Active COVID Cases Reach New Heights, Hospitalizations Remain Low

(Dominick Recckio / Tompkins County)

(Dominick Recckio / Tompkins County)

TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY — There are 428 active cases of COVID-19 in Tompkins County, burying the previous all time high of 330 active cases on January 8th, 2021.

On August 26th,  there were just 186 active cases. There have been an average of 60 new cases every day for the past week.

While the rates of spread and volume of cases are reaching new highs in Tompkins County, severe cases of COVID-19 are at a relative lows.

According to the Health Department, there are currently 6 people hospitalized for COVID-19. On January 8th, the date of the previous all time high in cases, there were 32 people hospitalized as a result of COVID.

To slow the spread of the virus, the Health Department is urging people to wear masks while indoors and around others in public spaces, and also for people to get vaccinated.

Local News: September 29, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 29, 2023

– Ithaca’s 2024 budget to be presented minus Cornell funding – It’s municipal budget season. Ithaca Mayor Laura Lewis will present the city’s proposed 2024 budget at the October 4 Common Council meeting. It’ll be the first budget in over 20 years that will not include a contribution from Cornell. The Common Council postponed a…

Julian Eagle: A Tribute to WRFI’s Very First Youth Radio Volunteer

By JT Stone | September 28, 2023

At fourteen, Julian Eagle started working at WRFI as the station’s very first Youth Radio volunteer. This week would have been his 21st birthday and this month was the one-year anniversary of his death from Fentanyl poisoning. WRFI’s JT Stone got his start in radio working with Julian. He filed a tribute to a young…

Local News: September 28, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 28, 2023

– A Tompkins County town’s park plan is headed to a voter referendum – Plans for the first public park in the town of Ulysses are on hold. The town includes the village of Trumansburg. Town leaders planned to purchase 30 acres of farmland on Krums Corners Road to create the park. Instead, the purchase…

Local News: September 27, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 27, 2023

Two farms in Tompkins and Schuyler Counties temporarily halt raw milk sales Raw milk sold by two small area farms has tested positive for bacteria in the past two months. No one has gotten sick but the farms won’t be selling raw milk for a while. In routine tests by the state Department of Agriculture…

Local News: September 26, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 26, 2023

– Republicans win preliminary court cast over redistricting – Republicans won the latest legal skirmish over the state’s congressional redistricting. Politico New York reports that last week a state Court of Appeals decided not to force redistricting to start while a Republican appeal is being considered. The party is challenging a July order from a…

Local News: September 25, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 25, 2023

– Budget for Slope Day more than doubled for 2024 – The Cornell Student Assembly voted to add $400,000 Slope Day budget making it $715,000 for 2024. That’s more than double the current budget. The day is an end-of-school-year celebration on the campus and headlines well-known musicians. The Cornell Daily Sun reports that the bump…

Local News: September 22, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 22, 2023

– Health insurance costs for Cortland County employees, retirees may rise – Cortland County retirees and employees may see their health insurance contributions rise by 10% in 2024. The Cortland Voice reports the county is facing a $1.3 million gap in the 2024 budget. The insurance increase would close that gap.  The legislature is set…

Local News: September 21, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 21, 2023

– Ithaca Leaders Postpone Vote on Cornell Funding, Approve Homeless Encampment Policy – The Ithaca Common Council held a special meeting Wednesday night to vote on two highly significant matters. But, they postponed a vote on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cornell until an October meeting. Mayor Lewis said that would give Alderpersons…

Local News: September 20, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 20, 2023

– Tick-borne illnesses double in Tompkins County – Tick-borne illnesses are on the rise in our region and across the country. According to The Ithaca Voice, the number of cases of Lyme disease in Tompkins County has doubled in the past year. Part of the reason is milder winters because of climate change. Ticks, especially…

Local News: September 19, 2023

By Celia Clarke | September 19, 2023

Opponents of the draft payment agreement between Cornell and the City of Ithaca protested on campus Monday evening. The new proposal would require Cornell to pay Ithaca $4 million a year over the next 21 years with regular increases for inflation. That’s up from the $1.6 million currently paid. Opponents like Kay Minnix don’t think…