New COVID Clusters drive Mid-Hudson Infection Rate to 2.4%

New COVID Clusters drive Mid-Hudson Infection Rate to 2.4%: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the New York State Department of Health reported an uptick in COVID-19 infection rates in recent days with certain hotspot ZIP codes hitting well above the statewide average of 1.5%. The Mid-Hudson Region, which includes Westchester County, now has the state’s highest infection rates at 2.4%. Rockland County has been hardest hit with a 6.5% infection rate reported on Tuesday, September 29. Orange County reported a 1.9% infection rate (down from 4% on Monday). Meanwhile, Westchester County’s infection rate was 1.4%. There were 57 new COVID cases in Westchester on Tuesday out of 3993 tests.

However, a ZIP Code break down shows alarming hot spot rates that Cuomo said could precipitate reopening rollbacks in targeted areas. Three Zip Codes in Rockland County had peak rates of infection above 20% in recent days. The county’s ZIP code 10977 had a 30 percent positivity rate, 10952 had a 25 percent positivity rate, and 10950 (22 percent). Brooklyn and Queens also saw spikes in the past few days which raised infection rates to 1.8% in Brooklyn and 2.2% in Richmond. Brooklyn’s 11219 (17 percent), 11210 (11 percent), 11204 (9 percent), 11230 (9 percent) and Queens’ 11367 (6 percent) reported the hottest clusters.

Ten New York State ZIP codes, representing just 3% of the state population, accounted for 27% of the 1000 new COVID cases in New York State on Tuesday. The statewide infection rate at the beginning of Phase 3 in mid-June was 1.2%. It bottomed out as low as .8%, on a 7-day rolling average, from August 15 through September 2. And was last reported below 1% on September 25.

In response Cuomo announced the state Department of Health (DOH) will deploy 200 rapid testing machines to hot spot counties and zip codes throughout the state. DOH also has staff it can provide to localities to help administer tests.

Local COVID-19 School Report Card

Locally, the New York State COVID-19 Report Card shows limited positive tests at area school districts. The Byram Hills School Central School District (CSD) now shows two COVID cases at the Wampus School including one student and one teacher/staff both of whom tested positive on-site. Somers CSD also has reported two on-site positive tests, a student at the Primrose Elementary School and a teacher at the high school. Bedford CSD reports only one infected student – who tested  positive off-site. There are no reported on or off-site infections amongst either students or teacher/staff in the Chappaqua, Pleasantville, Katonah-Lewisboro and North Salem schools.