The COVID Surge Continues in the Southern Tier

Broome County is noting one of its highest active COVID case numbers for a day while new infections and hospitalizations have seen a small drop.

Broome December 29 said there were 1,9011 active cases, 144 new cases and 101 people in the hospital. Two more residents have died, bringing Broome’s pandemic death toll to 457.

A new death was reported in each Chenango and Delaware Counties. Chenango County reported 39 new cases. Delaware had 117 additional positives since the Monday, December 27 report with 272 active cases and ten people in the hospital.

Cortland County’s total number of COVID cases has just passed 8,000. The addition of 42 cases reported December 29 brings the total to 8,022.  There are 255 active cases and 11 people hospitalized. 89 Cortland County residents have died.

Tioga County had 184 new cases over the past week, 88 added December 29 for a total of 7,504. There are 265 active cases and six people hospitalized.  There were no additional deaths reported over the last week leaving the pandemic death toll in Tioga County at 78.

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Meanwhile, due to the large surge in cases, Chenango County Health Department officials say it may take more than a day for a nurse to return residents’ calls if they have tested positive for the coronavirus.  The word December 29 comes a week after Broome County Executive Jason Garnar issued a similar statement saying contact tracers may not be able to call residents for a couple days due to the surge and manpower shortages.