Testing Expanded As Port Chester Declared Coronavirus Yellow Zone

UPDATE —Free rapid testing for Covid-19 for the general public will be offered Saturday in Port Chester.

WHERE: Don Bosco Community Center, 22 Don Bosco Place, Port Chester, NY 10573

WHEN: noon - 2 p.m. November 7, 2020

HOW: Phone: 914-995-5800. Web: https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?OpID=11900380. Please wear a mask, and try to arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Minors under the age of 18 will need a consent form. Results will be provided onsite.

PORT CHESTER, NY — Due to an increase in coronavirus cases, Port Chester has been designated a micro-cluster by New York health officials and placed under "yellow zone" restrictions.

The village jumped from 96 to 119 active cases between Thursday and Friday, according to Westchester County data.

Westchester County Health Department and Open Door Family Medical Center are expanding testing in Port Chester until Tuesday. The testing initiative was made in consultation with the New York State Department of Health.

Testing will be available:

• Friday, November 6: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday, November 7: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Monday, November 9: 10 a.m. -6 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 10: 10 a.m. -6 p.m.

Those who wish to make an appointment should call 914-995-7425 or click here to do so online. Walk-ins will only be accepted on a limited basis.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the micro-cluster designation in a Friday morning news briefing. It is a strong reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, Westchester County officials said.

"Wearing a mask and social distancing is not an option — you must do it," County Executive George Latimer said. "I do not want to see cases continue to rise, we must make small sacrifices now to protect the entire County.”

Along with speaking with Cuomo, Latimer said he was in communication with Port Chester officials including Mayor Richard "Fritz" Falanka, county Legislator Nancy Barr, state Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblyman Steven Otis.

Additionally, the Westchester County Health Department is:

• Distributing masks and hand sanitizer to community groups in Port Chester;
• Meeting with community leaders to discuss COVID-19 prevention and protocols; and
• Launching an educational campaign in English and Spanish.

Latimer said: “This is not the time to panic, but this is the time to make adjustments to your habits and take precautions to protect yourself, and those you love, against COVID-19.”

The coronavirus outbreak in Port Chester is not so intense that the most stringent restrictions are needed, Cuomo said. The community was declared a yellow zone, the least restrictive.

Cuomo pointed out that Port Chester borders Connecticut, which is having an intense coronavirus resurgence.

The move to put Port Chester on the micro-cluster list comes as state health officials downgraded the restrictions on Rockland County's and Orange County's micro-cluster.

Rockland has been moved to the orange category from red. Orange has been moved to the yellow category from orange.

"That's happening is what we said would happen, which is people are in control of the spread of the virus," Cuomo said. "How you behave today determines whether or not you get sick tomorrow.
Individual action, it's all about individual action. If you are reckless you will be less safe. If you don't believe there's a risk you will be less safe."