The 17 people hospitalized with COVID-19 Tuesday at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center is a hospitalization rate the greater Cortland area has seen in a long time.
However, it's not a huge cause for alarm, said hospital President Jennifer Yartym because 10 of those 17 people were admitted for reasons other than COVID — the virus was detected in routine testing as they were admitted.
On the other hand, said Cortland County Public Health Director Nicole Anjeski, spikes like that are what one must expect when less than 60% of the county's population has had two shots of COVID-19 vaccine.
"We have seen an increase in hospitalizations, unfortunately this is not a surprising statistic with the low vaccination rates in our county," Anjeski said Thursday in an email.
"We're seeing an uptick," Yartym said. "It has not had an overall impact on our care."
COVID, she added, "hasn't ever gone away. It's kind of the new normal."
In fact, the number of hospitalizations was down to 13 by Wednesday, with seven of those patients admitted for other reasons, and the virus discovered only during admissions testing.
Yartym said the hospitalizations — both specifically for COVID-19 and those cases detected as patients were admitted for other reasons — are coming from all over the area, with no particular population standing out.
She suggested a seasonal influence as more people spend time indoors, and as the tendency to wear a mask and socially distance declines.
"It's kind of the normal ebb and flow," she said, exacerbated as people relax their guard. "There's just a decline in masking."
Still, people can take steps to protect themselves from the virus, and from spreading it to others, Anjeski said. "What people can do to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated, by either beginning their initial series or by receiving the newest bivalent booster dose, if eligible," she said.
"We want to help protect our most vulnerable populations (that would include people who are immunocompromised, or with co-morbidities or our citizens in congregate settings such as nursing homes or assisted living homes who remain particularly susceptible to COVID or flu) by getting vaccinated," Anjeski said.
The national centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday that Cortland and Tompkins counties remained a medium risk for coronavirus spread. It suggests that people with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask. People at a high risk for severe illness should consult their healthcare provider about the need for a mask or other precautions.
However, Cayuga County was elevated to high risk, and the CDC advises wearing a mask in all indoor public spaces.
