Cayuga clinics to administer latest booster

Cayuga County has the latest, bivalent, forms of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, more effective against the latest omicron variants of COVID-19, and plans vaccine clinics Wednesday and Saturday, it announced Monday.

The new booster contains two mRNA components instead of one in the original vaccine, making it more effective against the omicron variants the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects to dominate the pandemic this fall and winter.

The two walk-in clinics will be at the Fingerlakes Mall on Clark Street in Auburn:

• 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
•  11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Bring your insurance card and vaccine card if you have one.

The new booster may be available at pharmacies and other health-care providers, but the county suggests checking, first.

Eight cases reported in Cortland County
Cortland County reported eight cases of COVID-19 on Monday, raising the number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began to 12,330, the state Health Department reports.

Tompkins and Cayuga counties reported 17 new cases, the state reported Monday. The three counties have seen 55,496 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. The number of people who have died from the virus remains 382.

• One new COVID patient was admitted to Guthrie Cortland Medical Center on Thursday, the state Health Department reports. The hospital had five COVID patients. Since the pandemic began, 737 Cortland County residents have been hospitalized for COVID; that figure was last updated Sept. 8. The state Health Department reports 299,115 tests have been administered. The state has reported 128 deaths.
• Tompkins County saw seven new cases Monday, the state Health Department reported. The number of confirmed cases rose to 24,404. The state reports 3,047,305 tests have been administered. Ninety-two Tompkins residents have died.
• Cayuga County saw 10 new cases Monday, the state Health Department reported. Confirmed cases rose to 18,762. The state reports 382,864 tests have been administered, and 163 people have died.

Cortland at 195 cases per 100,000
Cortland County had 93 new cases of COVID-19 between Sept. 12 and Sunday, giving it a rate of 195.46 cases per 100,000 people, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

It had a “medium” risk, under CDC guidelines. Under metrics and guidance from the CDC — which take into account the number of new cases in a week, the number of hospitalizations and hospital capacity:

• In counties with a “high risk,” wearing a mask in indoor public places is still recommended.
• In counties with a “medium risk,” 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 o ther precautions.
• In counties with a “low risk,” no additional precautions beyond staying up to date with vaccines and getting tested if one has symptoms are recommended.
  
  The rates and risk, from the CDC:
  Cortland: 195.46 — medium
  Tompkins: 163.44 — low
  Cayuga: 151.48 — medium
  Onondaga: 181.31 — medium
  Broome: 149.62 — high
  Chenango: 167.35 — low
  Tioga: 174.26 — high
  Madison: 136.73 — medium