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Today Sunny, with a high near 81. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Light and variable wind.
THIS JUST IN: JULY FINISHES WITH CORONA VIRUS SPREAD APPROACHING 3% INFECTION RATE, AVERAGING 100 CASES A DAY AS SATURDAY INFECTIONS (WITH 1,319 LESS TESTS THAN FRIDAY) HIT 2.9%. COVID IS NOT BEING STOPPED.
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WPCNR COVID BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey based on Saturday Covid Testing from the New York State Covid Tracker. August 1, 2021:
The last week in July saw the highest number infections at the highest rate of infection since mid-April when the virus was being stopped in a period of 3 weeks.
That is a memory.
Today’s Sunday figures will he out tomorrow afternoon. But the lower number of tests on Saturday isued this afternoon showed the highest infection rate we have seen since Westchester was being overwhelmed with the second wave in Late February, when the county is averaging 3-1/2 to 4 % new infections.
The relentless rise in the numbers of new infections since last Sunday July 25, , 7 days ago–showed the infection rate (number of positives for persons tested) rising as number of persons tested rose. When a small test quantity showed a 2.9% infection yesterday on Saturday, it means that even if higher test numbers say today or Monday may show less infection rate, the number of new infections may go up at a greater rate due to the higher test universe. Not a happy thought.
But that is what we are seeing in the last 7 days: From 68 new infections last Sunday, we doubled the number of infections a day to new infections averaging over 100 a day–and more when higher testing quantities were administered: Look at the last four days:
As testing went up in midweek, so did the new positives, 129 on Wednesday the 28th; 140 on the 29th, 156 on Friday, and on a testing universe of 1319 less tests on Saturday, still 137 were still double the number of positives shown in a similar test quantity a on Saturday July 24 (4,538) when 74 tested positive, just 1.6%
. Yesterday on Saturday when 4,689 were tested, 137 persons were found to be positive, a 2.9% infection rate, almost double that test of Saturday one week ago.
Comparing our number of positives as being less than positive trend in past, should give no comfort when Westchester is seeing spreads in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and White Plains and up county, too in Peekskill, Cortlandt.
The sense of relief of covid being over has lead to behavior and official false confidence in lifting restrictions that has in one week driven Westchester way past the safe infection rate of 1/2 % positive Westchester had seen in May and June.
The spread is in part, is due to the July Independence Day Weekend, where the party spirit, the beaches, parks, and relaxed restaurant restrictions, and to much social closer distancing apparently has blunted the effect of the vaccines and exposed the unvaccinated to new infections.
This is all happening in just 6 days, one month before schools are supposed to start.
FRIDAY’S WESTCHESTER NEW PERSONS WITH CORONA VIRUS POSITIVE CASES GO UP 11%–INSURGENT INFECTION INFECTS at STEADY 2.5% of COUNTY-TESTED, 2.6% on Friday. OVER A HUNDRED A DAY NEW POSITIVES SADLY SUSTAINED.
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WPCNR COVID TODAY. From the NY State Covid Tracker Commentary by John F. BaileyAugust 1, 2021:
The third wave of coronavirus continues to sustain its growth in Westchester.
Westchester officials should be nervously watching for the state Saturday Corona Virus testing in Westchester due out his afternoon.
New cases of corona virus in the 5 days Monday through Friday July 26 through Friday the 39th totaled 581. In 10 to 14 days these 581 persons could pass the virus to over 3,000 others, according to the ratio of infections where each single person who tests positive will pass the virus to 6 persons who will in turn infect 15 more, possibly meaning Westchester 8,000 new cases in two weeks, the incubation period when covid symptoms start to show.
On Friday, the relentless infection rate continued.
The state tracker reported 156 new persons of 6,008 testing with covid, an increase of 11% over 140 positive on Thursday and 129 on Wednesday., ending the 5-day week with 425 new Westchester residents testing positive with covid. Friday’s infection rate new cases edged up to 2.6%.
WEATHER WHITE PLAINS: 70 SUNNY WPCNR DEGREES WITH CLOUDS AT 7:40 AM EDT
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A slight chance of showers between noon and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 77. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.
Monday Sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind around 9 mph.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUES ADVISORY ON PROTECTING AGAINST WEST NILE VIRUS MOSQUITOS
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Sherlita Amler, MD, Commissioner of Health, said: “With so many of us spending more time outdoors, protect yourself and your family by using repellents. Apply sunscreen first, and repellent second.”
The Health Department reminds residents about mosquito safety through news releases, social media and our website, where a report on mosquito control and surveillance can be found on the West Nile Virus page. Throughout the season, the Department also traps and tests mosquitoes to track the presence of mosquito-borne viruses.
Symptoms of West Nile Virus include fever, headache, body aches and joint pain, but can be more serious for people 60 and older, and those with underlying medical conditions.
(Editor’s Note: without proper treatment and correct diagnosis, West Nile Virus can kill you. It’s not just a mosquito bite.)
For more ideas on how to reduce the mosquito population near your home, go to https://health.westchestergov.com/west-nile-virus and follow these tips:
- Avoid the outdoors in the late afternoon and early evening when mosquitoes are active and feeding, or use insect repellents then and follow the label instructions.
- Adults can use insect repellents with up to 30 percent DEET on infants over two months of age by applying the product to their own hands and then rubbing it onto their children, avoiding their hands, eyes and mouth. Products containing DEET are not recommended for use on children under two months of age.
- Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks when outdoors, especially in areas where mosquitoes are active and feeding.
- Check around your property for anything that can hold water, and pour it out or put it away.
- Check and remove standing water from children’s toys and play houses left outside.
- Remove discarded tires.
- Drill holes in the bottoms of all recycling containers that are left outdoors.
- Turn over plastic wading pools, buckets and wheelbarrows when not in use.
- Change the water in birdbaths at least twice weekly.
- Keep storm drains and gutters clear of leaves and debris.
- Continue to chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor spas and hot tubs until properly winterized or drained for the season. Also, if not chlorinated, drain any water that collects on their covers.
Residents who notice large areas of standing water on public property should report them to the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000.
WEST NILE INFECTED MOSQUITOS FOUND IN MOUNT VERNON COUNTY ANNOUNCES
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WPCNR HEALTH HEADLINER . From the Westchester County Department of Health. July 31, 2021:
The Westchester County Health Department announced that this season’s first two batches of mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus in Westchester were detected in Mount Vernon. The areas surrounding the positive mosquito batches were inspected Friday by the Health Department, and nearby catch basins that held standing water were treated to protect against further mosquito breeding nearby.
To date, these are the first positives out of 105 batches of mosquitos collected from 11 locations throughout Westchester that were tested for West Nile Virus by the New York State Department of Health. New York City announced on July 22 that it had detected West Nile Virus in mosquitos in all five boroughs. Last year, five Westchester batches of mosquitoes had West Nile Virus out of 190 submitted for testing, with the virus first detected in mosquitoes collected on July 23.
THIRD COVID WAVE SEEPS INTO WESTCHESTER COUNTY (269 NEW INFECTIONS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY). COUNTY EXECUTIVE LATIMER ACTS, STARTS “JUST THE FACTS: WE’RE VAXED” CAMPAIGN TO GET ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES VACCINATED BY LABOR DAY AGAINST COVID. NEW MASK POLICIES MANDATORY IN COUNTY FACILITIES PARKS FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC. COUNTY OFFICES REMAIN OPEN
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WPCNR CORONA VIRUS BULLETIN. JULY 31, 2O21:
(EDITOR’S NOTE:) AS PREDICTED ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK REPORT FRIDAY EVENING, WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER FRIDAY AFTERNOON ANNOUNCED A NEW CAMPAIGN TO ASSURE ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 AS COVID INFECTIONS SUSTAINED A 2.5% NEW INFECTION RATE FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY RESULTING IN 269 NEW CASES OF CORONAVIRUS IN OVER 10,000 PERSONS TESTED
THE 2.5% LEVEL OF INFECTION IS THE HIGHEST LEVELS SINCE THE END OF APRIL AND UNDERSCORED THE UNCERTAINTY OF KEEPING THE VIRUS FROM AFFECTING THE COUNTY TENTATIVE RECOVERY IN THE FACE OF THE GROWTH OF COVID INFECTIONS IN JUST ONE WEEK.
NO PROJECTIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY THE COUNTY OR THE STATE OF HOW THIS NEW LEVEL OF INFECTIONS IN WESTCHESTER WILL AFFECT THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES IN THE COMING WEEKS, THOUGH HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE REMAINED IN THE LOW 20S FOR LAST TWO WEEKS.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ISSUED MANDATORY MASK RULES IN COUNTY OFFICES FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC VISITORS IN COUNTY OFFICE BUILDINGS, PARKS AND BEACHES, BUT NOT PLAYLAND.
THE COUNTY AT THIS TIME DOES NOT KNOW HOW MANY COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE VACCINATED AND WILL UNDERTAKE A SURVEY TO DETERMINE THAT.
IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCED A “JUST THE FACTS:WE’RE VAXXED” CAMPAIGN TO EXPEDITE COUNTY EMPLOYEES VACCINATIONS AGAINST COVID.
“Since taking office, my top priority is, and always has been, the health and safety of the County workforce and the people that we serve. After much consideration and consultation with County workers, department heads and union leaders, I am launching a robust “Just the Facts: We’re Vaxxed” campaign to encourage the entire County workforce to be vaccinated by Labor Day 2021.
“The first step will be a survey to access the vaccination status of all employees. Those departments that are fully vaccinated will be highlighted across the County. In addition, those County employees who are fully vaccinated will receive four free passes to Playland for the 2021 season. To affirm our stance that County employees need to be vaccinated, County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler and I will be visiting all County Departments to discuss the vaccine.
“To accommodate those who want to be vaccinated, the County will offer extended vaccination locations and hours along with the already existing locations at the Westchester County Center, and our two Health Department clinics in White Plains and Yonkers.
“Additionally, the County will re-establish a mandatory mask mandate for most County facilities. At all Westchester County office buildings, unvaccinated employees and those who visit will be required to be masked at all times. Those who are vaccinated, will need to be masked in all common areas. All County buildings will remain open to the public.
“At all County beaches and County pools, masks will be required when patrons go to concession stands, locker rooms, bathrooms and other locations regardless of vaccination status. Playland mask policies are still being evaluated.
“We are exploring a more robust County workforce surveillance COVID testing program. This is an open and fluid conversation that could change depending on COVID statistics and other important factors.
“We must work together, we must stay strong, and we must continue to move forward.”
WHITE PLAINS WEEK JULY 30 COVID ROUNDUP ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG (ROLL DOWN THE VIDEO WALL TO “WHITE PLAINS WEEK” FOR THE LATEST)
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NEEDS UNKNOWN REMEDIATION ACCORDING TO DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.
THROWS OUT 184 MARIJUANA FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR ARRESTS ON POSSESSION AND SALES. THE IMPACT
BULLETIN: COVID INFECTIONS AGAIN CLAIM 2.5% OF 5,071 THOSE TESTED THURSDAY–SUSTAINING RATE OF OVER 100 NEW CASES A DAY RAISING SPECTRE OF OVER 1200 NEW CASES A DAY IN 10 TO 14 DAYS IF GROWTH SUSTAINS PRESENT INTENSITY OF INFECTION. THE NUMBERS SPEAK
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THE DAILY NEW INFECTIONS RATE HAS RISEN FROM 1.5% OF THOSE TESTED TO 2.5% WESTCHESTER COUNTY HAD BEEN AVERAGING 76 NEW INFECTIONS. MONDAY IN LAST TWO DAYS WESTCHESTER HAS SUSTAINED 269 NEW INFECTED PEOPLE WITH CORONAVIRUS IN 10,844 TESTS ADMINISTERED (2.6%)
WEATHER WHITE PLAINS WEEKEND 77 SUNNY WPCNR HUMID DEGREES TURNING WINDY GUSTY TODAY. 7:30 AM EDT
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Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Northwest wind 8 to 17 mph.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind around 9 mph.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Calm wind.
Sunday A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. (NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE)