Oswego County opens online portal to report positive COVID-19 home test results

Oswego County opens online portal to report positive COVID-19 home test results

OSWEGO COUNTY — Residents of Oswego County can now self-report positive COVID-19 home test results and COVID-19 exposures, and request isolation and quarantine documents through an online portal. The portal generates isolation and quarantine orders and release documents which are sent to the individual via email.

The Oswego County Health Department’s self-reporting portal went live last week as New York State changes COVID-19 response and mitigation strategies. Individuals who need documentation for their employer or school and who meet New York State Department of Health (DOH) criteria can self-certify a positive test or exposure and acquire the documentation required.

Residents wishing to report a positive home test can follow the instructions on https://health.oswegocounty.com/information/2019_novel_coronavirus/isolation_quarantine_guidance.php. Home test kits must be cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for results to be acceptable. A list of authorized self-tests is available on the FDA website at https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics-euas-antigen-diagnostic-tests-sars- cov-2.

Test results obtained or performed by medical offices, clinics, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, schools, and other testing sites do not need to be self-reported. However, if isolation orders are needed immediately for school, employers, or other reasons, individuals can request these documents using the Report a positive lab test option in the portal.

The health department encourages residents who test positive to personally notify any close contacts as soon as they know their result. The close contact should visit the New York State Approach to Isolation and Quarantine website at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-contact-tracing to see if they meet the quarantine criteria. If the contact meets the quarantine criteria, they should report the exposure on the health department‘s online portal.

The Self-Attestation Portal is now available as Oswego County is ending most contact tracing, but continuing to do case notifications for people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Case reporting, which identifies and investigates confirmed cases of COVID-19, will continue and anyone who tests positive through lab tests or self-reports a positive home test should expect be contacted. Contact tracing, which monitors identified close contacts, will only continue on a limited basis. Contacts should not expect to be contacted by the local health department or the New York State Department of Health.

“The health department, in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health, will continue to make case notifications on all identified positive cases,” said Jodi Martin, director of preventive health services at the Oswego County. “There will be limited contact tracing in Oswego County that will only include high-risk settings.”

The Oswego County Health Department will continue to work with local school districts on school-related cases to maintain safe learning environments for students and staff.

“Since the start of the pandemic, the health department has worked with local school districts to keep students and staff safe,” said Jennifer Purtell, senior public health nurse. “Oswego County will continue to prioritize school-related cases and will partner with schools to keep our children in school.”

Contact tracing has been a key tool in infectious disease control, but effective contact tracing requires timely identification and quarantine of close contacts. The recent increase in COVID-19 cases has made contact tracing less efficient, as local health departments cannot process the high volume of contacts due to limited time and resources.

“This will allow Oswego County Health Department staff to continue to prioritize school-related cases and activities and cases in sensitive congregational locations, in addition to continuing to support the expansion of the vaccination and COVID-19 testing,” said Diane Oldenburg, associate public health educator. .

The Oswego County Health Department continues to urge residents to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the following:

  • Get vaccinated if you can. Get a booster if you are eligible.
  • Wear a face mask in public spaces you visit or frequent, where you work, or in crowded outdoor settings, regardless of your vaccination status.
  • Stay home if you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick.
  • Social distancing when possible.
  • Wash your hands often.
  • Follow COVID-19 prevention measures that local businesses and workplaces may have in place.

For more information, visit the Oswego County Health Department’s COVID-19 page at health.oswegocounty.com/covid-19 or call the COVID-19 hotline at 315-349-3330.

Residents should contact their medical providers directly for personal medical advice on vaccinations, boosters, or treatments for COVID-19.

Under New York State Public Health Law, the Oswego County Health Department is the local public health authority for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the county of Oswego. The Oswego County Health Department is working closely with the New York State Department of Health regarding COVID-19 surveillance, response, and reporting.

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