Victim Wasn’t At Bar; ‘Secondary Infection’ Cited

New COVID Death

Tied To Copper Fox

By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN – A man who caught COVID-19 from someone who tested positive following the outbreak at the Copper Fox in Oneonta has died after a month in the hospital, according to Heidi Bond, Otsego County Public Health Director.

“This person didn’t go to the bar, but they contracted the disease through secondary spread from someone who did,” she said.

The man’s death marks the eighth this month, the fifth reported this week and the 17th overall. Though cases temporarily dropped, with only 20 cases reported over the past two days, Bond said that the numbers are beginning to climb again, with 23 cases reported today and 17 hospitalizations.

“Any time now, cases from Christmas gatherings are going to start coming in,” she said. “We’ve already had some people who reported symptoms before the holidays, but gathered anyways.”

Those who have been identified as being in contact with a positive COVID case during the holidays are instructed to quarantine inside their home for 14 days, as they may only be eligible for a test if they begin showing symptoms.

“That means that you do not gather for New Year’s Eve, you do not leave the house for anything,” she said.

But even without symptoms or a confirmed exposure, Bond reiterated her safe-at-home message. “It’s best not to gather at all with anyone outside your household,” she said.