Tompkins County Whole Health Department

27/11/2025

Tompkins County Whole Health's office at 201 E. Green St. (downtown Ithaca) and 55 Brown Rd. (northeast Ithaca) are closed today (11/27) and tomorrow (11/28), in observation of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Our answering services remain available: Public Health 607-274-6600; Mental Health: 607-274-6200.

For mental health crisis, dial 9-8-8. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1.

26/11/2025

Home cooking fires happen most often during the holidays. Never leave cooking food on the stovetop unattended, keep area around stove clear of items that could catch fire, and be mindful of distractions while in the kitchen.

Keep your fire extinguisher handy and be prepared to use it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBamXXVD30

? The leading factor contributing to home cooking fires is unattended equipment per the U.S. Fire Administration. If you're cooking for Thanksgiving this week, keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop and use timers as a reminder to check on food you're cooking.

25/11/2025

25/11/2025

Tompkins County Whole Health Celebrates 25 Years of Driving Down Smoking Rates: New York State Landmarks Illuminated November 21-25

New York State landmarks have been illuminated in purple to mark the 25th anniversary of the New York State Department of Health’s To***co Control Program (TCP). The observance follows the Great American Smokeout and celebrates New York’s leadership in reducing to***co-related disease and death and supporting New Yorkers who want to quit.

TCP has not only been effective at saving lives and improving health but has also proven to save the state money. For every $1 New York spends on to***co control, an estimated $15 in health-care costs is saved.

“I’m proud of the impact the state’s comprehensive To***co Control Program and its community partners have had over the past 25 years in improving New Yorkers’ health by reducing smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke,” stated Commissioner of Tompkins County Whole Health Jennie Sutcliffe. “Together, we’ll continue to fight the to***co industry’s marketing tactics and new products that attract and addict youth and make it harder for people to quit.”

Thank you to our partners at To***co Free Zone of Cortland, Tompkins & Chenango, Tompkins County Public Library and The Hotel Ithaca for participating in the Great American Smokeout illumination event!



Full press: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Whole-Health-Press-Room/2025-11-November/Celebrating-25-Years-of-Driving-Down-Smoking-Rates

25/11/2025

🤧WEEKLY TOMPKINS COUNTY RESPIRATORY ILLNESS UPDATE🤧
https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Community-Health-Services/Respiratory-Viruses

Weekly Tompkins County Flu rates: 7 new positive lab-confirmed cases as reported to NYSDOH, over past 7 days.

Weekly Tompkins County COVID-19 rates: 8 new positive lab-confirmed PCR & Antigen cases, as reported to NYSDOH, over past 7 days.

To anonymously self-report at home test results, visit: www.makemytestcount.org

Get Vaccinated! The data shows routine peaks of COVID and Flu December - March. Now is the time to get vaccinated. Learn more at: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Community-Health-Services/Immunization-Vaccines

21/11/2025

Celebrating 25 years of the NYSDOH - New York State Health Department To***co Control Program, with our partners in this work, To***co Free Zone of Cortland, Tompkins & Chenango!


***cofreeny25

21/11/2025

❄️Code Blue Alert for this weekend 11/21-23❄️
This weekend, temperatures are expected to fall below 32°F with wind chill for 2+ consecutive hours.

Code Blue sheltering will be provided and can be accessed:
🏫 during business hours (M-F 8 am-4:30 pm):
• visit the Department of Social Services (DSS) at 320 W MLK/State Street, or
• call DSS Emergency Housing Services at (607) 274-5030

📱after hours and on weekends:
• call non-emergency dispatch at (607) 272-2444 to be connected to DSS on-call

This will be the final Code Blue activation notification. Starting on Monday, November 24, the Code Blue shelter will be open at 227 Cherry Street in Ithaca 24/7 regardless of weather conditions. Please refer to the DSS website for access information 📲https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Social-Services/Code-Blue-Information

❄️Code Blue Alert for this weekend 11/21-23❄️
This will be the final Code Blue activation notification. Starting on Monday, November 24, the Code Blue shelter will be open at 227 Cherry Street in Ithaca 24/7 regardless of weather conditions. Please refer to the DSS website for access information 📲https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Social-Services/Code-Blue-Information

This weekend, temperatures are expected to fall below 32 degrees F with wind chill for 2 or more consecutive hours. Code Blue sheltering will be provided and can be accessed:

🏫 during business hours (M-F 8 am-4:30 pm):
• visit the Department of Social Services (DSS) at 320 W MLK/State Street, or
• call DSS Emergency Housing Services at (607) 274-5030

📱after hours and on weekends:
• call non-emergency dispatch at (607) 272-2444 to be connected to DSS on-call

Sign up to receive email notifications about Code Blue activations:
📲https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYTOMPKINS/subscriber/new?qsp=CODE_RED
Scroll down to ‘Health and Human Services’ and click ‘Addressing Homelessness’

20/11/2025

🕯️🩵🩷Transgender Day of Remembrance 🩵🩷🕯️

Today, we remember all transgender people who are no longer with us, lost to hate violence, su***de, and the immense hardships of systemic oppression.

At TCWH, we strive to offer client centered services by providing gender affirming, harm reduction and trauma informed care to all participants. All are welcome here!

If you or someone you know are experiencing mental health crisis, call or text 9-8-8, any time, any day, for anonymous local support. Or go online to chat: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/crisis/988.html

19/11/2025

Health Alert: Varicella (Chickenpox) exposure at the Sciencenter (601 1st St., Ithaca)

When: Saturday, Nov. 15th, 2pm-5pm
If you were at the Sciencenter during this time frame, you may have been exposed to the chickenpox virus.

Chickenpox spreads by respiratory droplets and by contact with chickenpox rash/sores. The virus can spread prior to the development of the itchy, red chickenpox sores.
Symptoms may include:
▪️fatigue
▪️headache
▪️loss of appetite
▪️low-grade fever
▪️itchy, red rash/sores lasting for 7-10 days

Those most at risk of infection:
▪️unvaccinated infants, children or adults (excluding those who have had chickenpox infection in the past)
▪️pregnant persons
▪️those with weakened immune systems

TC Whole Health and the Sciencenter remind you to stay home if you or your child are feeling sick to help keep our community healthy. If you have received the varicella/chickenpox vaccine, you are well protected.

If you think you and/or your child/children may have been exposed, be on the lookout for developing symptoms and contact your healthcare provider if rash develops. It may take up to 20 days from exposure for symptoms to develop.

Vaccination protects against infection. Vaccine available at pediatrician offices, at Tompkins County Whole Health, and at pharmacies (for adults). Learn more online at: www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health/chs