Coronavirus Briefs -- July 29, 2022

Eight new cases, one death in Cortland County
Cortland County saw eight new cases of COVID-19, and one new death, the state Health Department reported Thursday, bringing the county to a total of 11,828 cases since the pandemic began.

Tompkins and Cayuga counties reported 46 new cases, the state reported Thursday. The three counties have seen 53,162 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. The number of people who have died from the virus has risen to 378.

• Two new COVID patients were admitted to Guthrie Cortland Medical Center on Tuesday, the state reported. The hospital had four COVID patients. Since the pandemic began, 708 Cortland County residents have been hospitalized for COVID, the county reports, a figure last updated July 20. The state Health Department reports 293,835 tests have been administered. The state has reported 126 deaths.
• Tompkins County saw 36 new cases, the state Health Department reported Thursday. The number of confirmed cases rose to 23,245. The state reports 3,034,757 tests have been administered. Ninety Tompkins residents have died.
• Cayuga County saw 10 new cases, the state Health Department reported Thursday. Confirmed cases rose to 18,089. The state reports 374,083 tests have been administered, and 162 people have died.

Cayuga distributes test kits
MORAVIA — The Cayuga County Health Department has distributed rapid COVID-19 antigen tests to several community partners to give away.

The two-test kits are the iHealth Rapid Antigen brand; they expire in the fall, although the Food and Drug Administration has extended the expiration dates of these at-home test
kits, reflected on the box.

Kits are available at two locations in Moravia:

• Powers Library, 29 Church St.
•  Village of Moravia offices, 22 Central St.

The test results can be submitted to the Cayuga County Health Deaprtment by emailing a picture of the test to covidtest@cayugacounty.us. Include the person’s full legal name, date of birth, date the test was taken, and a phone number. For details, go to www.cayugacounty.us/health.

Cornell issues guidance for new semester
Cornell University students and other university community members must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a medical or religious exemption before returning to campus for the fall semester, the university announced this week.

Students should take and at-home antigen test before arriving, the university said. Positive tests should be reported to the Daily Check. Test again several days after arriving on campus.

After Aug. 31, the university will discontinue its PCR testing sites, although antigen tests will be available across campus.

Masks will be required in testing centers, campus healthcare facility and when riding public transit. Anyone recovering from COVID-19 and no longer required to isolate must remain masked when with others, according to guidance from the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Masks are strongly encouraged in classrooms. The university will provide masks.