TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y.—The Tompkins County Health Department has announced a potential public COVID-19 exposure alert stemming from a worker at the Lansing Target store who worked at the customer service desk last week.
The exposure may have occurred at the customer service desk on Tuesday, Nov. 3 between 1:45 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The person who tested positive is in isolation and is a resident of another county, and the contact investigation is being conducted by their home county’s health department.
People who were at the customer service desk at the Lansing Target are encouraged to get tested at the Cayuga Health Sampling Site behind the Shops at Ithaca Mall at 40 Catherwood Road. In response to a recent rise in cases locally, there will be expanded hours for the mobile sampling site this week on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Those interested in scheduling a test can do so at cayugahealth.org or call (607) 319-5708. Those needing a ride to the testing center can call 2-1-1 or 877-211-8677.
“As we see an increase in cases in our community and region, we may see an increase in potential public exposures like this one. It is critical that anyone who may have been present at the customer service desk get tested and monitor themselves for symptoms. Testing is one of our best tools for stopping the spread, we’ve caught many positives and helped to keep people from infecting others by testing those who might have been exposed,” stated Frank Kruppa, Tompkins County Public Health Director. “Target’s management shared with us the protocols they follow to keep all areas of the store clean, and they require all customers and employees to wear a mask while in the store. To reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, we’re reminding everyone to continue to wear a mask, stay six feet apart, and consider density when going out.”
Additional instructions from the health department here:
- Monitor your health for any symptoms of cough, fever, congestion, and shortness of breath for 14 days from the last time specified above that you were at the Target Customer Service Desk. For a full list of symptoms, go to the TCHD website.
- If you seek testing and the result is negative, continue to monitor your health for the full 14 days from the last time you were at any of these businesses. If you become symptomatic, seek testing again.
- If potentially exposed, Cornell University students should contact Cornell Health at 607-255-5155; do not go to an arrival or surveillance testing site.
- All other students and community members should seek testing at the Cayuga Health Sampling Site.
This is the second time a potential public health exposure notice has been posted for the Lansing Target.