Southern Tier COVID Numbers Grow-Labs Struggle to Keep Up With Tests

Broome County's death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has increased again as people rush to get tested and labs struggle to keep up.

In the final update before the December 5 weekend, Broome County announced four more deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the county's total to 150 fatalities.

The County December 4 also reported 106 new cases.

Broome County no longer provides COVID updates over weekends in order to concentrate Health Department resources on things like contact tracing.

No other counties in the Southern Tier added to their death toll over the weekend.

Chenango County reported three new cases December 4 for a total of 655, Cortland County's December 6 report added 42 cases from the November 4 report for a total of 1,573, Delaware County December 6 reported 438 cases, an increase of 26 from December 4 for a total of 438, Tioga County had 20 new cases from December 3-4 and 18 more cases reported December 5 for a total of 1,253.

New York State reported 56 more lives lost on December 5 for a total of 27,149 and there 9,702 new cases as testing rates have also increased around the state.

Some health experts have cautioned that the increase in the number of people seeking testing is challenging the ability of the laboratories processing those tests to get results back quickly. That can add days to getting the results reported.

The Broome County rapid testing site is at the Vestal Public Library December 7-11 for people who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.  Testing is being done between 1 and 7 p.m. Monday-Friday by appointment.  To schedule, go to www.gobroomecounty.com or call 211.