Odd-Year Birthdays Encouraged to Travel Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Even-Year Birthdays Encouraged to Travel Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays –

OSWEGO COUNTY- Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup requested in his video message to the public this afternoon (April 8) that residents adopt a limited travel plan like the plan introduced by Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and supported by other Central New York counties.

The video is posted at https://youtu.be/dt58IjWUA8k.

“The voluntary travel restriction begins Saturday and is in the interest of the public’s health and safety,” said Legislature Chairman Weatherup. “While none of us have the authority to enforce this as a matter of law, we can police this travel plan and keep track of those who ignore it.

“The voluntary travel restriction has residents who were born in an odd year eligible to run essential errands on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We encourage people who were born in even-numbered years to do likewise on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On Sundays, we encourage people to just stay home,” he said.

In his video message, Chairman Weatherup also reminded people that while Easter is an important holiday and comes with many traditions, “this year it would be best observed in the comfort of your own home with only the members of your own household.”

Like many communities, said Legislature Chairman Weatherup, the county was unaware of the Unicast community scoring system that ranks ongoing travel in the community by tracking cell phone locations.

“We were unaware of this measurement until it was presented to us that our score for ongoing travel in the community was a ‘D,’” he said. “While this wasn’t good news, it was helpful in enhancing our understanding of real-time issues that needed attention. Since then, we have increased our messaging of the importance of staying at home and only traveling outside your home for essential purposes. We have also authorized all of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to be proactive in helping to enforce the Governor’s Executive Orders related to these issues.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 is very much present in our communities. This virus is transmitted even by people showing no symptoms, and social distancing is still very important,” he said. “We ask at this time that you follow the Governor’s Executive Order and avoid all non-essential trips and group gatherings.”

Go to health.oswegocounty.com/covid-19 for the latest news releases, daily updates, and video presentations or visit oswegocounty.com. People with questions may call the Oswego County Health Department’s COVID-19 hotline at 315-349-3330.

OSWEGO COUNTY – Extreme situations and tragedies usually bring out the very best in people. Neighbors help neighbors and communities come together. However, they can also bring out ruthless criminals as well. Oswego County Legislator Chairman James Weatherup warns residents to be on the look-out for scams as Oswego County battles the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are facing trying times right now and, while we’re encouraged by the support of many of our neighbors and the community businesses who have stepped up to help us by donating supplies, there are other unsavory characters in the world who would prey on us during this time of crisis,” said Legislature Chairman Weatherup.”Scammers and fraudsters are using this time to prey on public fears for health, safety and financial security in the face of a global pandemic.”

In one such scam reported to Oswego County, people in isolation or quarantine were being asked for private health information, addresses, phone and social security numbers by people posing as government officials or insurance companies. These imposters told the patients that they had to give up this information for their COVID-19 care to continue. The only government officials these patients should be communicating with are the Oswego County Health Department officials.

The New York State Office for the Aging also issued a warning about scams targeting seniors. In several instances, older adults reported receiving a postcard addressed to “Resident” from the National Residential Improvement Association. The postcard looks official and contains an offer to help residents get a grant to repair their home.

Sara Sunday, director of the Oswego County Office for the Aging, emphasizes that “this is NOT a legitimate government program and the company does NOT have a valid business license. It has been reported to the Better Business Bureau repeatedly.”

Scams preying on virus-related fears are being reported across the country. They include robocalls, text messaging and email campaigns offering COVID-19 testing kits, fake cures and fraudulent health insurance among other things. Other scams offer HVAC duct cleaning, student loan repayment and debt consolidation. They may also request donations on behalf of veterans, seniors, first responders and health care workers. They target both individuals and businesses and may be disguised as credible agencies, reputable charities or the next-door neighbor.

“In the next few weeks, most residents will be expecting to receive their federal stimulus checks and scammers will be at the ready,” said Chairman Weatherup. “We want to do all we can to prevent them from taking advantage of our residents and further compounding this public health emergency.”

He reminds residents not to give personal information to anyone they don’t know.

“Remember,” he said, “government employees won’t ask you for personal or financial information such as your social security or bank account numbers. They also won’t ask you to verify your personal information in order to either ‘release’ the funds or to release them more quickly.”

The Internal Revenue Service has reported several incidents of people receiving checks already and notes that these are fraudulent. According to the IRS, it will take about three weeks for the distribution of checks to begin. For more information about how this process will work, go to www.irs.gov/coronavirus.

To report fraud, contact local law enforcement. Call the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office at 315-349-3302, the Oswego City Police Department at 315-342-8120, or the Fulton City Police Department at 315-598-4504. Reports can also be made to the New York State Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-771-7755.

OSWEGO COUNTY – Residents using the Oswego County solid waste transfer stations are reminded of Governor Cuomo’s request to avoid non-essential trips. Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup said social distancing must be enforced and applies to the solid waste facilities along with other public places.

“Of course we want our residents to continue to dispose of garbage, household waste and recyclables in a timely manner, but recently there has been an influx of people cleaning out garages or attics and making extra trips,” said Mark Powell, director of the Oswego County Solid Waste Department. “For the health and safety of our solid waste personnel, as well as the public using our facilities, we ask people to avoid non-essential trips to the solid waste facilities.”

Legislature Chairman Weatherup said it is understandable that many people have extra time on their hands and want to work on spring cleaning projects.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 is very much present in our communities,” he said. “This virus is transmitted even by people showing no symptoms so social distancing is still very important. We ask at this time that you follow the Governor’s Executive Order and avoid all non-essential trips, including unnecessary trips to the transfer stations. This is in the interest of the health and public safety of all of our community.”

Residents can find more information about the solid waste programs at oswegocounty.com/solidwaste.