After more than a year, people with loved ones at Willow Point Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Vestal will get to visit in person again.

Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News (file)
Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News (file)
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Broome County Executive Jason Garnar says plans to allow visitations to resume at the county-owned home last month were delayed after a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus but the required pause time has passed and preparations were made to welcome visitors back starting April 15.

Meanwhile, during his weekly briefing, Garnar said the people now who are coming down with COVID-19 in Broome County are no longer older residents but people under the age of 40.

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The Democrat says he doesn’t know exactly why younger people are the ones coming back with positive coronavirus tests but he speculates it may have something to do with the fact that the first groups of people to get the COVID-19 vaccines were older people, nursing home residents and congregate care facility staff.

Broome County Willow Point Photo
Broome County Willow Point Photo
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Broome, like other counties, is facing the challenge of getting certain populations vaccinated now that there is a pause on the Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine that could be easily transported into rural areas and to other locations to reach underserved groups.

The County still has hundreds of appointments available over the next several days at the mass vaccination site at SUNY Broome Community College for the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.  That is the vaccine that is approved for 16 and 17-year-olds.  To make an appointment go to www.gobroomecounty.com.

 Meanwhile, anyone who has transportation or computer issues standing in the way of getting vaccinated can call 211 for help.

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