City Of Rye Releases Coronavirus Update, January 8, 2021

Press release from the City of Rye:

January 8 2021

[If you don't get these messages directly and would like to, please go to https://www.ryeny.gov/services/email-notifications, scroll down and select "City of Rye News and Information."]

Not having written since the old year, I would be opening with a big "Happy New Year!," but Wednesday's staggering mob attack on our Capitol, on our way of life, and the continuing unfolding of its bitter aftermath, now quiets me. My dismay, however, should not stand in the way of my wishing us all the best in 2021 from here on, including, among a cornucopia of other good things, an orderly and stable transition in Washington and relief from the pandemic Please note: your City Council met in a regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday night as events in Washington were still unfolding, not to ignore those events, but rather so as not to allow the disruptions there to also disrupt the process of our local democratic government here.

We are getting many questions about vaccination these days and unfortunately don't have information with which to respond. New York State continues to augment its program. Its priorities remain as before - first a group broadly described as frontline healthcare workers and the most vulnerable aged in nursing care, and now moving to other first responders and those aged 75 and older. Actual distribution mechanisms are not yet clear, with the State engaged in an ongoing process of creating vaccination administration sites. In late-breaking news, it appears that some of The Osborn population beyond those in nursing care will have access to vaccination within two weeks. The City will do all it can to help make vaccination available, when we are given an opportunity to do so. (Short, of course, of me wielding a needle on the steps of City Hall -- though by now I, like you, have seen enough vaccination news clips to at least play a doctor of shot-ology on tv.) Please see NYS information available here.

Our post-holiday COVID case numbers have been high. We were running active cases in the 70s as our Thanksgiving spike wound down, but we are now seeing active case numbers reaching 140. Even though we know what to do to limit the spread, it all becomes more difficult the more pervasive the spread has become. We really have to work at this. All of us.

Many Rye residents now have the Coronavirus. As before, we, your City and your neighbors, wish you the best, the easiest course through the virus.

For the substantial portion of Rye that lost power last summer, it may be hard to leave 2020 behind without remembering Storm Isaias. A group of Westchester government officials under the "United Westchester" banner revisited Con Ed's poor performance following Isaias in a Public Service Commission hearing last week. I participated in the group's executive committee, as I did in the group's 2018 effort following storms Quinn and Riley, and I testified in the PSC hearing, as I had in an earlier NYS Legislature hearing. My hope is that PSC, Governor and Legislature will now converge on a plan to afford Westchester electric customers prompt post-storm power restoration.

Though evenings may be dark and chilly, I am pleased to report that there is still Purchase Street outdoor dining available at a number of restaurants. I enjoyed an excellent supper on a recent, balmy 38 degree evening. You may wish to dress for dinner. Hat, long johns and a seat close to the heater are all recommended for a fine time out.

The Chamber of Commerce is cooking up a "Winter Wonderland" program for Purchase Street. Details to follow soon. Please don't allow our merchants to claim any winter lull this year.

2021 got off to a rough start. Let's all pull together and pull it into better shape.

Mayor Josh Cohn

Useful Contacts:

• People under self-quarantine or exposure to known case, call (866) 588-0195 or 2-1-1 to self-report
• NYS Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline (888) 364-3065
• Westchester County COVID-19 Information Call 211
• COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.

CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/diseases-and-conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus-2020.html
NY Dept of Health Coronavirus Update
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
NY Dept of Health Contacts
https://health.ny.gov/contact/contact_information/
County COVID Updates
https://health.westchestergov.com/2019-novel-coronavirus

This press release was produced by the City of Rye. The views expressed here are the author’s own.