Oneida County reports 4 coronavirus deaths in one day

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente reported 4 coronavirus deaths Thursday, the highest number of fatalities in one day since the county started tracking statistics.

Sigh of relief of business owners...able to open their doors and cash registers for the first time in two months.

But on the eve of reopening... oneida county has it's deadliest day for the coronavirus.

The county executive just a couple hours ago released the latest numbers; four deaths -the highest single-day number yet, and, 19 new cases.

Newschannel 2's jason powles is live in the studio with a closer look.

Good evening kristen...not the way any of us wanted to begin the newscast...and the county executive echoing that when he began his briefing today.

<change > the four deaths today increase the total number of deaths to 27... 19 new positive cases putting us just shy of 700 total.

<change > 28 people are hospitalized....362 have recovered of those four deaths announced today....three were from nursing homes.

The county did not specify which ones.

They did update us on the testing directive from the state.

According to oneida county director of health phyllis ellis..

In a letter to nursing home administrators, from the state.... as of 5pm last night...the administrators had to submit a plan to the state as to how they were going to test their employees...they must be tested twice weekly...and it was at the facilities expense.

The conversation i had with the state health department was that the guidance coming down from that letter was being prepared among their nys dept of health oversite and as soon as that was complete they would share that with us as well.

Oneida county executive anthony picente says at least 28 nursing homes or long term care facilities exist in the county and he has reached out to the state to see if testing can be done at griffiss, and also reached out to rite aid to help nursing homes in any way the county can.

He also reiterated that the numbers announced today do not effect the reopening plans for tomorrow.

In herkimer county...just one new case today...the