Broome County Eyes Metrics For Getting Out of Yellow Zone
Broome County will have to get to a rate of new positive coronavirus infections of less than two percent for at least three days in a row before it might move out of the restrictions of the Yellow Zone, which are now extended to at least November 6.
Right now, the county is struggling just to maintain the rates and avoid moving into the more restrictive Orange or Red Zones that would mean business shut-downs.
October 21, Broome’s infection rate soared above nine percent.
Broome County Executive Jason Garnar says the area of concern for the spread of the coronavirus is no longer centered in just one location. Earlier this month the outbreak was pinpointed to gatherings at a couple bars on the West Side of the City of Binghamton. Garnar says that’s no longer the case with the virus spreading all through the county and even creeping back into the nursing homes. Bridgewater has been identified as a hotspot again. So far, however, Garnar says there is no outbreak at the county-run Willow Point Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. He says the county will again provide public updates if cases break out at the Vestal facility.
Residents are urged to stay home as much as possible, wear masks and socially distance if they must go out. Garnar says even if three percent of the population doesn’t take the current situation seriously, it makes a big impact on the infection rate.