Rye Mayor Issues Coronavirus Update

Press release from the City of Rye:

June 1, 2021

Memorial Day 2021, solemn and celebratory, has arrived. It has been a long haul to get here, hasn't it?

First and foremost, our collective thanks to our service men and women, and to all a reflective, relaxing (but still not too COVID relaxed) weekend.

COVID does seem to be getting clubbed into a corner by the vaccines now widely available in Westchester. For the homebound, the County is continuing to offer a vaccination service. Please call 914-813-6300. We successfully ran through our list of Rye homebound previously, but if there is anyone we missed and for whom the County service is unsuitable, please let the City know at COVID@ryeny.gov, and we will help.

There is much that we would like to be communicating to you with certainty, but that, like COVID itself, is in flux now as the public health powers modify the rules we have lived by for past months. Before reporting on some aspects of that flux, though, I will share some reasonable certainties:

-American Legion Post 128 will be offering a virtual Memorial Day celebration once again this year. The Legion recognized the possibility of holding the event outdoors, but also recognized that COVID rules would prevent using City Hall in event of rain. Please watch the virtual event on Rye TV. Next year, we trust, the parade will return. The Rye Fire Department will conduct its Memorial Day ceremony at 7:15 a.m., starting at the Locust Avenue Fire House.

-City Hall will be fully re-opened to the public on Monday, June 7th. Access to the building will be in accordance with summer hours: Monday – Friday from 8:30 am -4:30 pm. All visitors must wear a mask indoors and specific departments will have signage indicating the maximum number of visitors allowed at their service desk at a time.

-Because Rye Recreation serves people of all ages and health conditions, including young children who are not yet able to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, we will continue to require masks in our Rye Rec facilities for all staff, program participants and visitors. We will, of course, review any new guidance as it is published. As further changes and guidance become available, information will be provided on the City’s website, as well in specific program applications.

-Rye Town Park is open, including the beach. Masks will be required when entering buildings or when interacting with staff.

-Playland Beach will be open this weekend. Masks required where you cannot socially distance.

Now, certain uncertainties:

-We have completed our Rye Rec renovations needed to allow camp to operate without relying on Rye City School District buildings (under renovation as they are) on rainy days. Camp regulations, however, are being newly revised by state and county.

-The City is eager to drop our mask mandate for certain kids' sports and re-open our basketball court. Here, though, we are waiting for state and county to come together and give us the rules we need to restore greater joy to youth sports.

-Summer plans for Purchase Street remain under consideration. Meanwhile, please make every effort to shop and dine on Purchase Street or elsewhere in Rye.

We are down to 10 active COVID cases in Rye. Can you imagine? But still, the County has lost over 2,200 lives and more people continue to suffer and pass away. We all share the pain and loss.

It's Memorial Day weekend! Soggy it may be at the start, but it promises to end with sunshine! Please give thought to the huge sacrifices that have brought us, as a nation, this weekend to enjoy.

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.