A slight increase in COVID-19 cases in Onondaga County is largely attributed to young people and those who recently traveled.

County Executive Ryan McMahon said Thursday that there were 143 new coronavirus cases reported in the last 24 hours. About 79 percent of those cases came from people under 40 years old. About 10 percent of those were travel-related — the third day in a row they have reached that threshold.

McMahon said this was to be expected and added that the variant of the virus that was first detected in the United Kingdom is more prevent in the country as well.

Among the young people making up the cases in recent days have been students from Syracuse University. On Wednesday, the campus was reporting 184 active cases. Also on Wednesday, COVID-19 vaccinations began being administered to SU students. On Thursday, Chancellor Kent Syverud announced in a letter that all SU faculty, staff, and students will be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine before accessing campus beginning June 1.

McMahon said that more SU students have gotten vaccinated than previously thought. The county will work with the school to vaccinate 2,000 to 3,000 students next week.

McMahon sent a direct message to those 16-22-year-olds who might be hesitant about getting the vaccine, saying the shot is way to “get this special part of your life back to normal.”

More than half of adults in Onondaga County — 52 percent — have received at least one shot, McMahon said.

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