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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. By John F. Bailey based on New York State Vaccine and Covid 19 Workbook Statistics. April 5, 2021 UPDATED FROM THE GOVERNOR 1:30 PM EDT:
Through Saturday, Westchester County continued to average 428 New Covid Cases a day, and continued at a 4% rate of new positives a day.
Westchester averaged the lowest rate of new Covid cases of the seven counties in the Mid-Hudson region the last seven days from March 28 to through Saturday, the day before Easter, April 3. The Sunday figures should be out today after 2 PM
Vaccinations in Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Putnam, Ulster, Sullivan and Westchester Counties (making up the Mid-Hudson Region),according to the New York State Vaccination Tracker), are approximately on target to have their populations (totaling 2,321,972 people) 50% completely vaccinated with the Covid vaccine by the end of April.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the start of the statewide “Roll Up Your Sleeve” ad campaign to encourage all New Yorkers, especially those from neighborhoods where COVID was most devastating, to get vaccinated.
This effort comes as universal eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine goes into effect and all New Yorkers 16-years-of-age and older are eligible to receive the vaccine starting April 6. This comes nearly a month earlier than President Biden’s May 1 deadline for states to enact universal eligibility.
“The vaccine is the weapon that will win the war, but only if we all take it, and starting April 6, all New Yorkers age 16 and older will be able to get vaccinated,” Governor Cuomo said. “Since the start of this critical phase of our fight against COVID, we have made it our top priority to bring the vaccine to the communities that were hit the hardest by the virus, and with the ‘Roll Up Your Sleeve’ campaign, we are helping ensure that no community gets left behind in the vaccine distribution process. As universal eligibility going into effect, we will continue to work with local leaders to make sure all New Yorkers have access to our vaccination sites.
I also want to remind everyone that universal eligibility for the vaccine does not mean we are back to business as usual. The truth is millions of our neighbors still need to get their shot, and we are still in a footrace against the infection rate, so it is imperative that we do not let down our guard and we continue exercising safety protocols.”
New York’s vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment. As of right now, people 16 and 17 years of age can only receive the Pfizer vaccine.
New Yorkers can schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site on the ‘Am I Eligible’ website. New Yorkers may also call their local health department, pharmacy, doctor, or hospital for additional information and to schedule appointments where vaccines are available.
Westchester County from March 28 through Saturday, April 3, had the lowest percentage of number of new positives a day 4 % in the 7 counties. Westchester, the state reported had 3,002 new positives (4%) in 75,715 persons tested.
Two weeks from now at a 4.3% hospitalization rate, (the hospitalization rate has had no change in Westchester that has been reported) the county has been using for a month, would result in 129 Hospitalizations in 2 weeks.
The other 6 Mid Hudson counties averaged 6% new infections a day Dutchess, 4.5% new infections a day (128 a day); Orange, 6.7% (128), Putnam,6% (48/day), Rockland, 5.0%(145/day), Ulster, 4.4%(69/day), Sullivan 7.4%(39/Day).
The PERCENTAGE of PEOPLE who have completed vaccinations are roughly the same in all 7 counties (20%)
Westchester leads in residents with completed vaccinations as of this morning’s NY State covid vaccination tracker, with 24% of eligible citizens vaccinated (228,763 people) and 38% residents with one shot (363,783). If we assume Westchester vaccinates 22,000 persons a day for 26 days, that would vaccinate all those 363,783 by the end of April plus another 208,000 first shots or second shots the county should be at 62% completely vaccinated by the first week in May. There is potential for 771,217 Count Residents to be completely vaccinated by the middle of May,hitting 80% vaccinations.
It should be noted that with the high rate of infections in the other six counties in the mid-Hudson region that the areas of all seven counties would need an abundance of caution, strict observation of masking and social distancing.
All 7 Counties at the present positive covid infection rate, are generating 1,073 new positive infections a day in a population of 2,321,972. Though that percentage of positives is 1/3 of a percent; it still could mean 7,511 new infections a week across all 7 counties, which if the 4.3% hospitalization rate is holding up, means possibly 322 new hospitalizations in 10 days.