Westchester: 5 COVID Deaths 4% Infection Rate

Westchester: 5 COVID Deaths 4% Infection Rate: According to the New York State Department of Health there were five new COVID deaths in Westchester on Friday and Saturday, ending a week where the County saw 2,122 new COVID cases. Including 437 new cases on Thursday, the highest since April 24. Although there were record-level tests conducted in Westchester last week (52,631) the 2,122 new cases represented a disturbing 4.03% positive test rate.

That’s higher than the statewide figure of 2.8% for the week. The larger Mid-Hudson region, that includes Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess and Sullivan counties, posted a 3% rate – higher than New York City’s 2.3% positive test rate. The three percent threshold is meaningful as it is the number that would trigger new restrictions for non-essential businesses. While the 3% figure would have to be maintained on a seven-day rolling average for fourteen consecutive days – the clock has started.

Four of New York State’s ten regions had even higher positive test rates than Mid-Hudson last week. Including, Long Island (3.5%), Central New York, the area surrounding Syracuse (3.9%), the Finger Lakes (4.3%) and Western New York which includes Buffalo and Rochester (5.2%). While the statewide positive test rate outside of the Micro-cluster Focus Zones is 2.5%, there are now twelve Focus Zones. Nine of them are outside New York City. Nationally, the seven day average positive test rate in the United States was 9.8%, according to Johns Hopkins University of Medicine’s Coronavirus Resource Center.

There are now over 3,400 active cases in Westchester while there are 281 hospitalizations in the larger Mid-Hudson Region. There were 25 Coronavirus deaths in New York State yesterday.

New COVID Restrictions for Bars, Gyms, Restaurants

Meanwhile new COVID-19 curfews went into effect on Friday for bars, gyms and restaurants which are now required to close at 10pm. Restaurants can still provide curbside, food-only pick-up or delivery after 10:00 p.m., but will not be permitted to serve alcohol to go. Also on Friday, Governor Cuomo announced that indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to ten people or less. Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are also operating under similar rules for households.