The federal government’s announcement Wednesday that it will send free COVID test kits to anyone who asks, starting Monday, comes as Tompkins County’s top public health officials warn of a triple threat of COVID, flu and RSV.
People can request four COVID-19 test kits per household online at covidtests.gov.
Tompkins County Whole Health announced, also Wednesday, that new Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available, designed to offer the best protection against the latest coronavirus variants. Get them, it advised.
“We are anticipating another challenging winter with the triple threat of COVID-19, Flu and RSV,” said Dr. William Klepack, Tompkins County Whole Health medical director. “Please get your flu vaccine along with your updated COVID vaccine. Those age 60 and older can now get an RSV vaccine as well. Vaccination is essential to protect yourself from these respiratory illnesses.”
The new COVID-19 vaccine will be available in limited supply in on-site immunization clinics in Tompkins County for children and adults who are eligible for the Vaccines for Children and Vaccines for Adults state programs.
CNY around 20% foliage change, state reports
Parts of the Adirondacks are approaching the midpoint of leaf transition, and areas from Long Island to Western New York beginning to see their first significant color changes, volunteers reported to the the state’s I Love NY program.
• In Tompkins County, foliage spotters in Ithaca predict less than 10% change with hints of yellow and orange beginning to pop. Tioga County spotters reporting from Owego anticipate more than 5% foliage change, with mostly green and brown leaves. Most reports coming in from the Syracuse area in Onondaga County predict less than 5% transition, with pockets of foliage near 10% change and mostly yellow leaves.
• In the Finger Lakes, observers in Geneseo expect up to 10% transition this weekend, with hints of red and yellow leaves. Foliage reports from Monroe County area predict 5-10% change, with smaller trees beginning to show some yellow and red leaves of average brilliance. Larger trees like maples, oaks, and locusts remain green.
• In Central New York, southern Herkimer County foliage spotters in Herkimer predict up to 20% foliage change with some muted yellow and orange leaves. In Broome County, spotters in Binghamton are projecting up to 10% change this weekend with some slight seasonal color emerging. Oneida County reports from Utica expect a little over 5% transition, with yellow leaves of average brilliance just beginning to appear.
• In the Adirondacks, foliage spotters from Tupper Lake and Mt. Arab Lake in Franklin County predict up to midpoint of change for the coming weekend, with 45-50% color transition. The repeat of last year’s sweltering summer coupled with no frost and plenty of rain have created a slow, muted transition this year, with spotters awaiting an explosion of magnificent hues. In Saranac Lake, spotters expect about 25% change, with a muted mix of green and yellow leaves, along with isolated pops of red, especially along the waterfront. In the northern portion of the county near Malone, spotters predict about 10% change with some muted red and orange leaves.
• In the Catskills, Greene County spotters reporting from the upper elevations around Windham predict up to 20% leaf change this weekend. Color change in the surrounding lower elevations will be significantly less. In Delaware County, observers in Walton predict up to 20% change, with some yellow and red leaves of average brilliance. Spotters in Bovina are also predicting nearly 20% change with some spots of brilliant reds and oranges. Reports from Delhi expect almost 10% change with light-yellow leaves beginning to appear on hillsides.
