Cortland remains at medium risk; Tompkins elevated

Cortland County remained at medium risk of coronavirus transmission, the CDC reported Thursday, as Tompkins was elevated to medium risk from low.

Broome and Tioga counties were elevated to high risk, prompting the recommendation that people wear a mask in all indoor public places. Onondaga and Chenango counties were lowered.

Cortland County had 88 new cases of COVID-19 between Sept. 29 and Wednesday, giving it a rate of 184.95 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 other 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: 184.95 — medium
Tompkins: 111.57 — medium
Cayuga: 185.44 — medium
Onondaga: 185.44 — medium
Broome: 163.79 — high
Chenango: 131.34 — low
Tioga: 182.56 — high
Madison: 148.01 — medium

SUNY Cortland booster, flu vaccines Oct. 14
Wegmans Pharmacy will have a flu shot and COVID-19 booster vaccine clinic Oct. 14 at SUNY Cortland, the college has announced.

Faculty, staff and students can register online for a Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 booster or a flu shot. The pharmacy offers four types of flu shots: standard, egg-free, preservative-free and senior.

The clinic will be 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Corey Union Exhibition Lounge.

Participants are asked to bring their insurance card and their vaccination card if they are receiving a COVID-19 booster. Your last booster shot must have been received at least two months before Oct. 14.

Register online at https://tinyurl.com/fvmwfh7y.

13 cases reported in Cortland County
Cortland County reported 13 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, raising the number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began to 12,557, the state Health Department reports.

Tompkins and Cayuga counties reported 44 new cases Thursday, the state reported. The three counties have seen 56,454 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. The number of people who have died from the virus remains 387.

• One new COVID patient was admitted to Guthrie Cortland Medical Center on Wednesday, the state Health Department reported Thursday. The hospital had nine COVID patients. Since the pandemic began, 760 Cortland County residents have been hospitalized for COVID; that figure was last updated Sept. 27. The state Health Department reports 301,417 tests have been administered. The state has reported 128 deaths.
• Tompkins County saw 21 new cases Thursday, the state Health Department reported. The number of confirmed cases rose to 24,790. The state reports 3,051,181 tests have been administered. Ninety-four Tompkins residents have died.
• Cayuga County saw 23 new cases Thursday, the state Health Department reported. Confirmed cases rose to 19,107. The state reports 386,532 tests have been administered, and 165 people have died.