5 Westchester Communities Added To Coronavirus Micro-Cluster Zone

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Several communities on Thursday were designated micro-cluster zones due to new coronavirus infections.

Parts of New Rochelle, Ossining, Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Yonkers and Peekskill were added to the list. Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the announcement during a news conference.

Areas in the zones are subject to restrictions on businesses and gatherings to stop the spread of the virus.

During a news conference Thursday, Westchester County Executive George Latimer said the specific ZIP codes named as yellow zones are (click on links to see maps):

• Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow: a portion of 10591
• New Rochelle: a portion of 10801
• Ossining: a portion of 10562
• Yonkers: portions of 10703, 10705
• Peekskill: a portion of 10566

Latimer said the county is working with the communities to notify residents and distribute personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer.

"These zones do not restrict individual movement in and out of the zone," he said. "There is no Checkpoint Charlie (the Berlin Wall crossing point). They just highlight a level of contagion."

Under yellow zone regulations, the following restrictions are implemented:

• Indoor and outdoor dining is permitted, but there is a four-person maximum per table; bars and restaurants must still close at 10 p.m.; and late-night takeout is permitted.
• Schools can remain open, however 20 percent of the weekly in-student and teacher population must be tested.
• In-home private gatherings are limited to 10 people.
• All other nonessential gatherings are limited to 25 people, whether indoors or outdoors.
• Capacity at houses or worship is limited to 50 percent.

New Rochelle was the first hot spot in the nation in March at the beginning of the pandemic, though the containment zone then was centered around a synagogue in the northern portion of the city.

In a statement to Patch, Mayor Noam Bramson said the yellow zone designation "should serve as a significant warning to residents in all neighborhoods of New Rochelle that COVID rates are rising fast." If the virus isn't brought under control, further restrictions will be necessary, he said.

"New Rochelle has faced this challenge before, and we will face it again with determination, calm, and respect for all of our neighbors," he said.

The town of Ossining released a statement about the yellow zone designation, saying it is based on a seven-day rolling average of above a 2.5 percent coronavirus test rate for 10 days.

"Today's announcement draws our attention to the need to increase testing and vigilance in complying with the behaviors that contain the spread," the statement said. "In addition to wearing masks, maintaining distance, washing/sanitizing hands, and minimizing travel, we must avoid gathering in groups ad contributing to 'living room spread.' "

The village of Port Chester is still designated an orange zone, which has more severe restrictions than a yellow zone.