Keep Up COVID-19 Precautions As Hudson Region Reopens: Officials

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — As the new coronavirus surges in many states, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is adamant that the good work done to end the outbreak in New York should not be in vain.

"Remember when we started, people from other states were saying they didn't want people from New York?" said Cuomo. "One of the ironies of life."

He has threatened to halt — or even reverse — reopening measures in regions where residents and business owners are flouting state rules restricting social gatherings and requiring face coverings and social distancing. SEE: Maskless Partiers Crowd Astoria For Outdoor Drinking, Dining

That's something that residents and officials in the Hudson Valley don't want to have happen because of the recession, specially the effects of the shutdown on local businesses.

"Going back to normal is not going to be easy as people have anxiety," Rockland County Executive Ed Day said Saturday on Facebook after an online meeting with Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and Westchester County Executive George Latimer. "We also are all dealing with a fiscal tsunami bearing down on us. These are just some of the challenges that are in front of us that must be confronted and overcome."

Day reiterated on Monday, "We now see a continuing drop in the rate of positive infections both in our county and region, with recent infection rates hovering around a miniscule 1 percent of those tested. Let's keep up the good practices of washing our hands, socially distancing and covering your face as necessary."

Hudson Valley residents, for the most part, have agreed with the cautious approach. On the busy trails at Teatown Lake Reservation Saturday afternoon, all but two adults and two babies were masked, including children.

"Phase One started on June 1, correct? It takes 14-17 days for symptoms to show. That would be June 15-18, so let's keep our fingers crossed and masks on until we see what happens at the end of this month, beginning of the next month," said Kristin Carlson Grossbach in a comment on Latimer's Facebook page.

According to the state's regional dashboard, the whole Hudson region is continuing to see fewer positive cases as more and more people are tested.

Latimer reminded people on Facebook about another civic responsibility, urging people to vote early in the primaries (and to observe pandemic protocols while doing so):