[ad_1]
TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY – After 15 new cases of COVID-19 were reported yesterday, the Tompkins County Department of Health issued a health notice “encouraging all residents, regardless of their immunization status, to wear a mask when they are inside around others “.
The total number of active COVID-19 cases in Tompkins County is now 57, the highest in months. There have been 47 positive tests in the past three days. The health ministry blamed the increase in the number of cases mainly on “several clusters linked to large indoor gatherings and domestic travel.”
The health department’s announcement is in line with CDC guidelines that call for indoor masking, even for fully vaccinated people, in places where there are more than 50 cases per 100,000 population. There are now 57 active cases in Tompkins County, which has a population of approximately 100,000. There is no official direction beyond the mask advisory, the county said, and it will wait for the New York State Department of Health to decide whether or not to officially adopt the recommendations. of the CDC on masking.
All county employees must wear masks indoors, whether or not they are vaccinated. The health department is further encouraging other local organizations to demand the same, which Governor Andrew Cuomo urged earlier this week.
Many have wondered if those vaccinated locally contract COVID-19, and the answer appears to be yes, but it is not known how many new cases are breakthrough cases among people who have been vaccinated. Tests are being sequenced by Cornell University to determine if they are of the Delta variant, and the health department is analyzing positive tests and will release a breakdown of positive cases among unvaccinated and vaccinated people over the coming week. . Yet, as has been shown nationally, even with the Delta variant, those vaccinated have “very high levels of protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death.”
Despite the influx of cases, there is still only one person hospitalized with COVID-19. The Department of Health has also posted a Delta variant web page to answer frequently asked questions and access information.
“As we wait for more information and advice, one of the best things we can all do is proceed with caution,” Tompkins County Medical Director Dr William Klepack said. “We know that vaccines are effective in preventing people from getting seriously ill or being hospitalized, and that masks work very well in preventing the spread of disease.”
Tompkins County Acting Administrator Lisa Holmes said: “Based on the information we currently have and the science we have, asking people to wear a mask is the best direction for our community,” said acting county administrator Lisa Holmes. “We continue to encourage our employees to get vaccinated and ask everyone to wear a mask following this warning as a precaution. Taking these steps helps us keep each other healthy and safe. As we have more information and advice, we will share it with the community. Thank you all for doing their part as we continue to increase our immunization rate and stop the spread of COVID-19. ”
[ad_2]
Source link