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COVID19 2020-09-02 Positive COVID-19 Case at The Boatyard Grill

The Tompkins County Health Department received notification that an employee tested positive for COVID-19 at The Boatyard Grill (525 Old Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, NY 14850). Based on the Health Department’s contact investigation, this individual is not connected to any other identified positive case.

Potential public exposures may have occurred at The Boatyard Grill during the following dates and times:

  • Friday, August 28: 4pm-11:00pm
  • Saturday, August 29: 4pm-11:00pm
  • Sunday, August 30: 4pm-11:00pm

If you dined at The Boatyard Grill, indoors or outdoors, during the dates and times above, please do the following:

  • It is recommended that you get tested at the Cayuga Health Sampling Site located at The Shops at Ithaca Mall parking lot, 40 Catherwood Rd. Register for an appointment online at cayugahealthsystem.org or call the Cayuga Health Call Center at 607-319-5708. Regular hours for the Sampling Site and Call Center are Monday-Friday 8:30AM-4:00PM. The Sampling Site will have special hours on Saturday, September 5 from 8AM – 12:30PM because they are closed on Monday for Labor Day.
  • If potentially exposed, Cornell University students should contact Cornell Health at 607-255-5155; do not go to an arrival or surveillance testing site.
  • All other students and community members should seek testing at the Cayuga Health Sampling Site.
  • Monitor your health for any symptoms of cough, fever, and shortness of breath for 14 days from the last time you dined at The Boatyard Grill. For a full list of symptoms, go to the TCHD website.
  • If you seek testing and the result is negative, continue to monitor your health for the full 14 days from the last time you dined at The Boatyard Grill. If you become symptomatic, seek testing again.

The individual who tested positive is in isolation and the contact investigation is ongoing. Any close contacts will be encouraged to seek a test and will be placed in mandatory quarantine. Contacts who are essential workers are allowed to return to work with a negative test result and if not symptomatic but must quarantine while not at work.

“The COVID-19 virus continues to be present in our community. We are encouraging people to be cautious and continue to consider density, keep distance, wear face coverings, and wash hands well and often to stop the spread of COVID-19,” stated Frank Kruppa, Public Health Director.

“The Boatyard notified their staff right away and is taking all necessary precautions. They continue to closely follow their reopening plan requiring staff to wear masks at all times, distance between tables, and thorough cleaning of their facility several times a week,” stated Kruppa. “Implementing these plans and precautions is crucial to creating a safe environment for staff and patrons and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”


For local updates and information, check the TCHD website

Individuals who have traveled to a state with significant community spread listed on the NYS Travel Advisory must quarantine for 14 days. See an up-to-date list of states on the NYS Travel Advisory webpage. For more information about how to quarantine, refer to the TCHD website

Everyone can continue to take these steps to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community:

  • Refrain from traveling to states listed in the New York Travel Advisory.
  • Keep 6 feet distance between yourself and others when in public.
  • Wear a mask at all times in public spaces, especially when 6 feet of distance cannot be maintained. Masks and face coverings must be worn by everyone over age two at all times in public places when 6 feet of distance cannot be maintained. Fines are enforceable for individuals who are in violation of these regulations. Businesses must deny entry to anyone who is not wearing a face covering.
  • Non-essential gatherings are limited to 50 people for our region, but must comply with distancing and face covering guidance.
  • Wash hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid close and continued contact with other people not in your household.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

To file a complaint about a business or social gathering go to the TCHD website.

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.