COVID Cases Climb Across Southern Tier

The surge in COVID-19 cases in New York continues and is spreading beyond a hotspot in Central New York and the Finger Lakes.

April 25-29, Broome County had seen it’s five-day average grow through the 800s to a reported 884 cases for the week reported on Friday, April 29. Last week, Broome County reported a high single-day new case number of 206 on April 27.  Broome’s pandemic death toll stands at 508.

Over the weekend, Cortland reported another COVID death, bringing the county pandemic death toll to 119.

New York State has also been seeing large increases in new cases state-wide with the latest subvariants of the coronavirus being blamed for more people becoming sick. But, with vaccinations and boosters, the number of people becoming seriously ill or dying have not gone up in equal numbers.

Health officials in the areas experiencing surges have generally said they don’t anticipate restoring mandates like requiring masks be worn in indoor settings.  Over the past several months, health and government officials have pointed to the lessons learned over the past two years with more people getting the vaccine and boosters, wearing masks in situations where they may feel vulnerable, getting tested if they feel ill and staying home when sick.  Residents are encouraged to continue those practices as well as social distancing and frequent hand-washing to slow this latest spread of the more transmissible variants.

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Broome County is planning vaccination and booster clinics on May 18, 19 and 25.  For times, locations and to make a reservation go to www.gobroomecounty.com/hd/coronavirus/vaccine.

Health officials remind residents it is important to report positive COVID-19 home test results.  Those results can be reported on the COVID Resource Page, which also includes information on steps that you should take if you test positive or are exposed to someone who has COVID-19.