Delta is the Dominant Variant in Tompkins County, Health Department Confirms
(Dominick Recckio / Tompkins County)
TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY -- The Delta Variant is the dominant variant of COVID-19 in Tompkins County.
The Tompkins County Health Department confirmed it’s prevalence on Tuesday. The Health Department sequenced 87 virus samples from county residents infected in June and July; 80 of those people were infected with the Delta Variant.
According to the CDC, The Delta Variant is twice as contagious as the original COVID-19 strain, and is able to break through the protection of vaccines. The Health Department reported on August 5th, that since January 2021, only 0.2 percent of Tompkins County’s vaccinated population have tested positive for COVID-19.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Health Department has issued masking guidance to those indoors and around others. It is not understood what the transmission rates are among vaccinated people who are infected with COVID-19 but are asymptomatic.
COVID Cases Continue to Rise, Tompkins Co. Health Department to Host Community Update
TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY – COVID-19 cases continue to climb in Tompkins County. The Health Department reported 92 new positive cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, and a total of 268 active cases for Monday, August 30th. The last time Tompkins County saw cases this high was January 25th. A significant amount of community spread seems to…
Tompkins County Seeing ‘High Transmission Rate’ of COVID-19; Children Under 12 Make up 20 percent of Recent Cases
ITHACA, NY — Tompkins County is seeing a high transmission rate of COVID-19, prompting the Health Department to recommend masking in all local schools. As defined by the CDC, high-transmission of COVID is seeing over 100 positive cases per 100,000 residents over a seven-day period. According to data from the Tompkins County Health Department, there…
Tompkins Co. Medical Director, Dr. Klepack, On the Delta Variant And Breakthrough Infections
Tompkins County has seen a surge in cases of COVID-19. As of Friday, August 6th, there are 90 active cases in Tompkins County. Two weeks ago there were just 4.Data from the Tompkins County Health Department shows a rise in breakthrough cases as well. All of this is largely being attributed to the more transmissible…
Majority of Last Week’s COVID Cases Were in Fully Vaccinated People; Total Number of Positive Cases Represent 0.2 Percent of Tompkins County Resident
TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY — The Tompkins County Health department published data on Thursday regarding cases of COVID-19 by vaccination status. Between May 1st and July 31st, 27 percent of COVID cases detected in Tompkins County were in fully vaccinated people. That’s 84 reported cases out of a total of 315 known cases for those 3…
Spike in Cases Continues, Tompkins County Health Department Announces Virtual COVID-19 Update
TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY — In response to a jump in COVID cases, the Tompkins County Health Department is hosting a virtual COVID-19 update on Thursday, August 5th. The Health Department reported 20 new positive cases of the COVID-19 in Tompkins County for Wednesday, August 4th, and a total of 86 active cases. The 7-day average…
COVID-19 Cases Tick Up in Tompkins County; Mask Guidance Reinstated
TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY — In response to a recent uptick in cases, the Tompkins County Health Department is reinstating masking guidance and resuming daily updates of it’s COVID-19 data tables. As of posting this story, there are 59 active cases of COVID-19 in Tompkins County. The daily COVID updates were reduced to once a week…
Cayuga Lake’s HABs Season is Booming, Health Department Issues Warning
ITHACA, NY — Cayuga Lake is leading New York state in Harmful Algal Blooms this season, prompting a call for caution at the Tompkins County Health Department. Cayuga Lake has had over two dozen toxic blooms this year according to reports collected by the Department of Environmental Conservation, or DEC. The toxic blooms can look…
CREATIVES: Chandra Oppenheim with Dusty Visions
Dusty Visions of Threading the Needle interviews Post Punk legend Chandra Oppenheim and bandmates live in studio. Chanda Oppenheim is a musician and performer originally from New York City. At a young age, she was heavily exposed to the New York art world thanks to her father, Dennis Oppenheim, work as a sculptor, photographer and…
The Undiscovered Country: Jason Hoge of LawNY on the NYS Clean State Act
Host Michael Rhynes interviews attorney Jason Hoge about the new legislation that will make a difference to men and women coming home from prison. The law holds a unique promise for 2.3 million New Yorkers with conviction records. The law will clear the path for them to access the employment, housing, education and other opportunities…
This is people-powered radio! Your support powers local voices, independent news, and music from beyond the algorithm!
♥ THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT, WE’VE MET OUR FALL 2024 GOAL!!! ♥ PLEASE GIVE TODAY TO HELP US REACH OUR YEAR-END GOAL. ♥ WRFI is truly one in a million. We don’t fit the mold of commercial or corporate media. We’re homegrown, we’re independent, and, most importantly, we’re fun! Where else can you find unfiltered,…
The Undiscovered Country: Taili Mugambee
Host Michael Rhynes interviews Taili Mugambee Director or the Ultimate Re-Entry Opportunity about re-entry work underway in Tompkins County. The organization works to address housing, employment, safety, health, and wellness of those impacted by incarceration, and to make policy and systemic change. “The Undiscovered Country” is a radio program and podcast featuring the poetry, prose,…
Voter Information for 2024
Elections in our area’s newly defined districts have been decided by razor thin margins. Make sure you’re registered to vote today. The deadline to register is October 26. Early voting in Tomkins County runs from October 26 through November 3. Any registered New York State voter in Tompkins County can vote early at either of…
CREATIVES: Ruth Reichl with Rachel Bezner Kerr and Felix Teitelbaum [AUDIO, TRANSCRIPT]
Felix Teitelbaum hosts a discussion with Ruth Reichl and Rachel Besner Kerr on WRFI about the documentary “Food and Country,” which explores the impact of the pandemic on food systems. Get tickets for the September 17 screening and join the panel conversation following the film. Reichl highlights the resilience and struggles of farmers, ranchers, and…
Local Food Security Roundtable [AUDIO]
How can we ensure access to healthy, sustainable food for everyone in our community? What can we do as individuals? What changes would you like to see to government policy? How did the pandemic affect the way you eat? Listen back to our WRFI’s September 12 food security and call-in show. Panelists, callers, and host Felix Teitelbaum…
CREATIVES: Author Jonathan Lethem
In this edition of CREATIVES ON WRFI, a conversation between celebrated American novelist Jonathan Lethem and Jacob White, Associate Professor of Writing at Ithaca College and host of Jamaican Clash on WRFI. Jonathan Lethem visits Ithaca this weekend as part of the fourth annual Ithaca Is Books Festival (Sept. 12-15). You can see Lethem live…
Alcance Latino: Starting a Small Farm Business [in Spanish]
María José Oviedo y Tim W. Shenk del equipo de Futuro en Ag del Cornell Small Farms Program comparten con Carlos Gutiérrez en el programa Alcance Latino. Invitan a conocer las oportunidades disponibles para productores y aspirantes a la producción agrícola que son de la comunidad latina o hispanohablante. De particular interés es el curso virtual…
Alcance Latino: Starting a Small Farm [in Spanish]
María José Oviedo y Tim W. Shenk del equipo de Futuro en Ag del Cornell Small Farms Program comparten con Carlos Gutiérrez en el programa Alcance Latino. Invitan a conocer las oportunidades disponibles para productores y aspirantes a la producción agrícola que son de la comunidad latina o hispanohablante. De particular interés es el curso virtual…