Coronavirus Update, December 4, 2020

Looking at the local COVID-19 caseload, the latest numbers, released yesterday from the Tompkins County health department, indicate that there are 23 additional positives, and 16 new recoveries. According to the County Health Department, that leaves 233 active cases of COVID-19 in Tompkins.

In Schuyler County, there are 14 new cases of COVID-19 reported as of today, leaving 34 active cases, according to their Health Department. 3 people remain hospitalized.

Tompkins County Health Department is putting out another warning to discourage all non essential travel and gatherings. According to CNY Central, the county is seeing its highest number of cases since the start of the pandemic. A steady increase started in November and before that there were not more than 88 active cases at a time. 

Public Health Director Frank Kruppa says in a press release, "It is not even a week since Thanksgiving, and we are already seeing evidence of spread due to small gatherings and people visiting friends and family for the holiday. More than half of our 34 cases on December 1 are connected to Thanksgiving gatherings and related travel.”

Additionally, the health department is reporting a potential COVID-19 public exposure at Italian restaurant Ciao in Ithaca. The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is an employee at the restaurant, and is now in isolation. Any close contacts are being notified to quarantine. Potential public exposure may have occurred at Ciao on 2 Hickory Hollow Lane in Ithaca on Sunday, November 29, from 3:30 pm to 7:45 pm.

Anyone who thinks they've been exposed should get tested and monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19.

More information about the exposure, and how to get tested for COVID-19, or to see a full list of symptoms, visit tompkinscountyny.gov/health or call 607-274-6688. Or, visit wrfi.org/coronavirus.