2020 Public Health Press Release Archives

Health Department is Seeking a Person Who Brought a Raccoon to Cornell University Hospital for Animals (ITHACA, NY, July 27, 2020) – The Tompkins County Health Department reports that a raccoon anonymously left at the doors of Cornell University Hospital for Animals on July 23, 2020 around 12 AM,…
The Tompkins County Health Department has identified a positive COVID-19 case in a local skilled nursing facility (SNF). In the event of a positive case in a SNF, the New York State Department of Health assumes responsibility of the contact investigation in conjunction with the local health…
The Tompkins County Health Department is reporting ten new positive COVID-19 cases along with information on the nature of their exposure. As the number of positive COVID-19 cases increases locally, the Tompkins County Health Department is reminding residents of mask requirements, quarantine…
The Tompkins County Health Department received notification that a non-customer facing GreenStar employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee is asymptomatic and currently in isolation. “Our Health Department nurses conducted the contact tracing investigation and all close contacts have…
The Tompkins County Health Department received notification of new positive COVID-19 cases related to Fourth of July social gatherings. Identified cases are connected to out-of-state travel to states with significant increases of the virus. Some of these cases are connected to local social…
Multiple suspicious blue-green algae blooms, also known as HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms), have been reported in the Tompkins County portion of Cayuga Lake this week and monitoring is continuing. These blooms may be small in size and confined to specific areas of the shoreline and bays. Areas where…
In response to increased rates of COVID-19 transmission in certain U.S. states, New York has joined with New Jersey and Connecticut to issue a travel advisory for anyone returning from states that have significant community spread. The Tompkins County Health Department is discouraging all non-…
The Tompkins County Health Department must locate a dog that bit a person on the Thurston Avenue bridge near Forest Home Drive in the Town of Ithaca. The bite occurred Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at approximately 10 AM.    The dog is described as black, short haired, and large breed about the size and…
New York’s Southern Tier Region, including Tompkins County, has met the metrics set forth by Governor Cuomo for phased reopening of non-essential businesses. The reopening process of Phase One will begin as early as this weekend. Tompkins County Officials held a virtual town hall on Friday to share…
The Tompkins County Health Department received notification that a GreenStar employee tested positive for COVID-19. The individual worked multiple shifts at the GreenStar location at 770 Cascadilla Street last weekend. Today, the Health Department was informed of an additional shift worked by the…