{"id":111630,"date":"2020-03-20T20:13:06","date_gmt":"2020-03-21T00:13:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=111630"},"modified":"2020-03-20T20:13:06","modified_gmt":"2020-03-21T00:13:06","slug":"madison-county-news-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=111630","title":{"rendered":"Madison County news"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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County prioritizing testing\nfor COVID-19<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Local health officials are following state Department of\nHealth recommendations to focus on only testing the people with symptoms of\nCOVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt this moment, we do not have the supply to test every\nresident,\u201d said Public Health Director Eric Faisst. \u201cWe are using very specific\nconditions to evaluate whether to test for COVID-19. This will ensure that we\nprioritize the resources to meet the most urgent public health need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those prioritized for testing must fall into one of these\ncategories to conserve testing supplies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Has\ncome into close contact (same office, classroom, gatherings) of another person\nknown to be positive; <\/li>
  2. Has\ntraveled to a country for which the CDC has issued a Level 2 or Level 3 Travel\nHealth Notice; <\/li>
  3. Is\nunder quarantine; or<\/li>
  4. Has\nalready tested negative for other types of infections (rapid flu tests,\nrespiratory panel).<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Only residents who meet one of the above testing criteria\nshould contact their healthcare provider to get tested. This will allow\nhealthcare providers and the Health Department to focus on the residents with\nthe most need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It is important to note that while awaiting test results,\npatients will be placed on quarantine to protect the health of others. The Health\nDepartment will work with the patient before they leave their healthcare\nprovider\u2019s office to determine the best location for quarantine. Madison County\nwill remain in contact with the patient daily until the test results are\nreported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Health Department would like to remind people is that it\nis not enough for only sick people to stay away from public spaces; everyone\nneeds to practice social distancing at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWe encourage community members to change their behavior by\navoiding unnecessary activities,\u201d Faisst said. \u201cThis concept of social\ndistancing is a strategy used to slow and, ultimately, stop the spread of\ngerms. Limit your exposure to other people, whether to protect yourself from\ngetting the virus or not wanting to unknowingly spread it to others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For the state Department of Health criteria for testing,\nvisit coronavirus.health.ny.gov\/covid-19-testing#protocol-for-testing<\/a>.\nFor more information and the most accurate numbers on COVID-19 testing of Madison\nCounty residents, visit madisoncounty.ny.gov\/2479\/Coronavirus-COVID-19<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Health Department in touch\nwith Colgate University after out-of-state student tests positive<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Madison County Health Department has been in touch with\nColgate University regarding a student who tested positive for novel coronavirus\n(COVID-19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The student is not a Madison County resident and is in their\nhome state; while at Colgate University, the student was living off campus in a\nprivate house.  They tested positive after being in their home state.\nMadison County continues to have zero positive tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Health Department is aware that this student tested\npositive and is in touch with individuals who may have been in contact with the\nstudent before they left the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Individuals who are confirmed to have been in contact will\nself-quarantine for 14 days after last contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Those individuals will be tested and monitored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWe are closely monitoring the situation,\u201d Faisst said. \u201cWe\nunderstand that this will heighten the concern of many of our residents but at\nthis time the risk to the general public is still considered low.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThis is a great time to remind everyone we are asking for\nyour help to make sure that emergency department treatment remains available\nfor people who truly need it,\u201d Faisst said.  \u201cIn addition to caring for\npeople with severe illnesses, local hospitals still have to manage their\nregular patient caseload.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Most people experience mild illness and recover from\nCOVID-19 without needing medical treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you become sick, stay at home and hold off on trips to\npublic places and events until you are well. Faisst urges those who are not\nseriously ill to avoid hospital emergency departments, instead contact their\nprimary care doctor or health clinic.  There is a 24-hour SUNY Upstate Medical\nUniversity COVID-19 triage hotline; the number is 315.464.3979.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Call your doctor right away or get emergency care in the\nevent of severe or worsening illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    People who have conditions that may result in more severe\nillness from COVID-19 should call their health care provider if they have\nsymptoms of COVID-19. These people include women who are pregnant, older adults\nand persons of any age who have a preexisting medical condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Unless you have been given specific instructions from the\nHealth Department or a healthcare provider, go about your daily lives, but take\ncertain precautions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n