Putnam Coronavirus Update: Fewer Deaths, Hospitalizations

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — As the coronavirus positivity rate in New York continues to trend downward to 5.47 percent after a holiday spike, Putnam County reported confirming 544 new coronavirus cases in the past week.

The county reported two more deaths from COVID-19 in the past week, down from six the week before. As of Jan. 21, there were 20 people hospitalized with COVID-19 at Putnam County Hospital Center, down from 25 the week before.

Meanwhile, residents and health officials continue to chafe at the lack of coronavirus vaccine. Currently, New York is in the seventh week of vaccine distribution.

Aanyone age 65 and older is eligible to get a coronavirus vaccine, but the doses aren't available, as Pfizer and Moderna are still ramping up production.

The federal government doles out 250,000 doses a week to New York state. As of Monday, 91 percent of those doses have been administered, according to state health officials. The next shipment from the federal government has not yet arrived, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said yesterday.

"We recognize there is concern about the wait for vaccines," Dr. Michael Nesheiwat, Putnam County Commissioner of Health, said last week. "One thing that is important to realize is this was not completely unexpected. We need to look at vaccine implementation as the long-term project it is—more of a long-distance race and not an all-out sprint. It is an enormous undertaking and not physically possible to roll out large numbers of vaccines in an instant."

SEE: Vaccine Rollout Slowness Was Expected: Putnam Health Commissioner

State officials have asked county health departments to prioritize essential workers while hospitals prioritize healthcare workers. Eligible members of the public are asked to get vaccines through pharmacies or one of the state-run mass vaccination sites when they are available.

Putnam County Department of Health vaccinated another 202 essential workers on Thursday, at the Carmel Friendship Center.