Mayor of Rye Releases Coronavirus Update For November 12, 2020

Press release from the City of Rye:

November 12 2020

[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."]

I hesitate to write again so soon, but found myself puzzling last night over a New York State map that unfortunately promotes Port Chester from "Yellow-Precautionary" status to "Orange - Warning", and that incidentally shades nearby territory in Rye as newly yellow. This is a head-scratcher, as the State claims that its colored zones are based on "data metrics," but none of our present group of active COVID cases reside in this new yellow zone that runs from the Sound on the east (north of Guion) to Grandview and Evergreen on the west. Just a map-maker sloshing a little yellow around Port Chester's orange for safety's sake? And then hitting send without further explanation? That's the best guess, but we don't yet know! Our State legislative team and County staff are looking into the matter and, I hope, will be able to release us from what appears to be map creep.

If it remains, it is not clear what this fragmentary yellow shading would mean for Rye. Rye Country Day and the Marriott Courtyard may be the only non-residential enterprises in the yellow area. The NYS prescription for yellow areas is: restriction of all non-essential gatherings to 25 people (but see new and tighter general rules described below), restriction of houses of worship to 50% of capacity, restaurants limited indoors and out to tables of no more than 4, and schools open, but subject to a testing regime.

What does orange shading mean for Port Chester? Greater restrictions on non-essential gatherings and numbers of house of worship congregants, closure of certain non-essential businesses, restaurants limited to outdoor dining (no more than 4 at a table) and takeout, and schools closed. Tough love territory. (See attached description of all three colored zones.)

Though we may turn out not to be shaded in the State's coloring book, our City is by no means free of what seems to be the renewing burden of COVID. Rye High School currently reports 4 active cases, all in quarantine. New State rules of general application effective Friday throughout the State will end night owl presence in bars, restaurants and gyms past 10 pm, and reduce the size of residential, restaurant and club gatherings to no more than 10. (Restaurant food take-out may continue past 10 p.m.)

Sigh. So many rules. Time for COVID fatigue? Would he/she with sufficient time and energy for COVID fatigue please stand up? Don't we all have way too much to do for that? As we stick to our knitting, let's please remember how relatively lucky, overall, our City has been and how that has been our common product -- a result of community effort. We will keep pulling together and we will, absolutely, arrive together in Vaccine Land. We might show a little wear and tear and, who knows, we might even pick up a little colored ink on a State map, but no matter. No matter at all.

We will learn how last night's yellow ink shakes out, but let's not be distracted. New rules, more rules -- we all know what we have to do and we will do it, together, and with energy and care.

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

Summary of Provisions
In Effect as of Friday, November 13th @ 10:00 PM:

On November 11 Governor Cuomo announced new rules for bars, restaurants, gyms and private social gatherings. These restrictions apply across the State, including Westchester County and the City of Rye. Effective Friday, November 13th and until further notice, the following protocols will be in effect:

• Any bar, restaurant or establishment with a New York State Liquor Authority license must close for dine-in by 10 p.m. This includes both indoors and outside dining. All patrons must be off the premises no later than 10 pm.

• Restaurants will be allowed to continue curb-side pick-up past 10 pm, but no take-out liquor sales are permitted.

• All gyms and fitness centers must be closed by 10 p.m.

• Private gatherings are limited to 10 people. This applies to restaurants, clubs and private residences.

Failure to comply with these restrictions may result in the issuance of violations and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per occurrence.

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