WVBR-FM News has received press releases regarding the following community closings and announcements. This list is not meant to be comprehensive.
COVID-19 General Inquiries
From the Tompkins County Health Department: Should you have questions and concerns about COVID-19, please call 2-1-1. Operators will have the most up-to-date information and guidance provided by the Tompkins County Health Department. 2-1-1 should be used for general inquiries only. Calls regarding health and medical inquiries should be directed to the Health Department at 607-274-6604. If you are experiencing symptoms, including cough, fever and shortness of breath, call your healthcare provider.
As of March 17, 3 individuals have tested positively for COVID-19 in Tompkins County. The health department’s website will continue to provide status updates here.
TCAT Service Updates as of Wednesday, 3/18
A drop in ridership due to stricter coronavirus crisis prevention measures has prompted TCAT to reduce service starting Thurs., March 19.
There will be no changes to routes 11S; 14; 14S; 40; 41; 53; 65; 74; 75; 77 & 81.
Routes not operating are 11N; 83; 83W & 93.
The following routes will also see reduced services:
Route 10: Frequency will be reduced to every 24 minutes. Route 11: Last outbound trip from Green St. Station starts at 8:08 p.m.; last inbound trip from College Circle Apartments departs at 8:30 p.m. Route 13: Weekday: No 8:38 a.m. trip or 8:50 a.m. northbound trips from Seneca St. Station to Stewart Park. No 6:49 a.m. or 7:49 a.m. southbound trips from Lake St @ Ithaca High School to Green St. Station. Saturday: No 8 a.m. trip. Route 15: Weekdays: No 4:47 p.m. and 5:47 p.m. trips from Seneca St. Station. Saturday: No 2:55 p.m., 3:55 p.m. and 4:55 p.m. trips from Seneca St Station. Sundays: no change.
Route 17: Normal service on routes that are scheduled to operate. Route 20: No 6:55 a.m. outbound trip from Green St. Station; no 7:23 a.m. inbound trip from Enfield Highway Department. Route 21: No 6:32 a.m. outbound trip from Seneca St. Station and no 5:03 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. outbound trips from Vet School. No 7 a.m., 5:53 p.m. or 9:10 p.m. inbound trips from Aubles Trailer Park. Route 30: Buses will depart Green St Station hourly from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.; then every half hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and then again every hour from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. No weekend service, riders are advised to use Route 70. Route 31: No 4:35 p.m.; 5:40 p.m.; 9:05 p.m.; 10:10 p.m. outbound trips from Green St. Station. (NOTE: The 8:05 p.m. outbound trip will now depart 8:10 p.m. from Green St. Station.) No 8 a.m.; 5:08 p.m.; 6:13 p.m. inbound trips from Convenient Care. Route 32: No 7:45 a.m.; 4:30 p.m.; 5:30 p.m.; or 10:00 p.m. outbound trips from Green St. Station. No 7:12 a.m. inbound trip from Northwood Apts. No, 8:21 a.m., 5:11 p.m., or 6:11 p.m. inbound trips from Ithaca-Tompkins International Airport. No Friday-only trips, specifically no 10:25 p.m. inbound trip from Northwood Apts. or the 11 p.m. outbound trip from Green St. Station. Route 36: No 3:27 p.m. outbound trip from Green St. Station; no 8:25 a.m. inbound trip from Lake @ Ithaca High School; no 8:57 a.m. or 9:17 a.m. inbound trip from Stewart Park; and no 4:02 p.m. inbound trip from Lansing School. Route 37: No 12:20 p.m. outbound trip from Green St. Station and no 1 p.m. inbound trip from Lansing Town Hall. Route 43 (Express): No 6:55 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. outbound trips from Green St. Station. No 7:22 a.m. or 5:08 p.m. inbound trips from TC3/ Dryden Route 51: No 6:32 a.m. outbound trip from Green St. Station and no 7:05 a.m. inbound trips from East Hill Plaza. Route 52: No 6:58 a.m. from Green St. Station and no 7:20 a.m. inbound trip from Caroline Turnaround. Route 67: No 5:26 a.m. outbound trip from Seneca St. Station and no 5:48 a.m. inbound trip from Newfield Central School. Route 70: Saturday buses will depart Green St Station hourly from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; every half hour from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and then again every hour from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday buses will depart Green St Station every half hour from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Route 72: Saturday: No 10:15 p.m. or 11:25 p.m. outbound trips from Green St Station. No 9:33 p.m. or 10:48 p.m. inbound trips from the ITH airport. On Sunday, no 7 a.m. outbound trip from Green St Station and no inbound 7:45 a.m. trip from the airport. Route 82: Will reduce frequency to 30 minutes between 7:08 a.m. inbound trip leaving Vet Medical Center and the 7:50 p.m. inbound trip leaving East Hill Plaza. Route 90: No trips starting after 11 p.m. No Sunday service. Route 92: No trips starting after 11p.m.
Additionally, the Green St. Station indoor waiting area will be closed until further notice. The new schedules will be in effect until Sat., May 23, the end of TCAT’s winter-spring service period.
Given the rapid adjustments being made due to COVID-19, riders are urged to check TCAT’s website and Bus Tracker and MyStop and other apps before boarding.
Pictured: TCAT Facilities and Maintenance Supervisor Curt Parrish demonstrates bus disinfection process.
Tompkins County Jail Suspends Inmate Visitation
County Sheriff Derek Osborne suspended inmate contact visitation within the Tompkins County Jail. Non-essential professional visitors will also not be permitted into the jail for group meetings. To reduce the negative impacts this may cause to inmates and their families, the sheriff's offices has worked with the inmate phone service provider to provide each inmate with a limited number of free phone calls.
Tompkins County Sheriff’s Administrative Office
Closed until further notice. Suspended functions of the office include pistol permit transactions, sheriff identifications, background checks, in-person civil payments, in-person requests for copies of reports, and eviction proceedings.
Questions can be directed to (607) 257-1345, option #2, Monday-Friday 8:30a-4:30p.
Licensed Tompkins County Childcare Centers
County Administrator Jason Molino signed an Executive Order on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 requiring all licensed childcare centers in Tompkins County to close from Wednesday, March 18 to April 13, 2020.
Tompkins County Public Library
TCPL will remain closed until April 13, 2020. Online resources remain available at www.tcpl.org.
Tompkins County Legislature Special Committees
Tompkins County Legislature Chair Leslyn McBean-Clairborne directs Standing and Special Committees of the Legislature to postpone or defer non-essential in-person reports and presentations.
In accordance with the executive order suspending the requirements of the Open Meetings Law, Committee meetings will be closed to in-person attendance by members of the public. County staff and members of the public will be able to listen to meetings by utilizing Zoom conferencing.
All meetings of advisory boards, committees, and commissions will be suspended through the end of March.
Social Security Offices
All local Social Security offices are closed to the public for in-person services. Online services remain available at www.socialsecurity.gov.
Ithaca Sciencenter
Closed to the public until further notice.
YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County
Facilities and programs closed until further notice.
State Theatre of Ithaca
All performances through the end of March are postponed, and will be rescheduled to the best of their ability. If rescheduling is not feasible, full refunds will be provided. Call the Box Office at (607) 277-8283 for further questions and concerns.
Dance Classes at the Enfield Valley Grange
County line dances classes were scheduled to start April 2; currently postponed until further notice.