Phase one of Mohawk Valley COVID reopening prompts mixed emotions By Luke Perry
The Mohawk Valley entered phase one of NY Forward guidelines for gradually reopening businesses. “I think everybody is glad we’re here,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente. “There’s a mix of nervousness and caution, and making sure we continue to do the right things and stay this course.”
Phase one is more of an expansion of business activity than re-opening. Many manufacturers were already open at 25 to 50 percent capacity. “That’s the change today,” Picente told Talk of the Town (WUTQ in Utica). “They can move back into a series of gradual uptick, in terms of the number of people, and the practices they put in place, or they can stay where they are. There’s options here.”
Public safety remains a priority. “I think the key piece is to do it, as we keep saying, cautiously,” Picente explained, “and hopefully they will ramp up, so we can get people back to work.”
Major manufacturing facilities in Oneida County, such as Indium Corporation, has reported that none of their employees have tested positive for the coronavirus. Picente similarly referenced county government. “We haven’t seen cases,” Picente said, “and we’re still at good capacity every day.”
What happens after people leave work remains a concern. “The discipline has to go beyond just the 9 to 5,” Picente said. Communities need to “instill in your workforce and your people: do the same thing you do at work at home or where you go.”
Photo from WKTV
Oneida County campgrounds were recently closed until June 1. This generated some backlash from residents who want to use seasonal campgrounds and trailer parks that operate like second homes. Picente said that these parks are identified and zoned as campgrounds and legally must be understood as such.
Picente recognizes some people are frustrated and said he faces criticism that he does not understand the situation. “I do understand,” Picente said. “It’s a campground. Maybe they should rezone it and re-identify it as a temporary housing place.”
Until this happens, or until June 1, “they are not supposed to be open,” per state guidelines. Picente believes that other counties who have opened campgrounds are in violation of state regulations.
Oneida County developed a reopening toolkit, reopening checklist, and best practices guidelines to help businesses. Topics include management and assessment protocols for facility operation, personnel policies, sanitation, communication, and customer engagement. These resources are “designed to help us move forward through the phases and open more businesses,” Picente said.
Key metrics moving forward are the number of deaths (over 3-day average) and hospitalization (over 5-day average) for the entire Mohawk Valley region. Positive cases are not a “red flag,” Picente said. Additional positive cases are likely as testing increases.
Luke Perry (@PolSciLukePerry) is Professor of Government at Utica College
