covid testing

Broome County continues to see record numbers of COVID-19 cases, with 3,250 new cases in the past week. But County Executive Jason Garnar says for now, hospitalizations don’t seem to be increasing at the same rate.

"We are racing against the clock now. It's important that when people want to get vaccinated or they want to get boosted, that they can do that immediately."

Across the state about one in every seven positive COVID-19 tests is sent to a lab to be screened for variants. But some counties, like Tompkins, are able to screen nearly all of their tests.

COVID-19 rates are spiking in many parts of upstate New York. So far, local governments have been left to manage the spread of the disease on their own. Now, some county leaders are looking to the state, and Gov. Kathy Hochul, for more help.

According to Garnar, the rapid test machines employed at the site can produce results in 15 minutes.

Hartwick College has reported only two positive student COVID-19 cases so far.

"What we want to avoid is providing data in a manner that would cause people to jump to potentially false conclusions about the disease or about any individual in our community."

"The twice per week is not based in any scientific recommendation and counters what the CDC is asking for."

The processing time of COVID-19 tests depends on what's happening that day at Cayuga Medical Systems in Tompkins County.