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The Tompkins County Health Department is alerting the public of potential COVID-19 exposures. The Health Department received notification of an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 and worked at Texas Roadhouse during the time when they could have infected others. The individual who tested positive is in isolation and any close contacts are in quarantine.  The Health Department also received notification of an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 and worked at the Ithaca Walmart during the time when they could have infected others. The individual who tested positive is in isolation and any close contacts are in quarantine.  Additionally potential public exposures may have occurred at the Lansing Target Customer Service Desk, 40 Catherwood Road, Ithaca on Tuesday November 3, 1:45pm – 10:30pm. 

On November 12th the Health Department announced 30 new positive COVID-19 cases, following 19 positive cases announced the previous day and a total of 87 over the previous seven days. The number of active cases in Tompkins County was at 101, the highest number since the start of the pandemic. Following this spike in cases, the Tompkins County Health Department is sharing information on recent clusters and reiterating guidance to help stop the spread.

The Health Department is clarifying three recent clusters in Tompkins County. Each cluster is related to small gatherings, which are currently discouraged by the Health Department.

• A series of gatherings related to one household has resulted in 10 positive cases.
• College students who attended multiple gatherings with different groups of people at each gathering, gatherings resulted in over 10 positive cases
• A church group gathering resulted in four positive cases.

Contact investigations related to these clusters are ongoing, and the Health Department is still contacting individuals who may have been present at these gatherings.

Potential public exposures may have occurred at Texas Roadhouse 719-25 S. Meadow St., Ithaca during the following dates and times:

• Tuesday, November 10, 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm
• Wednesday, November 11, 3:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Potential public exposures may have occurred at the Ithaca Walmart, 135 Fairgrounds Memorial Pkwy, Ithaca during the following dates and times:

• Monday, November 2, 6:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Tuesday, November 3, 6:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Monday, November 9, 6:00 am – 3:00 pm

If you were at Texas Roadhouse, Lansing Target, or the Ithaca Walmart during the dates and times above, please do the following:

• It is recommended that you get tested at the Cayuga Health Sampling Site located at The Shops at Ithaca Mall parking lot, 40 Catherwood Rd. Register for an appointment online at cayugahealthsystem.org or call the Cayuga Health Call Center at 607-319-5708. Regular hours for the Sampling Site and Call Center are Monday-Friday 8:30AM-4:00PM.
• Monitor your health for any symptoms of cough, fever, congestion, and shortness of breath for 14 days from the last time specified above that you were at this restaurant. For a full list of symptoms, go to the TCHD website.
• If you seek testing and the result is negative, continue to monitor your health for the full 14 days from the last time specified above that you were at this restaurant. If you become symptomatic, seek testing again.
• If potentially exposed, Cornell University students should contact Cornell Health at 607-255-5155; do not go to an arrival or surveillance testing site.
• All other students and community members should seek testing at the Cayuga Health Sampling Site.

“Anyone who may have been at (these locations) during these times should seek a test and closely monitor themselves for symptoms. Texas Roadhouse shared with us the details of their COVID safety plan, including that they clean all high touch areas in the restaurant throughout the day and screen employees for symptoms daily,” stated Frank Kruppa, Public Health Director. “To reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, we’re reminding everyone to continue to wear a mask, stay six feet apart, and consider density when going out.”

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