COVID Cases Surge in Westchester; County Center in White Plains Offered to State as Testing Site; 500,000 Free Masks Being Distributed: Deputy County Executive Jenkins Tests COVID Positive; State Mask Mandate being enforced “without confrontation”
On Dec. 20, Westchester County Executive George Latimer delivered his weekly COVID update to the people of Westchester from his home, during the final days of his quarantine after testing positive last week. Calling the recent surge in COVID positive cases in Westchester, “an explosion,” Latimer acknowledged the long lines of county residents waiting to get tested, offered to re-open the Westchester County Center and Glen Island Park for testing to NY State, began distributing 500,000 free masks across the county, and promised to enforce the Statewide mask mandate “without confrontation.”
Latimer first reviewed the latest COVID numbers in Westchester, which show a return to the COVID numbers from last December. But the one positive in the latest COVID positive numbers are that fewer Westchester residents testing positive have to go to the hospital and fewer are dying.
Latimer explained to the many county residents who have been waiting on long lines to get tested, that the process of working with NY State government and Governor Kathy Hochul to get more COVID tests in Westchester is underway. “But the Governor is getting requests for more tests from around the state, including some areas like Buffalo and the Southern Tier, where the situation is worse. We are all competing for resources.”
Latimer said that COVID testing in Westchester has gone from 25,000 to 50,000 now to 75,000 in a four day period. And that number does not include anyone who has purchased a home COVID test kit from their pharmacy.
The demand for testing is due to the Omicron variant, the holiday season, cold weather.
But Latimer warned that even with two COVID vaccinations, he contracted COVID and that Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, who had two vaccinations and a booster, also tested COVID positive. “I have no serious symptoms, I have not been bedridden and have not had trouble breathing,” said Latimer.
Deputy County Executive Jenkins is also in good health, after feeling like he had a cold for the first two days.
The takeaway from both Latimer and Jenkins experience with COVID is that if Westchester residents are vaccinated, while they may test positive, the health consequences will not be so severe as to require hospitalization and death.
But that is if you are vaccinated. For the unvaccinated, the risk remains the same as it has been for almost two years.
It is the vaccine that is the difference. 94% of Westchester residents over the age of 18 has at least one dose and 83% have two doses, (700,000 Westchester residents).
Latimer explained that the Westchester Department of Health has been focused on vaccinations at the County Center in White Plains and at Westchester Medical Center. Most of the long lines seen have been at urgent care locations and medical groups that are providing the testing.
Latimer said that NY State government and Governor Kathy Hochul has the authority and capability to distribute tests, but Westchester is in the same line as the 57 other counties in NY State in requesting tests kits and that several upstate counties have higher positivity rates than Westchester.
“We have gone to the state and offered back the County Center and Glen Island as mass testing sites. The State is taking it under advisement. We can do both, testing and vaccinations at the county center,” said Latimer.
The State will have to staff the testing facilities and allocate personel and find a health care partner to administer the tests. After State approval, both the county center and Glen Island could be open again for testing in a matter of days.
Westchester County government is currently working to provide residents on Medicare and Medicaid with testing kits through local health centers and clinics. The remainder of Westchester residents will have to purchase test kits on their own, or until they become available next month.
Latimer said that the backlog of difficulty in getting tested will take at least few days at least to clear out. “Everyone who wants to travel, or wants to get tested before they go to a house for the holidays, has put a tremendous pressure on testing, and its happening on Long Island, in New York City, and across the Hudson Valley.
Latimer explained that those comparing Westchester to New York City, and its ability to deliver and complete more COVID tests, should not compare the two. “Westchester isn’t sized or structured the way New York City is. We are working to be as helpful with the state as we can to establish testing facilities here and get additional kits to health centers. We are doing the best we can.,”
Latimer also asked all of Westchester to wear a mask when traveling around the county. “There is a lot of drama about enforcement (of the mask mandate). Our position is that the mandate is a duly established law and the only question is how to go about enforcing it. Some residents who are vaccinated want everyone else to wear a mask, while other aren’t vaccinated and won’t wear a mask.”
“We are implementing the mask mandate but want to avoid confrontation. Westchester County government has a half million masks that we are distributing to businesses, non-profit groups, religious organizations and local governments starting today, to make masks more easily available.” Governor Hochul’s statewide mask mandate is in effect through Jan. 15.
Latimer also said that all county meetings, and his inauguration, will be held remotely. “We all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the virus. We know that it’s the holiday season but we have to be smart.” All county meetings will be held remotely until Jan 31.
Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins explained that he tested positive on Dec. 16 after feeling “mild symptoms of chills and aches. I am double vaccinated and got the booster, but the vaccines help reduce hospitalities and fatalities and avoid the strain on the health care system,” said Jenkins, who said that the satellite vaccines by the county department of health continue at Sleepy Hollow Middle School today, Dec. 20 and tomorrow Dec. 21 from 330pm-7pm, and at the Webster School in New Rochelle.
Latimer added that, “During these past 22 months, Ken and I have been out in the community and have been coming into the county office building every day. We were active and avoided getting COVID for the longest time. But now this explosion of cases hit us and if it happens to us it can happen to you. This is a pandemic its not a joke. Your plans may be upset but we can get through this.”
Last year, after the holidays, COVID cased peaked in mid-January. Some are exptecting the same result with Omicron. “We don’t need to shut down at this time. A mask is a temporary compromise of freedom. Some sacrifice is essential for all of us to get through this.
