More than two years after the pandemic started, we are still seeing people getting sick. However, not everyone is reporting their positive result, and that poses a problem for those trying to track the spread.

With the uptick in COVID cases, there is a renewed effort to get people to mask up again. Oswego and Onondaga counties are now considered high-transmission zones, and that has the CDC urging people to put their masks back on indoors in public. "As a nurse, I would hope that most people would heed the recommendations of the CDC and the county officials and the health department," said Donna White, Director of Disease Control for Onondaga County.

White urges people to stay home if they are sick and use at-home tests to see if they are positive for COVID-19. "If we're just going off the laboratory tests and we're not seeing the 60 to 80 tests that are coming through on a daily basis from the home, we might not necessarily see the true picture of where the virus is spreading in our community," she said.

While the numbers are going up, hospitalizations remain relatively low with few deaths being reported. White wants the community to be aware of the recent spread. If you do test positive, she suggests reaching out to your doctor to find out about the treatment options. "Hopefully we can get through the winter. I mean we also are coming into flu and cold season. It's just that time of year and we live in Central New York," White said.

To submit a positive at-home test, click here. You can also request free test kids and masks here.

Find more information about COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots. Here are the latest recommendations for isolation and quarantine if you test positive for the virus.