City of Rye Releases Coronavirus Update For November 24, 2020

Press release from the City of Rye:

November 24 2020

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Happy Thanksgiving! Happy? Yes. Certainly there is much to be concerned about in the COVID department these days, but we as one united people still have the opportunity to be together (even if in Coronavirus-correct, reduced numbers) -- in gratitude, as we have been privileged to do for so many years. We may be tested by disease and challenged by division, but we still have much to be grateful for. And if those of us who have the means would make this Thanksgiving an extra occasion to reach out and help neighbors who may be struggling to feed their families, we will collectively have all that much more -- easily counted in occasions to give and receive. We in Rye are literally surrounded by worthy helping organizations who can set the Thanksgiving table for those in need. I know that Giving Tuesday is next week, but now, this year in particular, before Thanksgiving, is a really good time to help the hungry. Give, if you can.

Rye's own Coronavirus numbers are up. According to the County, we now have 51 active cases. The cause, we are told, is that we are moving indoors as the weather turns and we are failing to mask and distance. That seems like a reasonable working proposition, and one to which we can respond. Mask. Social distance. Hand-washing. Old news at this point, and it all should be easy to do, even while in our hearts we are dreaming about that vaccine-redeemed world where we can be near, bare-faced and Purell-free.

Our yellow zone on our border with Port Chester's orange zone remains on the New York State micro-cluster map despite the absence of any data or metric that would support that yellow coloring. We remain marked by what seems to be the State's belief that Port Chester's orange zone needs a yellow corona, a buffer, even if that corona serves no clear purpose. Fortunately, there are no businesses in our yellow zone that might be adversely affected. Our little splash of yellow should not be disregarded, however, as it hints at what could happen so easily, if we are not very careful. One Rye family actually has commented to me that they, living close to the yellow border, are grateful for the warning it offers. Please see City staff's summary of the State's zone explanation here. More weighty yellow zones have recently been created in a variety of Westchester locations, including New Rochelle, Ossining, Peekskill, Tarrytown and Yonkers.

In view of all this, what am I, as Mayor, urging you to do this Thanksgiving? My ask of Rye residents is that we take to heart the realities we face and listen to the CDC and New York State. We have been given a "small is beautiful" moment. Make your Thanksgiving a little jewel! Celebrate, please, remembering that doing so with only your own household is best and that the number not to exceed in a residential gathering is 10. (Rye PD has no appetite to be your unwelcome guests, so please don't compel their attendance.) If you are a host, please put first your responsibility to send your guests on their way in good health. If you are a guest, do your darnedest to be sure you are not, virally speaking, imposing. Outdoors, open doors (windows, too), masks, distance, etc. A restyled Thanksgiving this year is the way to a restored Thanksgiving next year.

The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a series of COVID-safe events this week, beginning with "Light the Night" at 6 pm on Friday, November 27th (Purchase Street, lit with decorations for dining, shopping and strolling),"Santa and Friends Drive By" from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday the 28th (throughout Rye) and an all-ages Scavenger Hunt on Sunday, on Purchase Street from 11-4. Please go the Chamber website, Instagram and Facebook pages for details. And, yes, shop Purchase Street, before you go online or any place else.

We are coming to the November 30th end of the Purchase Plaza experiment. We hope that it has been enjoyed by Rye residents and helpful to our central business district overall. Now, please put on your warm clothing and enjoy the outdoor dining while you can. At a recent, wonderful Purchase Street dinner, I was reminded that there is nothing like fresh, cool air to sharpen the appetite! Next week, restaurants will be converting to more sheltered and more limited outdoor arrangements, and Purchase Street will return to full two-way traffic.

Note that the City Council is declaring a holiday parking-fee holiday in central business district lots from December 7 through December 26. Keep in mind that parking time limits will remain in effect, even as the meters take a rest.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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.