Coronavirus Update, June 26, 2020
Looking at the local COVID-19 caseload, In Tompkins County there are no new cases as of Thursday and 1 active infection remains in the county, according to the Tompkins county health department. 165 of the 166 people infected with the virus in Tompkins have recovered. There are no new or active cases of the virus in Schuyler County, according to their health department. 14 people infected with the virus have recovered.
New York State only saw about 800 new cases of COVID-19 today, as cases spike in Southern and Western U.S. states. According to the New York Times, at Friday's White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing Dr. Anthony Fauci warned the public of the virus spreading to other states and pleaded for residents to abide by social distancing and mask wearing habits. This was the first public briefing of the White House COVID-19 task force in almost two months.
New York has put a travel advisory into effect for people traveling from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah, and Texas. Anyone coming through those states will have to quarantine for 14 days in an attempt to keep the case numbers low in New York.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo says there will be random checks to enforce the required 14-day quarantine to those traveling to New York from states with high rates of the coronavirus. Aside from this, it has not yet been announced how these regulations will be enforced, according to Times-Union.
Cuomo says he does not want to blockade the state because he feels that would be unconstitutional, and said that random checks will be based on flight records and people pulled over by the police.
Health care workers and other essential workers will be exempt from this rule. However, there is a long list of positions that are considered essential. It is not yet clear if commercial truck drivers will be considered essential.
The Tompkins Health Department has provided more guidelines for these travelers on its website, tompkinscountyny.gov/health.
The Ithaca Farmers market is taking steps towards a full re-opening after opening on a limited basis due to COVID-19, reports the Ithaca voice.
The market had previously only allowed vendors in every other booth to operate. As of this past weekend, all 88 vendors are allowed to return. Additionally, the market previously had a rule allowing only one person from each household to enter. Now that rule has changed to allow two people from each household to enter the market.
There is still a capacity limit on the market to ensure social distancing. This past weekend there were multiple instances where the capacity was reached and guests were required to form a line outside the facility.
The Ithaca Farmers Market is located at Steamboat Landing, at 545 3rd Street.
Tompkins County’s YMCA has expressed concerns about not being able to open under Phase 4 guidelines.
Guidelines for Phase 4 of reopening were issued by the state and the latest phase began Friday. This stage allows the reopening of some arts and entertainment facilities and higher education, but gyms and fitness centers were not included in this stage, according to the Ithaca Voice.
While the YMCA has been unable to use their facilities, the organization has continued to assist the community through providing food services and workout videos. There is a concern for the state YMCAs in regard to finances, because of their 35,000 employees combined with a loss of membership money.
Tompkins County’s YMCA says they would be ready for a soft opening on July 6th and are working on a plan to maintain social distancing when operations start up again. In addition, with approval from the state, the local YMCA wants to open their children’s day camp on their soft opening date.
Watkins Glen has announced that their Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen events will be rescheduled for Labor Day Weekend.
According to Watkins Glen International’s website, the weekend’s main feature will be Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen, one of four races in the nationwide IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Series. Four other competitions fill out the weekend.
1 - The Tioga Downs Casino Resort 240,
2 - the four-hour IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race
3 - The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama, and
4 - The Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America.
Tickets already purchased for the event will be honored on the event’s new dates, September 3-6, 2020.
Contributing writing by WRFI News Interns Jon Donville and Phoebe Harms