Almost three weeks ago a state of emergency was declared in Tioga County after the first confirmed case of the coronavirus was reported by the health department. Since then, Tioga County officials continue to monitor and respond to possible cases of the virus. From that first report on March 14, the caseload has increased to eight confirmed cases today in Tioga County … the lowest number of cases among counties in the Southern Tier of New York.
The county keeps other statistics … 53 people in Tioga County are in mandatory quarantine … people who have had close contact with a tested positive person — closer than six feet — but do not display symptoms. These could also be people who traveled to China, Iran, Japan, South Korea or Italy and are displaying symptoms.
People who have traveled to those counties or were in the proximity — farther away six feet — of a positive-tested person but have no symptoms go into precautionary quarantine … 14 people are there in the latest report from Tioga County.
The health department is waiting for the results of 82 tests. This can be a difficult number to get an accurate read, county officials note … Not everyone who lives in Tioga County is tested by the county health department. Chairwoman of the Tioga County Legislature Martha Sauerbrey said some people might be tested in other facilities and get the results even before the county health department is notified.
Remember many county offices and departments are open and continue working under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order for reduced staffing; some have closed, DVM among them, again by the governor’s order. These exemptions have been granted by the state: five-hour pre-licensing course certificates will be honored after the state of emergency is lifted; renewal deadlines for driver’s licenses, learner’s permits and non-driver ID cards are all extended during the state of emergency.
Board of Elections is open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 1pm with reduced staffing. Tioga County Mental Health and Alcohol & Drug Services are available weekdays from 9am to 5pm for Tele-psychiatry and Tele-Mental health. If you are unable to connect to the clinic, call and an in-person appointments will be scheduled.
The situation is similar in other Southern Tier counties as health departments everywhere track the virus and issue daily numbers. At the top of the list of confirmed cases is Tompkins County with 66 cases, Broome County has 37 case and three deaths, 15 cases in Chemung County, 19 in Chenango, 16 in Delaware and Otsego County has 18 confirmed cases, including one death.
For further information, please refer to the following resources:
· Facebook @Tioga County Public Health
· Facebook @TiogaMH (Tioga County Department of Mental Hygiene)
· Tioga County Public Health Voicemail Line – 687-8623
· NYS Coronavirus Hotline: 888-364-3065 (for general questions or information about COVID-19)
· NEW! Tioga County Emergency Food Hotline – 607-354-0965
