Man Diagnosed with Coronavirus Works at Syracuse Airport
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- One of the people who tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Onondaga County works at the Syracuse airport, the area’s largest hub for incoming and outgoing travelers.
The who works at Hancock International Airport is currently one of seven people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Onondaga County.
He is under mandatory quarantine.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon confirmed the person’s employment at the airport Thursday. He said the person had limited contact with travelers or other people. The Health Department is more concerned about his family, with whom he had extensive contact, McMahon said.
County Health Department officials are working to track down anyone who has come into close contact with the people who have so far tested positive. It’s part of a widespread effort to slow the spread of the disease and give hospitals time and space to treat patients.
None of the seven people who have tested positive so far have any known connection to one another, aside from the husband-and-wife who were the first known cases. They all come from different parts of the county, McMahon said.
Testing has ramped up this week, with more than 1,300 samples collected and sent to various labs, McMahon said. Officials expect to get many more positive tests back in the coming days.
McMahon has urged people to remember that having COVID-19 doesn’t mean someone did something wrong. And it doesn’t mean they’ll have it forever. An overwhelming majority of the people who get sick will have mild symptoms, then recover and be fine.
He added that a lot more people in the community will soon be testing positive and that it’s important to erase the stigma of the virus.
“There’s going to be people that we know...that will test positive. They did nothing wrong,” he said. "They just got sick with a certain type of virus that we have yet to be able to treat. That’s the only thing that’s different than being sick with the flu or any other disease or virus. We need those people to feel comfortable. We encourage them to tell their story. We got your back.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has offered a similar plea in recent days. He said that fear is more dangerous than the virus.
“There are tens of thousands of people who have the virus, who had the virus, who probably had the virus and resolved themselves,” he said Thursday morning on NBC’s Today Show. “We’re fighting the virus, and we’re fighting fear and panic. The fear and the panic is actually a worse problem than the virus right now.”
Have you tested positive for COVID-19 and want to share your story or your experience? Contact reporter Chris Baker at 315-766-8329 or [email protected].
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