Broome County Gets Thousands of COVID-19 Test Kits

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar says local hospitals will be able to test more people for the coronavirus with the arrival of thousands of test kits in the County.

The executive has been continually pleading for more supplies during his regular news briefings, including a call for more test kits.

April 6, the Democrat announced United Health Services and Lourdes Hospital had been able to secure 4,000 coronavirus tests.  While the $16,000 in new kits will allow for more testing, the executive says the goal is to make sure that everyone who needs to be tested can get tested, but “we’re not there yet.” Garnar says he would love to have even more tests and be able to offer drive-through screenings similar to what has been happening in Tompkins County.

Officials say it should be remembered, that with an increase in the number of people tested for the coronavirus, there is bound to be an increase in the number of positive test results coming back.

Broome County is noting five new cases of COVID-19 bringing its total to 72. Chenango County’s positive cases rose by 3 to 46. Cortland County increased by 2 for a total of 13. Delaware County is at 29 with two new cases. Tioga County had one new case for a total of 8 and Tompkins County added 6 positive test results for the coronavirus for a total of 94.

Pennsylvania reports 12,980 positive coronavirus cases and 162 deaths.  There have been no deaths in the Northern Tier.  Susquehanna County reports 6 cases, Bradford 10 and Tioga, south of Elmira had 8 with 42% of the positive cases state-wide in Pennsylvania in residents aged 25 to 49.  The majority of the patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Keystone State are over the age of 65.