Coronavirus Update, November 5, 2020

Kendal at Ithaca retirement community announces that it will reopen to visitors as early as next week following nearly 3 weeks of closure due to residents and staff testing positive for COVID-19.

The Ithaca Voice reports that during the three-week shutdown, Kendal administrators published daily updates on positive tests and steps being taken to reduce spread of the virus.   The updates document that there were 8 staff members and 6 residents who tested positive.

The facility reported that it went 6 consecutive days without a positive case reported.  After that report, one asymptomatic resident and a housemate tested positive.  Kendal confirmed that there was no transmission outside that residence.

Laurie Mante, Executive Director of Kendal, stated in the most recent update that the facility plans to have window visits for Cascadilla House starting today, and in-person visits for their skilled nursing facility on Monday, November 9.

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Looking at the local COVID-19 caseload, the latest numbers, released today from the Tompkins County health department, indicate that there are 7 new positive cases, and 7 new recoveries. According to the County Health Department, that leaves 47 active cases of COVID-19 in Tompkins.

In Schuyler County, there are 6 new cases of COVID-19 reported and a total of 28 active cases as of today, according to their Health Department.

Intern Tessie Devlin contributed to this report.