EH Division Office
Regular business hours are 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday. All visitors and contractors are required to wear a mask while in the facility, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will be available at the front desk if a visitor does not have one.
Appointments are encouraged for Environmental Health programs and services. Please call the EH office at (607) 274-6688.
For other Health Department programs and services, click here.
Reopening & Gatherings Guidance
Effective 6/15/21
Tompkins County has adopted New York State guidance effective June 15, 2021, which lifts COVID-19 restrictions, including masks and distancing, for most public settings. COVID-19 restrictions remain in place for certain settings and for unvaccinated people.
While most workplaces and venues are no longer bound to NYS guidance, they are authorized to require masks, distancing, and other COVID protocols in their establishments, consistent with CDC guidance. Individuals who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks and maintain physical distance in most settings, in accordance with federal CDC guidance.
EH will continue notify businesses if NYS issues other industry-specific guidance, and thanks the community for their patience and understanding during this phase of the reopening.
Additional information is on our COVID-19 Prevention page.
“Fully Vaccinated” is
- 2 weeks after a second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
Anyone who does not meet these requirements, is NOT fully vaccinated and must keep taking all precautions until they are fully vaccinated.
Find where to get vaccinated.
CDC Guidance for Unvaccinated People.
Overview of Guidance
As of June 15, 2021, COVID-19 restrictions are lifted across the following, including but not limited to:
- Commercial settings: Retail, Food Services, Offices, Gyms and Fitness Centers, Amusement and Family Entertainment, Hair Salons, Barber Shops, Personal Care Services
- Child care
- Camps
- Construction and Manufacturing
- Agriculture
Operations
- Businesses may
- choose to lift all or some restrictions,
- continue to adhere to the State's archived guidance, or
- implement other health precautions for their employees and patrons.
- Businesses are authorized to require masks and six feet of social distancing for employees and patrons within their establishments, regardless of vaccination status.
- Any mask requirements that businesses choose to implement must adhere to applicable federal and state laws and regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The following restrictions remain in place:
- Consistent with the State's implementation of the recent CDC guidance, masks are still required for unvaccinated individuals.
- The State's health guidelines continue to be in effect per CDC guidelines for the following settings:
- Large-scale indoor event venues that hold more than 5,000 attendees
- Pre-K to grade 12 schools
- Public transit
- Homeless shelters
- Correctional facilities
- Nursing homes
- Health care settings
For a full list of settings impacted by the lifting of restrictions, refer to the NY Forward website.
- NYS Reopening New York: Implementing CDC Guidance.
- NYS: “When You Are Fully Vaccinated” flyer from NYS.
- CDC: When You've Been Fully Vaccinated, How to protect yourself and others.
- CDC: Guidance for Unvaccinated People.
Download free signs from TCHD
Large Events, Arts & Entertainment Venues
(over 5,000 person capacity indoors)
If you plan to hold an indoor event within Tompkins County that exceeds 5,000 people, you must read the appropriate guidance and submit an event notificaition form to the Health Department. Click here to open the notification form.
- Capacity depends on whether the venue is implementing CDC guidance for vaccinated individuals.
- NYSDOH must be notified for events with 10,000 or more attendees.
You may also be required to:
- Submit a NYS Safety Plan and /or a floor plan for the event.
- Submit a floor plan showing how the COVID requirements will be met.
Current NYS Source for Guidance: Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Large Scale Performing Arts and Entertainment
Additional References
- NYS Ag and Markets COVID page.
- State Liquor Authority guidance for facilities with liquor licenses and indoor dining.
- Guidance for Farmers’ Markets updated on May 21, 2021
If a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 works in your facility or was known to be present in your facility, promptly notify Environmental Health (607-274-6688 anytime) for instructions on how to proceed
Health Department Status of Services
The Health Department has reopened to the public. Regular business hours are 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday. Appointments are welcome and encouraged for many Health Department programs and services.
All visitors and contractors are required to wear a mask while in the facility, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will be available at the front desk if a visitor does not have one upon entry.
Contact info for specific programs and services
- Children with Special Care Needs: call 607-274-6644, webpage: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/cscn
- Community Health Services and Maternal Child Health Programs: call 607-274-6604, webpage: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/dch/chs
- Environmental Health: call 607-274-6688, webpage: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/eh
- Healthy Neighborhoods Program: call 607-274-6702, webpage: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/eh/neighborhood
- WIC: Based on federal and NYS guidance, the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) will remain fully remote at this time. All appointments are by phone. Call 607-274-6630, or text 607-882-6286, webpage: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/wic/index
- Vital Records: Call 607-274-6642, webpage: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/vitals/index
- Health Department reception desk, (607) 274-6600
