The Tompkins County Health Department is alerting the public that due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, there will be delays in case investigation and contact tracing.
This delay will impact when individuals who are positive or close contacts of a positive case receive a call from TCHD or the NYS Contact Tracing Program. If you are awaiting test results, please follow instructions from the healthcare provider, and check the patient portal for your results. If you are made aware of a positive test before you are contacted by TCHD, please isolate at home and away from others in your home.
Frank Kruppa, Public Health Director stated, "Due to the increased number of cases, the Health Department is not able to reach every case within 24 hours of tests resulting. You will be contacted, but until you are, please isolate at home and away from those in your home. You can find more information on how to appropriately isolate on the TCHD website, including explainer videos in multiple languages."
Kruppa continued, “With the increase in cases over the past few weeks, we continue to monitor the severity of disease. Due to our high rate of vaccination, most new cases have mild symptoms and do not require additional care. Our hospitalizations have stayed in the single digits but as of yesterday are at 10 active COVID-19 hospitalizations. I urge everyone to take precautions and evaluate individual risk, especially if you or others around you are immunocompromised, unvaccinated, or have other medical conditions.”
TCHD held a COVID-19 virtual Town Hall to update the community on Thursday, December 9. The recording is available on the Tompkins County You Tube page: https://youtu.be/fhEyJQKZUoo. The panel included Frank Kruppa, Public Health Director, Claire Espey, Director of Community Health Services, Dr. Martin Stallone, CEO, Cayuga Health System, and Amie Hendrix, Deputy County Administrator. During the Town Hall, Claire Espey shared the on-going recruitment for Case Monitors (Project Assistant position) and Case Investigators (Registered Professional Nurses). Link to employment opportunities is available here: https://www2.tompkinscountyny.gov/personnel/Employment_Opportunities.
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.
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