keep a record of the date, time, and where you were bitten.

Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Call your health care provider if a tick has been attached to your skin for more than 36 hours, or if you had a recent tick bite and develop any symptoms (“bull’s-eye” rash, fever, fatigue, chills, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes). Lyme disease can be prevented and effectively treated with appropriate and timely medical treatment.

More Information and Resources
For more information about mosquito-borne illnesses or Lyme disease, contact the Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health at 315.435.1649 or visit:

Onondaga County Health Department
ongov.net/health/env/mosquitoes.html
ongov.net/health/env/lyme.html

New York State Department of Health
www.health.ny.gov/diseases/west_nile_virus/            www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
www.cdc.gov/westnile/
www.cdc.gov/EasternEquineEncephalitis/
www.cdc.gov/lyme/

Potential COVID-19 Exposure at a Local Business

The Onondaga County Health Department has confirmed that an employee at the T-Mobile store at the corner of West Taft and Buckley Roads in Liverpool has tested positive for COVID-19. Members of the public who visited the store on these days and times may have been exposed:
•  Saturday, May 23: 10:00 am to 8:30 pm
•  Sunday, May 24: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm

The employee was wearing a face mask while working, and the store is following CDC guidelines for cleaning and physical distancing. Health Department investigators are in the process of identifying all close contacts of the individual and notifying them. Anyone who visited the store during the identified time periods should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days after they visited the store. If symptoms do develop, stay home and call your doctor for further guidance. If you are elderly, have underlying medical conditions, or are immunocompromised, call your doctor early even if your illness is mild. In an emergency call 911. Testing is also widely available, and anyone can get tested for COVID-19 by visiting one of the clinics listed at covid19.ongov.net/.

Businesses and employers can prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 within the workplace. All employers should implement a plan that identifies and controls all areas and job tasks with potential exposures to COVID-19, conducting daily symptom and temperature screening of employees before they enter the facility, requiring face masks and frequent hand washing, ensuring social distancing, telling employees to stay home when sick, and educating their staff about steps they can take to protect themselves at work and at home.

Some people who are positive for COVID-19 do not have symptoms, so it is important to stay at least 6 feet away from others and wear a cloth face covering/mask when in public. Continue to wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, and disinfect surfaces to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Information and guidance related to COVID-19 changes daily. We are continually updating our website, covid19.ongov.net to provide easy access to accurate and timely local information. Also regularly visit the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites for statewide and national news about COVID-19.

Potential COVID-19 Exposure at a Local Business

The Onondaga County Health Department has confirmed that an employee at Recess Coffee, 110 Harvard Place in Syracuse has tested positive for COVID-19. Members of the public who visited the cafe on these days and times may have been exposed:

  • Tuesday, May 19: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • Friday, May 22: 7:00 am to 2:00 pm
  • Saturday, May 23: 7:00 am to 2:30 pm
  • Monday, May 25: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

The employee was wearing a face mask while working. All Recess Coffee locations have a plexiglass barrier at the customer service area and continue to follow CDC guidelines for cleaning and physical distancing.

Health Department investigators are in the process of identifying all close contacts of the individual and notifying them. Anyone who visited the Harvard Place cafe during the identified time periods should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days after they visited the store. If symptoms do develop, stay home and call your doctor for further guidance. If you are elderly, have underlying medical conditions, or are immunocompromised, call your doctor early even if your illness is mild. In an emergency call 911. Testing is also widely available, and anyone can get tested for COVID-19 by visiting one of the clinics listed at covid19.ongov.net/.

Businesses and employers can prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 within the workplace. All employers should implement a plan that identifies and controls all areas and job tasks with potential exposures to COVID-19, conducting daily symptom and temperature screening of employees before they enter the facility, requiring face masks and frequent hand washing, ensuring social distancing, telling sick employees to stay home, and educating employees about steps they can take to protect themselves at work and at home.

Some people who are positive for COVID-19 do not have symptoms, so it is important to stay at least 6 feet away from others and wear a face covering/mask when in public. Continue to wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, and disinfect surfaces to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Information and guidance related to COVID-19 changes daily. We are continually updating our website, covid19.ongov.net to provide easy access to accurate and timely local information. Also regularly visit the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites for statewide and national news about COVID-19.

Sale of Flavored E-cigarettes and all Tobacco Sales at Pharmacies End May 18 in New York State

The sale of flavored e-cigarettes ends in New York State this week, as does the sale of all tobacco products in pharmacies. These are huge steps forward in helping New Yorkers live free from nicotine addiction.  The new laws were passed as part of the state’s fiscal year 2021 budget. New York becomes the second state in the nation to restrict the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies.

Karyn Johnson, Program Coordinator with Tobacco-Free CNY, a program that serves Onondaga, Cayuga and Oswego Counties, states “Ending the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and sales of tobacco product in pharmacies is an important step in reducing death and disability from tobacco products in our community.”

Research shows that the flavors in e-cigarettes attract kids, and the nicotine addicts them.[1] Nearly 40% of high school seniors in New York State use e-cigarettes, also referred to as “vaping,” and 27% of all high school youth vape.[2] This new law ending the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in New York State will protect kids from a lifetime of nicotine addiction.

Selling tobacco products in pharmacies has long sent a contradictory message to consumers by offering tobacco alongside medicine or products for illnesses either caused by or made worse by smoking. That ends now in New York State. It also reduces the number of stores that sell tobacco products in every community, an effective way of supporting tobacco users who want to quit and reducing youth exposure to tobacco marketing. There is overwhelming evidence that the more young people see tobacco, the more likely they are to start smoking.[3]

For help quitting smoking or vaping, including free nicotine replacement therapy for eligible residents, individuals can contact a health care provider, call the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at 1-866-NY-QUITS or visit www.nysmokefree.com. Effective medications and counseling are covered by Medicaid and most insurance programs.

Tobacco-Free CNY, Tobacco Free New York State and Reality Check student groups in Syracuse and Auburn have worked to educate local communities about the need to protect children from the billions of dollars of tobacco marketing in places where kids can see it. The statewide “Seen Enough Tobacco” initiative is focused on putting an end to youth smoking and other tobacco use. The average age of a new smoker in New York is 13 years old,[4] and 90% of adult smokers say they first tried smoking by age 18.[5]

Tobacco-Free CNY, a program implemented by Onondaga County Health Department, including Tobacco Free New York State and the Reality Check student youth groups, is part of the NYS Tobacco Control Program. Their efforts are leading the way toward a tobacco-free society. For more information, visit

Sources:

[1] Flavored Tobacco Products Attract Kids: Brief Overview of Key Issues, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Dec. 2019, https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/us-resources/fact-sheet/flavored-tobacco-products-attract-kids-brief-overview-of-key-issues  

[2] NYS Dept. of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control, StatShot Vol. 12, No. 4/Oct 2019, Trends in Electronic Cigarette Use Among High School Youth NYS-YTS 2014-2018: https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/tobacco_control/reports/statshots/volume12/n4_ecig_trends.pdf

[3] A Report of the Surgeon General: Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults “Executive Summary” 2012, p. 1, 3: https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/preventing-youth-tobacco-use/exec-summary.pdf

[4] Information about Tobacco Use, Smoking and Secondhand Smoke, https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/tobacco_control/index.htm

[5] A Report of the Surgeon General “The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress” 2014, p. 12, 696, 708: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK179276/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK179276.pdf 

Potential COVID-19 Exposure at a Local Business

The Onondaga County Health Department has confirmed that an employee at Deb’s Convenience Mart, 2419 South Salina Street in Syracuse has tested positive for COVID-19. Members of the public who visited the store on these days and times may have been exposed:

  • Saturday, May 9: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
  • Sunday, May 10: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • Monday, May 11: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm

The employee was wearing a face mask while working. Health Department investigators are in the process of identifying all close contacts of the individual and notifying them. Anyone who visited the store during the identified time periods should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing for 14 days after they visited the store. If symptoms do develop, stay home and call your doctor for further guidance about testing. If you are elderly, have underlying medical conditions, or are immunocompromised, call your doctor early even if your illness is mild. In an emergency call 911.

Some people who are positive for COVID-19 do not have symptoms, so it is important to stay home as much as possible to slow the spread of COVID-19. IF you need essentials or use of County parks, be sure to stay at least 6 feet away from others at all times and wear a cloth face mask. Continue to wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, disinfect surfaces, and stay informed.

Information and guidance related to COVID-19 changes daily. We are continually updating our website, covid19.ongov.net to provide easy access to accurate and timely local information. Also regularly visit the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites for statewide and national news about COVID-19.

Potential Exposure at Eight Local Businesses

The Onondaga County Health Department has confirmed eight more locations of potential COVID-19 exposures from a shopper at each of the locations listed. Members of the public who shopped at the following stores on the days and times listed may have been exposed:

Mavis Muffler, 404 Oswego Street in Liverpool
Saturday, May 2: 11:00 to 11:30 am and 5:30 to 6:00 pm

Walmart, 6438 Basile Rowe in East Syracuse
Saturday, May 2: from 1:30 to 2:00 pm

Tractor Supply Co. Store, 6641 Manlius Center Road in East Syracuse
Saturday, May 2: 2:30pm to 3:00 pm

PetSmart, 3865 Route 31 in Liverpool
Sunday, May 3: 1:15 to 1:30 pm

Lowe’s, 3856 Route 31 in Liverpool
Sunday, May 3: 2:30 to 2:45 pm

Aldi, 3942 Route 31 in Clay
Sunday, May 3: 3:00 to 3:20 pm

Peppino’s Pizza, 1849 Grant Blvd. in Syracuse
Monday, May 4: 1:20 to 1:30 pm

Wegman’s, 4979 West Taft Road in Liverpool
Monday, May 4: 6:00 to 6:30 pm

The individual was wearing a mask while shopping at each of the locations listed. The Health Department investigates all COVID-19 cases in Onondaga County and identifies and notifies all close contacts. Anyone who may have been exposed should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing for 14 days after their potential exposure. If symptoms do develop, stay home and call your doctor for further guidance about testing. If you are elderly, have underlying medical conditions, or are immunocompromised, call your doctor early even if your illness is mild. In an emergency call 911.

Some people who are positive for COVID-19 do not have symptoms, so it is important to stay home as much as possible to slow the spread of COVID-19. IF you need essentials or use of County parks, be sure to stay at least 6 feet away from others at all times and wear a cloth face mask. Continue to wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, disinfect surfaces, and stay informed.

Information and guidance related to COVID-19 changes daily. We are continually updating our website, covid19.ongov.net to provide easy access to accurate and timely local information. Also regularly visit the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites for statewide and national news about COVID-19.

Potential Exposure at Three Local Businesses

The Onondaga County Health Department has confirmed three more locations of potential COVID-19 exposures. Members of the public who shopped at the following stores on the days and times listed may have been exposed:

Rite Aid, 519 Butternut Street in Syracuse
• Monday, April 27: 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Tuesday, April 28: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm

Dollar Tree, 3130 Erie Boulevard East in DeWitt
• Tuesday, April 28: 11:00 am to 12:00 noon

Target, 340 Town Drive in Fayetteville
• Tuesday, April 28: 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm

The positive individuals were wearing a mask. The Health Department investigates all COVID-19 cases in Onondaga County and identifies and notifies all close contacts. Anyone who may have been exposed at the locations listed should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing for 14 days after their potential exposure. If symptoms do develop, stay home and call your doctor for further guidance about testing. If you are elderly, have underlying medical conditions, or are immunocompromised, call your doctor early even if your illness is mild. In an emergency call 911.

Some people who are positive for COVID-19 do not have symptoms, so it is important to stay home as much as possible to slow the spread of COVID-19. IF you need essentials or use of County parks, be sure to stay at least 6 feet away from others at all times and wear a cloth face mask. Continue to wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, disinfect surfaces, and stay informed.

Information and guidance related to COVID-19 changes daily. We are continually updating our website, covid19.ongov.net to provide easy access to accurate and timely local information. Also regularly visit the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites for statewide and national news about COVID-19.

Potential Exposure at Local Business, Greyhound Bus

The Onondaga County Health Department has confirmed two more potential exposures of COVID-19, at Walmart in East Syracuse and on a Greyhound bus from New York City.

An individual who shopped at the Walmart store at 6438 Basile Rowe in East Syracuse on Tuesday, April 28 between 10:30 am and 11:30 am has tested positive for COVID-19. This individual was not wearing a mask. Anyone who was in the store during this time should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 listed below for 14 days.

A passenger on a Greyhound bus, Schedule 0206, on Monday, April 27 that left Port Authority in New York City at approximately 2:30 pm and arrived in Syracuse at approximately 7:40 pm has tested positive for COVID-19. This individual, who is not a resident of Onondaga County, was wearing a mask. All passengers on this bus are being advised to self-quarantine for 14 days from the potential exposure and monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 listed below. These individuals should call their healthcare providers to see if they should be tested.

The Health Department investigates all COVID-19 cases in Onondaga County and identifies and notifies all close contacts. Anyone who may have been exposed should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing for 14 days after their potential exposure. If symptoms do develop, stay home and call your doctor for further guidance about testing. If you are elderly, have underlying medical conditions, or are immunocompromised, call your doctor early even if your illness is mild. In an emergency call 911.

Everyone, even people who are young and healthy, must stay home to slow the spread of COVID-19. IF you need essentials or use of County parks, be sure to stay at least 6 feet away from others at all times and wear a cloth face mask. Continue to wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, disinfect surfaces, and stay informed.

Information and guidance related to COVID-19 changes daily. We are continually updating our website, covid19.ongov.net to provide easy access to accurate and timely local information. Also regularly visit the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites for statewide and national news about COVID-19.

Potential COVID-19 Exposure at Local Business, Public Transit

The Onondaga County Health Department has confirmed that an employee at Walmart in East Syracuse has tested positive for COVID-19. This individual used Centro bus lines for transportation to and from work on certain days, outlined below.

Members of the public who visited the Walmart store at 6438 Basile Rowe in East Syracuse on these days and times may have been exposed:
Mon 4-20: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Tues 4-21: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Wed 4-22: 8:45 am to 5:30 pm
Fri 4-24: 8:45 am to 5:30 pm
Sat 4-25: 6:45 am to 4:00 pm
Mon 4-27: 8:45 am to 5:30 pm
Tues 4-28: 9:15 am to 5:30 pm
Wed 4-29: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

Members of the public who used the following Centro bus lines may have been exposed:

Mon 4-20, Tues 4-21, Wed 4-22, Fri 4-24, Mon 4-27, and Wed 4-29:
Route 216 departing Electronics Parkway at 6:55 am
Route 120 departing Transit Hub at 7:40 am
Route 123 departing Walmart at 5:38 pm
Route 116 departing Transit Hub at 6:20 pm

Tues 4-28:
Route 123 departing Walmart at 5:38 pm
Route 116 departing Transit Hub at 6:20 pm

Sat 4-25:
Route 123 departing Walmart at 4:18 pm
Route 116 departing Transit Hub at 5:00 pm

The individual wore a face mask while working and while riding the bus. The Walmart store continues to adhere to CDC guidelines to protect the health of their customers. Centro confirms that buses are wiped and disinfected daily.

Health Department investigators are in the process of identifying all close contacts of the individual and notifying them. Anyone who may have been exposed on the days and times listed should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing for 14 days after their potential exposure. If symptoms do develop, stay home and call your doctor for further guidance about testing. If you are elderly, have underlying medical conditions, or are immunocompromised, call your doctor early even if your illness is mild. In an emergency call 911.

Everyone, even people who are young and healthy, must stay home to slow the spread of COVID-19. IF you need essentials or use of County parks, be sure to stay at least 6 feet away from others at all times and wear a cloth face mask. Continue to wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, disinfect surfaces, and stay informed.

Information and guidance related to COVID-19 changes daily. We are continually updating our website, covid19.ongov.net to provide easy access to accurate and timely local information. Also regularly visit the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites for statewide and national news about COVID-19.