Rockland Coronavirus Update: Death Toll Rises By 19

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — After 65 deaths from COVID-19 in January, Rockland County has seen the death toll rise by 19 in the beginning of February, to 855 as of Feb. 10.

As of Wednesday, there were 64 people hospitalized in Rockland with cases of COVID-19. County health officials were tracking 1,743 active coronavirus infections.

Rockland County has a coronavirus positivity rate that's one of the highest in the seven-county Hudson region, which had the second-highest positivity rate in the state at 5.43 percent, as of Tuesday.

Doses of coronavirus vaccine are now being sent by the federal government to New York state at the rate of about 300,000 a week. There are 11 million eligible residents, so it will take months to vaccinate everyone, state and local officials warn.

As of Tuesday, eight weeks into the vaccination program, New York had administered 2.5 million doses of vaccine, so about 10 percent of New Yorkers have received a first dose.

New York State distributes the vaccine in phases based on need and risk. State health officials also develop the program for distribution and authorize the vaccination sites.

• Hospitals must continue to prioritize unvaccinated health care workers from the 1A group, but may vaccinate any eligible person in 1A or 1B.
• Retail pharmacies or physician network or practice groups, after vaccinating their own patient-facing staff, should only vaccinate persons aged 65 years or older.
• Local health departments must prioritize the essential worker population in 1B.

Appointments for vaccinations performed by hospitals, local pharmacies, physician networks or practice groups must be made through them.

Rockland County's vaccine allocation for Week 9, Feb. 8-14, 2021: