COVID-19 Information for Visitors
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources
Recent developments throughout New York State and the nation regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, as well as the proactive measures taken by Cornell University, Ithaca College, and SUNY impacting Tompkins Cortland Community College, have put us into new territory as a community.
Per our New York Governor’s declaration to pause all non-essential travel, we do not encourage visitation to Tompkins County at this time. The waterfalls will be here, and our community will be ready to welcome you back when the time is right. Stay safe.
Additionally, Ithaca restaurants and bars closed as of 8:00 pm on Monday, March 16. However, some establishments will continue to offer takeout or delivery during the period of closure. Be sure to visit their websites and Facebook pages for the most up-to-date information about their operations.
- You can access the latest information & guidance regarding Coronavirus updates across New York state from the NY State Department of Health website.
- For those taking advantage of the beautiful open-air spaces provided by our NY State Parks, please take note of the safety updates provided here: parks.ny.gov/covid19
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The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) is the lead agency managing our community response. You can reference updates from the Tompkins County Health Department website.
- Request from TCHD to Travelers: If you recently traveled internationally, you may have received an email message from Tompkins County Health Department asking you to contact the Health Department. Please reply to the email and provide the information requested. This is a vital part of tracing how COVID could spread in our community.
All area colleges and universities have temporarily canceled public tours and admitted student events.
For official responses and updates regarding Ithaca and Tompkins County and our higher education communities please reference the following websites:
Events:
Our dynamic, creative community remains strong. In the spirit of proactive measures, large events of 100 or more people have been postponed or canceled at this time. As rescheduled event dates are announced, Visit Ithaca will share those dates with all. For many events, previously purchased tickets will remain valid for future show dates. The Ithaca Events calendar will remain a resource for future events and rescheduled dates when the information becomes available.
Visitor Centers:
As of March 16th, Visit Ithaca has closed all Visitor Centers until further notice in response to COVID-19 and NY State Department of Health guidelines. We are still available by phone and fulfilling requests to receive travel guides by mail.
The self-serve information lobby at East Shore Drive will remain open with access to area guides and maps. Currently, our Visitor Experience Team will remain available to webchat, email, and phone from 9am-5pm Monday through Friday, and 10am-5pm Saturday & Sunday.
Information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding 'Coronavirus and Travel in the United States' is viewable here.
The CDC's recommendations for practicing necessary hygiene include:
- Wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds
- Clean hands upon entering a new room or after touching shared surfaces
- Maintain social distance and do not shake hands
- When possible, keep spaces open and well-ventilated
- Avoid touching face, eyes, nose with unwashed hands
- Stay home if feeling sick
Visit Ithaca Virtually, Wherever You Are
Although travel to our area is discouraged at this time, it doesn't mean you can't visit us virtually! There are many online resources that can bring the beauty of Ithaca and Tompkins County into your home. Sprinkled throughout our site, you'll find links to inspiring YouTube videos, drone footage of waterfalls, online learning opportunities, virtual tours, and podcasts. Visit Ithaca from home today, and we'll see you here when the time is right in the future!
