(WETM) – Chemung County Executive Christopher Moss says that summer travel is “definitely having an effect” on the increase in COVID-19 cases in the Southern Tier.
COVID-19 cases in the Southern Tier reached its highest mark since May 27 with 21 new cases between the eight counties in a single day.
Sixteen of those new cases were reported in Broome County where 47 new cases have been confirmed since June 20. Only two new cases were reported between Chemung, Steuben, and Schuyler.
We’re keeping a close eye on the numbers and watching for clusters or spikes with a commonality. The increase in positives across the country for states that aren’t imposing the same types of precautions New York State has is definitely having an effect on our numbers due to Summer travel. We’ve also seen a substantial increase in local complaints involving mask and social distancing violations across the Chemung County.
Chemung County Executive Christopher Moss
Seventy-three new cases have been reported in the region over the last seven days.
The number of new cases per 100K in the Southern Tier has also more than doubled in recent days, matching the levels reported in early June.
Comparatively, the Southern Tier remains one of the best regions in the Empire State with the second-lowest percentage of positive tests per day on a 7 day rolling average and for new cases per 100K, also on a rolling average. The region’s Gross New Hospitalizations per 100K is the best in New York.
As a whole, New York State reported 726 new cases, surging the total number of known cases in the state over 396,000. Eleven more deaths were also reported by the Governor’s office, brining the state death toll to 24,896.
On a positive note, the number of hospitalizations, new patients admitted, and intubations decreased in the state with only 190 ICU patients, two more than yesterday.
“New Yorkers bent the curve of this deadly virus by being smart and taking proper precautions throughout this pandemic, and that’s reflected in yesterday’s low hospitalizations and rate of positive tests,” Governor Cuomo said. “However, our actions today determine our numbers tomorrow, and as we move through this holiday weekend, I strongly urge everyone to closely follow state guidance on safe practices and local governments to enforce that guidance. Being New York tough means being New York smart: wear a mask, wash your hands and practice social distancing.”
Governor Andrew Cuomo
Today’s data is summarized briefly below:
- Patient Hospitalization — 844 (-13)
- Patients Newly Admitted — 63 (-10)
- Hospital Counties — 29
- Number ICU — 190 (+2)
- Number ICU with Intubation — 119 (-6)
- Total Discharges — 70,877 (+83)
- Deaths – 11
- Total Deaths – 24,896
Of the 62,403 tests conducted in New York State yesterday, 726, or 1.16 percent, were positive. Each region’s percentage of positive tests over the last three days is as follows:
| REGION | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY |
| Capital Region | 1.20% | 1.10% | 0.90% |
| Central New York | 1.60% | 0.90% | 1.40% |
| Finger Lakes | 1.50% | 1.80% | 0.70% |
| Long Island | 1.10% | 0.90% | 1.00% |
| Mid-Hudson | 1.10% | 1.40% | 1.10% |
| Mohawk Valley | 2.10% | 2.90% | 1.20% |
| New York City | 1.30% | 1.50% | 1.40% |
| North Country | 0.40% | 1.20% | 0.30% |
| Southern Tier | 0.50% | 0.50% | 0.90% |
| Western New York | 1.00% | 1.70% | 1.40% |
The Governor also confirmed 726 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 396,598 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 396,598 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:
| County | Total Positive | New Positive |
| Albany | 2,145 | 15 |
| Allegany | 63 | 0 |
| Broome | 752 | 16 |
| Cattaraugus | 127 | 3 |
| Cayuga | 120 | 0 |
| Chautauqua | 131 | 2 |
| Chemung | 146 | 1 |
| Chenango | 149 | 1 |
| Clinton | 101 | 0 |
| Columbia | 474 | 0 |
| Cortland | 50 | 2 |
| Delaware | 91 | 0 |
| Dutchess | 4,238 | 7 |
| Erie | 7,462 | 35 |
| Essex | 47 | 1 |
| Franklin | 33 | 0 |
| Fulton | 261 | 0 |
| Genesee | 239 | 0 |
| Greene | 263 | 0 |
| Hamilton | 6 | 0 |
| Herkimer | 172 | 0 |
| Jefferson | 93 | 0 |
| Lewis | 31 | 1 |
| Livingston | 131 | 1 |
| Madison | 363 | 3 |
| Monroe | 3,922 | 37 |
| Montgomery | 119 | 0 |
| Nassau | 41,988 | 41 |
| Niagara | 1,277 | 15 |
| NYC | 216,730 | 368 |
| Oneida | 1,725 | 17 |
| Onondaga | 2,928 | 19 |
| Ontario | 278 | 3 |
| Orange | 10,766 | 7 |
| Orleans | 282 | 0 |
| Oswego | 206 | 0 |
| Otsego | 86 | 2 |
| Putnam | 1,335 | 2 |
| Rensselaer | 563 | 4 |
| Rockland | 13,629 | 6 |
| Saratoga | 562 | 1 |
| Schenectady | 831 | 7 |
| Schoharie | 58 | 0 |
| Schuyler | 13 | 0 |
| Seneca | 70 | 0 |
| St. Lawrence | 223 | 1 |
| Steuben | 269 | 1 |
| Suffolk | 41,585 | 47 |
| Sullivan | 1,456 | 1 |
| Tioga | 145 | 2 |
| Tompkins | 178 | 0 |
| Ulster | 1,825 | 10 |
| Warren | 268 | 2 |
| Washington | 246 | 0 |
| Wayne | 183 | 2 |
| Westchester | 35,020 | 40 |
| Wyoming | 96 | 1 |
| Yates | 48 | 2 |
The Southern Tier remains in phase four of the Governor’s reopening plan.
