Coronavirus Update, January 22, 2021

The Tompkins County Health Department is reporting a number of potential public exposures to COVID-19.

Our first one to report is at Five Below, at 744 S. Meadow St., in Ithaca. The date of the exposure to COVID was on Saturday, January 16, 11:30am–8:30pm.

The other reported exposure to COVID-19 is at the Ithaca Walmart, located at 135 Fairground Memorial Pkwy. An employee tested positive for the virus, and was contagious during their shifts on Saturday, January 9, 8:00am–5:00pm, Tuesday, January 12, 8:00am–5:00pm, and Wednesday, January 13, 8:00am–9:00am.

You can review the specific days and times on the web page tompkinscountyny.gov/health  and then click on “public exposures”.  The health department recommends anyone who may have been exposed to the virus to monitor their health for any COVID-19 symptoms.  Learn about how to get tested at wrfi.org/coronavirus.

The number of hospitalizations due to complications from the virus are at 19 as of yesterday. According to the Tompkins County health department, as of the time of our 6 p.m. broadcast there are 299 active cases of COVID-19. Yesterday there were an additional 31 positive cases and 27 people released from quarantine.

Today the Tompkins Health Department issued a press release urging the public to continue following COVID-safe behavior, adding that there have been several new clusters of the virus locally. Those cases were among a gathering at a place of worship where masks were not worn, a daycare setting, a law enforcement training event, and two workplace settings.

In Schuyler County, today there were 15 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 56 active cases remain, according to their Health Department.  12 people are now hospitalized due to the virus.