Onondaga County to hold drive-thru Covid-19 test and mask giveaway at NYS Fairgrounds – syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y. With rising Covid-19 infection rates, Onondaga County will be handing out home tests and KN95 masks on Monday at the New York State Fairgrounds.

The drive-thru giveaway will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Orange Lot, county executive Ryan McMahon announced Friday in a news release.

Each car will receive four tests and the masks will be handed out as quantities allow, he said.

The tests will be given out until noon and residents are asked not to arrive before the start time.

On Friday, McMahon said the county received 449 positive test results, including 144 at-home tests reported by residents. That was the highest total of new cases since Jan. 30 when there were 518 new cases.

The number of Covid-19 patients in the hospital ticked up to 54 Friday, the highest in 10 days. There were no new deaths, McMahon said.

Onondaga County is one of three counties in Central New York that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending wear masks. The other two counties at high risk were Oswego and Cayuga counties.

Broome, Cortland, Tompkins and Tioga counties are at medium risk, according to the CDC.

Covid-19 community levels were low enough three weeks ago that masks werent recommended in any county in the state, but cases and hospitalizations have increased in Central New York due to the rise of the highly contagious BA.2 variant, the end of widespread mask-wearing, and the waning of vaccines.

As we focus on our recovery, we must still remain vigilant against COVID-19, McMahon said Friday in the release. This means making sure you are vaccinated and boosted, staying home when sick and also taking advantage of the widespread availability of testing. Onondaga County is committed to distributing tests and masks as quickly as we receive them and this drive-thru distribution is the latest part of that effort.

Staff writer James McClendon covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach him at 914-204-2815 or jmcclendon@syracuse.com.

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Onondaga County to hold drive-thru Covid-19 test and mask giveaway at NYS Fairgrounds - syracuse.com