Another Southern Tier county is making adjustments in the way it deals with the constantly changing pandemic landscape.

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Broome County recently said it would no longer make contact tracing calls to residents who test positive for COVID-19 and changed its dashboard to no longer provide daily updates on active cases. The County says that reflects the challenges in getting accurate counts given the increase in number of home tests and self-reporting.

Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
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Chenango County now says, starting January 20, it would no longer be posting daily statistical reports.  The Health Department says with the proliferation of at-home tests and a shift in case investigation to the New York State Department of Health, the local office isn’t able to keep a precise representation of active cases, quarantines and hospitalizations in the community. Officials are telling people who want to continue to follow case activity to use the state health department as the primary source.

The Chenango County Health Department will no longer be processing or formally registering at-home COVID-19 tests.  Instead, people who test positive should begin self-isolation for at least five days and until recovered. Forms are available for self-management on local and New York State Department of Health websites. Authorities say ANY positive test, including at-home swab, is a positive test and people, including school-age children, should stay home and isolate.

Officials add, there have been some reports from the medical community that COVID testing is “clogging up the E.R. unnecessarily.”  Residents are being told to go to a testing site if they are only going for testing and have no symptoms.

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