(Ithaca, N.Y., October 14, 2022) – The Tompkins County Health Department is alerting the community to the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in our community, that coupled with higher hospitalization numbers, shifts the local CDC Community Level from Low to Medium. TCHD is urging caution, especially for those most at risk for severe illness, though there is no change in official guidance regarding masking at this time.
TCHD encourages community members to be proactive by wearing high-quality masks when indoors and consider personal risk when gathering with others. If you are not yet vaccinated, now is the time to do so. Everyone ages 12+ who has completed their original vaccination series at least two months ago is eligible to receive a bivalent booster. The bivalent boosters add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine composition. This addition helps restore protection that has decreased since previous vaccination by targeting variants that are more transmissible and evade the immune system. Receiving an updated booster dose will increase your protection against current variants, reducing severity of illness should you become infected. Boosters are available at pharmacies and through healthcare providers. Search online at vaccines.gov or dial 211 for assistance.
TCHD will continue to monitor and publish data trends and inform the community of any changes to local guidance. TCHD would like to remind the community that staying up to date on vaccination, wearing high-quality masks when needed, and getting tested are steps that work together to stop spread and prevent severe disease. For more information on current guidance, please view our informational video outlining up to date COVID-19 guidance.
Tompkins County Public Health Director Frank Kruppa stated, “We had anticipated that we could see a spike in new cases this fall, as experienced in both 2020 and 2021. The community should keep in mind that both COVID-19 and the flu are circulating at this time of the year. We can improve our personal safety by staying up to date on vaccinations, wearing high-quality masks, and staying home when ill. If you are not yet vaccinated or have not received your booster, please contact your healthcare provider or local pharmacy to get vaccinated as soon as you can.”
Kruppa continued, “We have reported multiple deaths caused by COVID-19 the past few weeks, serving as a somber reminder that protecting our most vulnerable community members, older adults and those who are immunocompromised, is a role we all play a part in. Let’s continue working together to reduce the spread of this disease in our community.”
Stay Up To Date on Vaccinations to Prevent Severe Disease
- TCHD is encouraging eligible residents to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccination and Flu vaccination. Flu vaccines are needed annually and should be received in the fall.
- Vaccines are safe, effective, and continue to show increased protection from severe illness.
- 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.
- Call 2-1-1 (1-877-211-8667) for additional information or for assistance with registration.
- Everyone ages 6mos+ can be vaccinated for the flu.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility:
- Everyone ages 6mos+ is eligible to be vaccinated.
- Everyone ages 5+ is eligible for a booster dose:
- Ages 5 years and older who received their Pfizer-BioNTech initial vaccine series at least five (5) months ago are eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster (3 months for individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised).
- Ages 18 years and older who received the Moderna initial vaccine series at least five (5) months ago or the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least two (2) months ago are eligible for a booster dose (3 months and 2 months respectively for individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised).
- mRNA vaccines, either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, are recommended over the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in most situations for ages 18+.
- The following are eligible for an updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster:
- You are eligible to receive an updated booster dose at least 2 months following your last vaccination, regardless of whether it was a completion of your initial series, a 1st booster or a 2nd booster dose.
- Those ages 12 and older can receive the updated bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech booster
- Those ages 18 and older can receive the updated bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech or updated Moderna bivalent booster.
- Those ages 5-11 cannot receive the updated booster at this time but should receive the original Pfizer-BioNTech booster.
Get Tested if You Experience Symptoms, Self-Test Before Gathering with Others
- If you are feeling ill or symptomatic for COVID-19, or have had a known exposure, 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 are available locally in various locations.
- If your self-test result is positive, Complete the Self-Test Reporting Form for Tompkins County residents. The online form will ask for basic contact information and to upload a photo of your test kit result.
- Self-test kit expiration dates have been extended by the FDA from a 9-month shelf life to 12-months. Test kit expiration dates have been extended from a 9-month expiration date to a 12-month expiration date. Before you discard a past-date kit, please check this chart for the new extended expiration date.
- If you test positive for COVID-19, you must isolate at home for at least 5 days, the period when you are most likely to be infectious. After 5 days, if your symptoms are improving, your isolation period may end, but please continue to wear a high-quality mask when around others.
- Therapeutic treatments for COVID-19 are available through pharmacies and healthcare providers in Tompkins County. Those who test positive, especially those that are an older adult or at high risk of illness, may be eligible for treatment options that can be prescribed by a doctor. Patients seeking treatment should not contact the pharmacy directly, but instead contact their primary care physician to receive a prescription. 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).
High-Quality Masks Provide Protection
- 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 (1-877-211-8667) 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.
- Individuals should wear a high-quality mask for at least 5 days post-exposure to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status.
- If you test positive for COVID-19, wear a high-quality mask for 10 days from the onset of symptoms or the date of your positive test (whichever comes first), whenever you must be around others at home and in public.
- TCHD continues to recommend that you 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
- When in a healthcare or congregate setting as defined by New York State where masks are required
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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