Broome County Coronavirus Count Surpasses 2,000 Since Pandemic Began

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar is extending his request that residents stay at home as much as possible to curb the spread of the coronavirus to the next two weeks as the number of cases in the county now surpasses 2,000 this year. 

Following an initial spike in cases, the Democrat asked residents refrain from gathering until the end of the week but has expanded that as cases continue to soar and parts of the county were put under a “Yellow Caution Zone” restrictions by the state for 14 days.   

October 7, Broome reported 114 new positive tests for the coronavirus and another death, bringing the death toll during the pandemic to 83.  Broome County’s positive case total for the pandemic is now 2,043 mid-March.   

Garnar says the County’s new rapid testing site at Saint Patrick’s Church on Leroy Street, Binghamton in the middle of the coronavirus hotspot zone had booked all available testing slots for the week in the first day of operation. Garnar says that site will now remain open through next week.  Reservations are being taken for testing of people who have symptoms of COVID-19 only.

That site is only open weekdays from 1-7 p.m.  When asked about the limited hours, Garnar said he would like to keep the site open longer but just doesn't have the people to be able to administer the hundreds of tests.

Other testing sites are available at United Health Services, Lourdes and the state testing site at Binghamton University but those tests take longer than the 15-minute return on the rapid testing at the mobile location in Binghamton.