Cuomo’s Hot Spot Cluster Action Initiative Roll Backs

Cuomo’s Hot Spot Cluster Action Initiative Roll Backs: Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new Cluster Action Initiative developed to respond to COVID outbreaks in Queens, Brooklyn Orange and Rockland counties went into effect of Friday and will remain in place for a minimum fourteen days. The Positive Test Rates in New York State’s COVID hot spots was 5.4% on Friday with Rockland’s at 5.6%. The statewide positive test rate was 1.1%. Westchester County’s positive test rate was under 1% with 1,143 positive tests out of 118,254 tests administered on Saturday, October 10.

The Cluster Action Initiative creates three color-coded zones, red, orange and yellow, with corresponding levels of restrictions. Each zone designation is determined by the density of COVID-19 positive case clusters with Red zones defined as Cluster Zones, Orange Zones are Warning Zones and Yellow Zones are Precautionary Zones. And each designation brings with it defined roll backs of the New York State Reopening Guidelines the state has enjoyed since June.

Red Zone Prohibitions

Under the new initiative mass gatherings are prohibited in Red Zone Cluster areas. Schools are closed except for remote learning. Houses of Worship are rolled back to 25% capacity or 10 people maximum. All non-essential businesses are closed and restaurants will be limited to take out only.

Orange Zone Prohibitions

Mass gatherings in Orange (Warning) Zones are limited to 10 people maximum indoor or outdoor. Houses of Worship are limited to 33% capacity or 25 people maximum. Indoor Dining at restaurants is closed. Schools are closed for on-site learning. And high risk, non-essential businesses, such as gyms and personal care, are closed.

Yellow Zone Prohibitions

Business will remain open in Precautionary Yellow Zones, and restaurants will remain open for both indoor and outdoor dining with a maximum of four people per table. Mass gatherings are limited to 25 people maximum and Houses of Worship are subject to a 50% capacity limit. Schools will remain open with mandatory weekly testing of students and teachers/staff for in-person settings.

The Initiative was developed in consultation with leading national public health experts—Dr. Noam Ross of EcoHealth Alliance, Dr. Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota and Former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden

You can see the Cluster Action Initiative Maps in the Mid-Hudson Region here: Orange County, Rockland County.

Cuomo Rolls Out Rapid Result Test Kits

On Friday, Governor Cuomo also announced deployment of 400,000 rapid result test kits throughout the state. These tests deliver a result in 15 minutes and do not require the sending of specimens to a lab. The test kits will be sent to local health departments, hospitals, pharmacies and other health care providers.

Finally, Cuomo increased fines for the violation of mass gathering rules to $15,000.