Cortland tops 12,000 COVID cases

Cortland County reported 10 cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, raising the number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began to 12,003, the state Health Department reports.

Tompkins and Cayuga counties reported 62 new cases over the weekend, the state reported Sunday. The three counties have seen 54,112 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. The number of people who have died from the virus remains 380.

• One COVID patients was admitted to Guthrie Cortland Medical Center Thursday, the state Health Department reported Friday. The hospital had four COVID patients. Since the pandemic began, 719 Cortland County residents have been hospitalized for COVID; that figure was last updated Aug. 11. The state Health Department reports 296,074 tests have been administered. The state has reported 127 deaths.
• Tompkins County saw 28 new cases over the weekend, the state Health Department reported Sunday. The number of confirmed cases rose to 23,761. The state reports 3,040,795 tests have been administered. Ninety Tompkins residents have died.
• Cayuga County saw 34 new cases over the weekend, the state Health Department reported Sunday. Confirmed cases rose to 18,348. The state reports 378,143 tests have been administered, and 163 people have died.

Cortland rate at 90 per 100,000
Cortland County had 43 new cases of COVID-19 between Aug. 12 and Thursday, giving it a rate of 90.37 cases per 100,000 people, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

It had a “low” 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: 90.37 — low
  Tompkins: 131.14 — low
  Cayuga: 90.11 — low
  Onondaga: 126.29 — low
  Broome: 113.92 — medium
  Chenango: 93.21 — low
  Tioga: 116.18 — medium
  Madison: 112.77 — low