Tompkins County Whole Health Department

12/17/2025

Tompkins County Whole Health: a year in review
🌟Follow along as we share program highlights all week long! 🌟

Today, we look at just a few of TCWH's Environmental Health Division's many accomplishments:

🌡924 food establishment inspections
🐾579 animals vaccianted to prevent rabies
🚰131 public water supply inspections

TCWH's EH is an educational and regulatory agency dedicated to protect, preserve, and promote the health of the residents of Tompkins County through the natural and man-made environments.

https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/EH

12/17/2025

Flu cases are rising -- if you have not gotten your flu vaccination, please do so, along with taking other respiratory illness prevention measures like masking and good hand washing.

https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Community-Health-Services/Respiratory-Viruses

Thank you Tompkins Weekly!

New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald declared Dec. 2 that influenza is now prevalent in New York state. The declaration came just in time for National Influenza Immunization Week, during which Tompkins County Whole Health Department (TCWH) officials urged all residents over the age of 6 months old to get their flu shot if they have not already.

🔗 https://tompkinsweekly.com/articles/tompkins-county-flu-surge/

12/16/2025

Health Alert: Tompkins County Environmental Health Seeks Information About a Dog Bite in the Fields Near Hanshaw Rd at Freese Rd (Dryden)

EH must locate a dog that bit a person today, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, around 2:00 PM, while they were cross country skiing in the fields that Cornell University owns, south of Hanshaw Rd. and west of Freese Rd. (Dryden).

Anyone with information regarding this dog is urged to call EH at (607) 274-6688. Staff are available at this number to take calls related to rabies and bites, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There were two dogs present, both large black dogs (possibly Bernese Mountain dogs). The dogs were unleashed at the time of the incident. After the incident, the owner of the dogs put a leash on the biting dog. The non-biting dog was called by the name Nova. The owner of the dogs presented as a white female who was wearing a large, parka style coat.

The person who was bit did not realize that the bite had broken their skin, so contact information was not exchanged.

EH seeks to monitor the health of the biting dog through an at home observation over a ten-day period. If the dog can be located and observed to be healthy by EH, the risk of rabies infection can be ruled out and rabies post-exposure treatment for the person who was bitten will not be necessary.

Full press: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Whole-Health-Press-Room/2025-12-December/Dog-Bite-Hanshaw-at-Freese-Rd

12/16/2025

Tompkins County Whole Health: a year in review
🌟Follow along as we share program highlights all week long! 🌟

2024 & 2025 saw an increase in our ability to serve clients with mental health needs as TCWH expanded clinic options with the opening of the 55 Brown Rd. (Northeast Ithaca) clinic space, as well as increasing the number of school satellite sites. TCWH Mental Health Services is proud to provide high quality, mental health care to Tompkins County residents.

🔗https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Mental-Health-Services

12/15/2025

🤧WEEKLY TOMPKINS COUNTY RESPIRATORY ILLNESS UPDATE🤧
https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Community-Health-Services/Respiratory-Viruses -2

Weekly Tompkins County Flu rates: 28 new positive lab-confirmed cases as reported to NYSDOH, over past 7 days.

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

Free COVID-19 test kits (Inteliswab brand) are available at TCWH's offices! 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

12/11/2025

TCWH's To***co Free Zone of Cortland, Tompkins & Chenango Coordinator spoke with WHCU Radio today about the overall reduction in smoking rates, the T-free zone work, the importance of speaking to youth about the health impacts of va**ng, resources available to help quit, and the continued need for to***co education programs.

1-866-NY-QUITS
https://www.nysmokefree.com/

https://www.tfreezone.net/

Dec. 11 on Ithaca's Morning News: City of Ithaca, New York Alderperson Tiffany Kumar and Tompkins County Whole Health Department's to***co program coordinator Ambra Munlyn. https://607newsnow.com/podcasts/categories/ithacas-morning-news-newsmaker-interviews/

12/11/2025

Mental Health Well-Being and Substance Use Resources and Support During the Holiday Season

While the holiday season may be a time of celebration, joy and festive activities for many, for others it is a time of year that brings feelings of sadness, grief, loneliness, and stress – and for those already impacted by mental health conditions or substance use, those symptoms are even more exacerbated. According to a survey conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 64% of respondents with a mental illness reported having worsened symptoms during the holiday months. If you or someone you know are experiencing new or worsening symptoms that are overwhelming and difficult to manage, it is important to know where to go to seek support.

Resources are available in our community, 24/7. Our Mobile Crisis Team and CARE Team (co-response law enforcement and mental health services) are available on evenings, weekends and holidays, and can be reached by calling 911 or 988.

If you are experiencing problems with mental health and want to get help now, come to our office at 201 E. Green Street (Ithaca) for Open Access Hours to begin treatment as soon as you walk into our building. Open Access Hours are walk-in, first come first served, and allow you to begin the intake process and see a clinician, no appointment needed.

Open Access Hours take place on:
• Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
• Wednesdays from 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM

In addition to our primary location at 201 E. Green St., downtown Ithaca, TCWH now offers mental health clinical appointments at our 55 Brown Rd. office in Northeast Ithaca, offering free on-site parking, brand new construction and first floor, accessible meeting spaces. Clinicians from both the Adult and Children/Youth teams can meet with clients at this location. Call to schedule an appointment at this location: 607-274-6200.

Learn more about Tompkins County Whole Health’s Mental Health Services online at: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Mental-Health-Services

Full press: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Whole-Health-Press-Room/2025-12-December/Mental-Health-Holidays

12/09/2025

Due to staff training, Tompkins County Whole Health's Mental Health Clinic Open Access at 201 E. Green St. (downtown Ithaca) will be closed on Wednesday, 12/10.

Open Access will be available again this week on Thursday (12/11), from 8:30am–2:00pm (201 E. Green St. Ithaca), and will resume regular hours next week. Learn more: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Mental-Health-Services/Mental-Health-Clinic -2

Anyone who lives or works in Tompkins County is welcome to walk in, complete the intake packet, and have their initial appointment that day. Appointments are available on a first come, first serve basis. If intake slots are filled when you arrive, you will be invited to return the next day that works for you.

If you are unable to attend during these hours, please call 607-274-6200 and ask to speak with our intake coordinator about scheduling a time.

12/09/2025

🥶❄️BE WINTER READY!🥶❄️
When winter storms are in the forecast, take the time to make sure you're prepared for potential power outages by stocking up on non-perishable items. In case of emergency, have at least 3 days' worth of food, water, and necessary medications for each member of your household.
For more information on winter preparedness, or to sign up for local SIREN emergency alerts, visit: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Emergency-Response/Tompkins-Ready

Tompkins County Dept. of Emergency Response
Ready

When winter storms are in the forecast, take the time to make sure you're prepared for potential power outages by stocking up on non-perishable items. In case of emergency, have at least 3 days' worth of food, water, and necessary medications for each member of your household.

12/08/2025

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

Weekly Tompkins County Flu rates: 5 new positive lab-confirmed cases as reported to NYSDOH, over past 7 days.

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

Free COVID-19 test kits (Inteliswab brand) are available at TCWH's offices! 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

12/04/2025

Health Alert: National Influenza Vaccination Week; Flu Prevalent in NYS

It's , a timely opportunity to promote flu vaccination before the holidays. It takes about 2 weeks for the vaccine to fully protect you, so if you have not gotten vaccinated yet, now is the time to do so!

The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza (flu) virus. NYSDOH - New York State Health Department has declared flu to already be prevalent statewide.

Vaccination is the best protection against the flu. It is proven to cut down on hospitalizations and death from the flu. Vaccination can prevent you from getting sick, which can prevent you from spreading the flu to others.

Already in NYS, for this 2025-2026 flu season, over 17,000 cases have already been reported, with 945 hospitalizations to date.
TCWH’s Medical Director Dr. Klepack stated, “Influenza typically increases rapidly beginning in December and continuing into January.... I urge you to take the flu seriously and get vaccinated before the holidays.”

It is recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older receives a flu vaccine every year. Flu vaccines are available at many locations throughout our community, including healthcare provider offices, pharmacies, and clinics.

TCWH offers low or no-cost immunization clinics, including flu and COVID-19 vaccines, every Friday through the New York State funded Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Vaccines for Adult (VFA) programs. Call our office (607-274-6604) or go online to learn more: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Community-Health-Services/Immunization-Vaccines

Full press: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/All-Departments/Whole-Health/Whole-Health-Press-Room/2025-12-December/National-Influenza-Vaccination-Week