KINGSTON, N.Y. — Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan declared a state of emergency Sunday in response to increasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and the emergence of the Omicron variant, a press release from his office announced.
The order, in effect for at least thirty days, will allow the county to obtain more quickly needed testing supplies for local schools, businesses, and families; bolster available public health and medical staff resources across the county; and, if necessary, to redeploy the workforce to support testing, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts, according to the release.
“With COVID cases and hospitalizations surging, and the emergence of a new and potentially more dangerous variant, we must step up our efforts to ensure the health and safety of all of our residents,” Ryan said in the release. “Informed by real-time data and the advice of our team of public health experts, this emergency order is an important step to allow the County to respond rapidly and effectively in order to combat the virus.
“We must do everything we can, individually and collectively, to prevent another difficult and deadly winter. I encourage all residents to get vaccinated, get your booster, and continue to socially distance and wear masks when indoors around others.”
In the month since Halloween, active cases of COVID-19 have tripled in Ulster County, bringing the count to its highest level since last April, the release said. As of Friday, Nov. 26, the county reported 944 active cases of COVID-19, an increase of 48 from the previous day. The peak number of active cases was 2,622 on Jan. 30. The county also reported a 3.8% positivity rate. The county does not report COVID-19 statistics on the weekends.
Since the start of the local pandemic in the spring of 2020, Ulster County has reported 20,810 confirmed cases, with 19,571 recoveries and 295 deaths.
Ryan had also declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic on March 12, 2020.
Ryan continued to urge residents to get vaccinated if they have not already, and to get their booster shot if they received their last dose over six months ago.
“With the emergence of the Omicron variant, it’s even more urgent to get vaccinated and get your booster,” he said. “Vaccines remain our most effective tool to stop the virus and save lives.”
As of Friday, the county reported that 67.75% of its residents were fully vaccinated, with 75.7% receiving at least one dose of a two-dose regimen. It also reported that 80.2% of adults 18 and older had received at least one dose.
Ulster County residents can make appointments to receive the vaccine at vaccinateulster.com. Dutchess County residents can make appointments at bit.ly/dut-vax.
Ullster County will continue to hold regular vaccination PODs for residents who need to receive their first dose, second dose, or booster dose, the release said. Appointments are recommended for the county’s vaccination PODs; although walk-ins will be accommodated as capacity allows.
Ryan reiterated the continued need for residents to volunteer to staff and support the county’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts. The county Department of Health is still accepting volunteers, particularly medical volunteers to be vaccinators, and screeners. Vaccinators need both an active license and current CPR certificate, or can be basic and advanced EMTs with current CPR certificate. Screeners create the record of vaccination for each patient, so should be computer literate, have attention to detail, and good customer service and communication skills. Both of these medical volunteers will receive a stipend. Sign up to volunteer at https://ift.tt/32GlT1r.
Active cases
• Ulster County: 944 reported Friday, up 48 from the previous day. (Peak was 2,622 on Jan. 30.) Ulster County does not report COVID-19 statistics on the weekends.
• Dutchess County: 713 reported Sunday, down 13 from the previous day. (Peak was 2,576 on Jan. 16.)
Latest positivity rates
• Ulster County: 3.8%.
• Dutchess County: 3.63%
Pandemic history
• Ulster County: 20,810 confirmed cases, 19,571 recoveries, 295 deaths. (No new deaths were reported Friday.)
• Dutchess County: 37,697 confirmed cases, 508 deaths. (One new death reported Sunday.)
Vaccination rates
Data as of Saturday from New York state’s online vaccine tracker.
• Ulster County: 67.77% fully vaccinated, 75.8% with at least one dose of a two-dose regimen, 84.9% of 18+ population with at least one dose.
• Dutchess County: 62.69% fully vaccinated, 70.8% with at least one dose of a two-dose regimen, 80.3% of 18+ population with at least one dose.
• Appointments: vaccinateulster.com, bit.ly/dut-vax, bit.ly/ny-vaxme.
For online local coverage related to the coronavirus, go to dailyfreeman.com/tag/coronavirus.
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