(Ithaca, N.Y., April 22) – The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) is alerting the community to the availability of therapeutics to treat severe illness from COVID-19. Those who test positive and are an older adult or at high risk of illness may be eligible for treatment options that can be prescribed by a doctor. TCHD continues to report a low incidence of severe illness from COVID-19 in Tompkins County and hospitalizations remain low.
Therapeutic treatments for severe illness from COVID-19 are widely available through pharmacies and healthcare providers in Tompkins County. For a list of locations in Tompkins County offering treatment medications via prescription, visit the Federal Government’s interactive map of providers. Patients seeking treatment should not contact the pharmacy or location directly, but instead contact their primary care physician to receive a prescription.
TCHD has updated information on treatments available on its website. TCHD urges individuals seeking more information or who test positive for COVID-19 and develop severe illness, are an older adult, or at high risk of illness to contact their primary care provider. Anyone who does not currently have a primary care physician or who is uninsured and seeking a local provider should call 2-1-1 (1-877-211-8667).
For those who test positive for COVID-19 and experience symptoms but do not develop severe illness, the following measures can relieve symptoms and support your body’s natural defenses:
- Taking medications, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to reduce fever
- Drinking water to stay hydrated
- Getting plenty of rest to help the body fight the virus
TCHD has recently updated information on its website related to Long COVID, or long-lasting effects of COVID-19 that occur in some patients and continue to be studied. The best ways to prevent long-lasting effects of the disease is to stop the spread of COVID-19, and to be in contact with your primary care physician or healthcare provider if you test positive or experience symptoms.
Tompkins County Public Health Director Frank Kruppa stated, “The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to stay up to date on vaccination. Vaccines have proved remarkably safe and effective in preventing severe illness and are widely available in the community. For those who test positive, regardless of vaccination status, please monitor your symptoms and alert your doctor of your positive result. When you discuss your positive test result with your doctor they may advise different treatment options, many of which are widely available in our community. For those who do not have a doctor or are uninsured, resources are available for you, please call 2-1-1.”
In addition to treatment options, the following measures can provide protection from COVID-19.
Wearing a High-Quality Mask Can Protect You and Others
- High-quality masks (KN95 or N95) continue to be one of the best ways to protect yourself and others.
- High-quality KN95 masks are freely available to the community. Please refer to the TCHD website or call 2-1-1 for information on where these masks are available.
- For more information on how to most effectively wear a KN95 mask, TCHD has published a video with instructions.
- Any individual may choose to wear a mask in any situation based on personal preference.
- You should wear a mask when you are around others:
- Who are ill
- Who may not be vaccinated against COVID-19
- Who are at high risk of severe illness
- If you are immunocompromised or at high risk of severe illness from the virus
- On public transit or in a healthcare or congregate setting as defined by New York State
Get Tested if You Experience Symptoms, Self-Test Before Gathering with Others
- If you are feeling ill or symptomatic for COVID-19, seek a test through Cayuga Health System or your healthcare provider. Tests are free and available for Tompkins County residents at the Cayuga Health System testing site at the Shops at Ithaca Mall (40 Catherwood Rd.). Appointments are required. Go online or call: 607-319-5708.
- Self-tests are recommended for individuals who do not have symptoms and are seeking quick results to identify infection or increase confidence that you are not positive for COVID-19.
- A self-test can be used as a prevention measure before gathering indoors with others who are not in your household. This is especially important before gathering with individuals who are unvaccinated, older individuals, those who are immunocompromised, or individuals at greater risk of severe disease.
- Free self-test kits can be ordered for delivery to your home via USPS or can be found locally in various locations, including your local library.
- If your self-test result is positive, complete the Self-Testing Report Form for Tompkins County residents. The online form will ask for basic contact information and to upload a photo of your test kit result.
Stay Up To Date on Vaccinations to Prevent Severe Disease
- TCHD is encouraging eligible residents to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccination.
- Vaccines are safe, effective, and continue to show increased protection from severe illness from COVID-19.
- Vaccine doses are currently available at local pharmacies and primary care offices. Please contact your pharmacy or doctor to discuss availability or visit the TCHD website for more information.
The Tompkins County Health Department is your partner for a healthy community. Find us online at TompkinsCountyNY.gov/health, and follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/TompkinsPublicHealth and on Twitter at @TompkinsHealth. Sign up to receive COVID-19 updates or other county announcements via email or text.
Media contact: Shannon Alvord, salvord@tompkins-co.org
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