Four cases reported in Cortland

Cortland County reported four cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, raising the number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began to 11,974, the state Health Department reports.

Tompkins and Cayuga counties reported 21 new cases, the state reported Tuesday. The three counties have seen 53,872 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. The number of people who have died from the virus remains 380.

• No COVID patients have been admitted to Guthrie Cortland Medical Center since Aug. 9, the state Health Department reported Tuesday. The hospital had two 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 295,535 tests have been administered. The state has reported 127 deaths.
• Tompkins County saw 10 new cases, the state Health Department reported Tuesday. The number of confirmed cases rose to 23,630. The state reports 3,039,401 tests have been administered. Ninety Tompkins residents have died.
• Cayuga County saw 11 new cases, the state Health Department reported Tuesday. Confirmed cases rose to 18,269. The state reports 377,178 tests have been administered, and 163 people have died.

Cortland's at 126 cases per 100,000
Cortland County had 60 new cases of COVID-19 between Aug. 9 and Monday, giving it a rate of 126.10 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: 126.10 — low
  Tompkins: 125.27 — low
  Cayuga: 83.58 — medium
  Onondaga: 133.54 — medium
  Broome: 98.69 — medium
  Chenango: 84.73 — low
  Tioga: 99.58 — medium
  Madison: 98.67 — low