WESTCHESTER SURPASSES NYC NEW COVID CASES ON ONE DAY SATURDAY. COVID SPREAD RETAINS MOMENTUM, SPREAD RATE.

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NASSAU SUFFOLK, ORANGE, ROCKLAND, DUTCHESS ULSTER, PUTNAM, SULLIVAN AND WESTCHESTER NEW COVID CASES COMBINED HAVE 2,906 FOR THE WEEK.  NEW YORK CITY REPORTED 15,321 CASES IN 7 DAYS LAST WEEK (2,881 DAILY)

WPCNR CORONAVIRUS SURVEILLANCE. Statistics from New York Covid Tracker. Observation & Analysis by John F. Bailey. January 17, 2024:

Westchester Reported 1,984 new persons coming down with covid January 7-13, the second week of the month.

The Westchester new covid cases on Saturday  were 38% more than reported by the five boroughs New York City new cases of 1,234  on one day Saturday according to New York State Department of Health.

For the week January 7 to 13, the Westchester 1,984 cases compared to 15,321 new covid cases in New York City

The number persons in Westchester County also reported one day  in which covid cases confirmed by New York State  positiveS based on persons coming in after they had had an antigen test (self administered), exceeded lab-verified PCR tests.

WPCNR has long suspected that antigen tests taken by individuals that show positive have been ignored until they start to feel sick then they go and get tested are confirmed positive.

Last Thursday, January 12 of the  380 new Westchester covid positives, only 163 tests were confirmed PCR tests and 217 were found positive among antigen test self-administered persons.

WPCNR has long suspected  before antigen tests were available  for the home that the reason positives were higher than NY Health Department numbers that persons were not getting tested, They were going to work or sending students to school, until they got sick then went in to be treated, and tested positive.

No one  in official capacity in Health Departments or in county or town positions have pointed this possibility.  I noticed this in August of 2023 when antigen test-positives were separarated out in the daily totals.

The growing number of antigen positive indicate  Individuals that show positive have been ignored the positive  until they start to feel sick then they go and get tested and are confirmed positive. This  behavior, of persons ignoring positive antigen results until they got symptoms, may be contributing to the obviously growing suburban counties that are approximately have the New York City population are now infecting more than all five boroughs of the city.

The first week in December 2023, Westchester had 764 covid infections, of those infections 387 (51%) tested positive through an antigen test and were confirmed.  Last week ending January 13, 6 weeks later, of 1,984 covid cases last week , 1,325 were confirned with PCR tests, and 717 (54%) were confirmed positive as a result of antigen tests.

What do I take from this?  People relying on antigen tests as they they go about their lives in (“post-covid times,”) if they do not take an antigen test, or if they do, and it is positive,but they do not feel sick, but for one reason or another do not want to miss work, get treated, not socialize, they could be spreading the disease to more persons who do not have it because they are infected with the virus.

The fact that in six weeks Westchester infections of covid have gone from 764 infections that week of Dec 3-9 to– 1,984  5 weeks later as of January 13, indicates that though antigen test positives make up about 54% of all new covid infections, it cannot be overlooked as a factor that many are thinking they are not sick after they take an antigen test even if positive or worse do not self-test after socializaations, until you feel sick could be a source of the spread  we are experiencing, combined of course with not having all your vaccines, or worse out socializing in schools, parties, large events.

The JN.1 variant is highly contagious if you have the variant in your respiratory system you can spread it inside of 1 hour to another person.

This could be why the middle to end of the week reported infections are soaring and have been doing so since the New Years weekend.

Monday through Friday the last two weeks: Daily New Cases Day by Day in Westchester

WEEK             SUNDAY    MONDAY  TUESDAY  WEDNESDAY  THURSDAY    FRIDAY      SAT     TOTAL

3/31-JAN 6        202           265              426               378            303              272      196     2,036

JAN 7-13            154           397              321               275             289              380      168     1,984

 

In the Mid-Hudson Region, Westchester led all 7 counties with 1,984 infections of covid, followed by Orange with 99, Rockland, 50 and Dutchess 45. Ulster, Putnam and Sullivan had 20, 14,and 11 respectively.

Nassau and Suffolk continue to average 700 infections a week between both counties.

Westchester averaged  29.3 infections a day for 7 days per 100,000 per population, there are 10.04 sections of 100,000 in the county This  29 a day in new infections resulted in 294 infection a day in the county for 7 days which works out to 2,059 a week.

Multiply that by 4 times and the month of January could see 8,236 infections by the end of end of the month. In the last three weeks, the 2,191 infections the week of Dec 24-31 in Westchester County  have spread the disease to  2 persons in 2 weeks ended Saturday  slightly increasing the 1 spreading to 1 person that resulted in keeping the numbers of new infections slightly lower the last two weeks.

 

 

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MEASLES: “OFF TO GREAT START IN 2024:” DR. KATELYN JETELINA ON TRENDS AND COLLECTIVE AMNESIA

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Measles, trends, and collective amnesia.

Are cases increasing? What will 2024 look like? What can we do about it?

Yesterday I got a Google News alert: “Measles.” Yes, measles. In the 21st century. At the height of winter. (Measles typically spreads in spring.) What’s going on?

This sure seems like a lot. Is measles increasing?

A measles case here or there is not abnormal. We see them every year. Cases typically come from international travelers, but sometimes locally acquired outbreaks emerge among unvaccinated pockets.

Cases today are still far, far, far below rates in the 1950s and ’60s thanks to vaccines. However, when we zoom into the past 10 years, we see a slow but steady rise. This shouldn’t be a surprise, given the reduction in routine vaccination coverage and the increase in vaccine exemptions.

As you may also notice above, measles has epidemic cycles. It flares up every four to five years—2008, 2011, and 2019. We can also see this pattern during the pre-vaccine era (see below).

It is exactly 5 years since the last flare-up, which suggests this may be a bad year. Of course, the pandemic could throw off patterns, but we aren’t off to a great start.

What is (and is not) a way forward?

Measles is preventable. And, in the PA outbreak, one unvaccinated child went to daycare while infected, defying isolation.

People are disappointed and shocked that fellow parents wouldn’t vaccinate their children. People are angry that their loved ones may get exposed as a result, especially since babies under 12 months old cannot be vaccinated.

I share a lot of the frustration. But I remember what Dr. Sandro Galea said during the pandemic, “We cannot finger-wag our way to a healthier world.”

Is there collective amnesia? Let’s fix it. As generations age, the memory of mid-20th-century diseases like measles fade. This is a blessing and a curse.

Some don’t know why this disease is bad or if this vaccine is safe. This is understandable. The onus is on public health—we need to equip trusted messengers to start communicating, as measles is:

  • The most contagious disease, with an infected person infecting an average of 12-18 others (assuming no immunity in the population). In some cases, a single person has infected hundreds of people.
  • It’s not “just a fever or a rash.” While most people who get measles will recover, it can harm the body in every way possible. Measles can wipe out a huge fraction of immune memory to other diseases, causing an increase in all-cause deaths. 
  • The risks of infection far outweigh the risks of the vaccine, as shown beautifully by the New York Times below.

(Source: New York Times)

Is this a consequence of individualism? Let’s engage. One of the biggest challenges is the rise of individualism, as it goes against public health’s DNA: a collective response for the good of the population. We desperately need to engage with people who find individualism increasingly important. Develop interventions with them.

Is this due to a recent and dramatic decline in trust? Let’s do something about it. Mistakes were made during the pandemic. Misinformation is supercharged by social media.

Bad actors, like the disinformation dozen, drive the majority of anti-vax content.

Politics are further dividing individual health. Many people talk about these challenges (it’s even the theme of Davos this week!),

but I’m getting increasingly frustrated with inaction.

Bottom line

Unfortunately, measles is off to a great start in 2024. We expect trends to increase.

We need to heed the underlying warning. A laissez-faire approach to public health, on both sides, will not work. Harrowing stories like Roald Dahl’s below will creep into the 21st century. We can do better.

Love, YLE

NOTE: If you’re in Philadelphia, the Health Department has added several additional vaccination sites to ensure that children and adults who need the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine can get vaccinated at no cost. Check for locations here.

A big thanks to Edward Nirenberg for his help pulling a lot of the research integrated above.

“Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE)” is written by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, M.P.H. Ph.D.—an epidemiologist, wife, and mom. During the day, she is a senior scientific consultant to several organizations, including CDC. At night, she writes this newsletter. Her main goal is to “translate” the ever-evolving public health world so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support this effort, subscribe below:

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DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ADDRESSES BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS ON CIVIL RIGHTS, VOTING RIGHTS, IMMIGRATION

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DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ADDRESSES THE SENATE

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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. January 15, 2024:

Editor’s Note: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday is today..  

There was a more important proceeding (that is actually not proceeding) why his spirit is dimmed this day .

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ghost is in the Nation’s Capitol before a joint session of congress called at Dr. King’s request today.

He had to appear in Washington D.C. today to address a joint session of the United States Congress on a situation of utmost importance to every man and woman of any color, position and race in this nation and the nations of the world.

The man who spearheaded the civil rights movement in the 1960s has traveled on our behalf to address the President, the Senators,  the Congress on the impending roll back of voting rights now being implemented across the country that could apply to every person, no matter who they are, unless the both houses come to their senses.

The session has been called to order by the Vice President.

President Biden is standing awaiting for Reverend King’s introduction. It will be interesting how Dr. King approaches the two houses which is at an impasse on the Voting Rights bill.  It has been striking how few members of the joint houses have issued statements on Dr. King’s Birthday.  Dr. King has appeared. A solo figure at the entrance to the Senate chamber. Applause starts. Here is the President:

“I am proud to welcome to the Senate chambers, The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr.”

(Applause sustained, rising to a crescendo. Dr. King in black suit, black tie, is walking slowly down the aisle hands at his sides turning his head left to right, acknowledging the Senators with nods of his head. He looks the same as he did when when we lost him to an assassin’s bullet in 1968.

The steadfast eyes that appear always focused on the sky, the big hands at his side. The  din of applause is unlike any this reporter has ever heard in the Senate chamber.

Dr. King approaches the podium circles and is welcomed by President Biden. Then Dr. King turns and approaches podium, rises. Looking at Senators and congressional reps, he acknowledges his accolade.

He has no notes. No teleprompter. Now, Reverend King is about to begin. Here we go:)

“President Biden, Distinguished Senators, Republicans, Democrats, Vice President Harris, thank you on this historic moment in the history of the United States for inviting me to address you today. Today is a time where  to paraphrase Charles Dickens, observer of another tumultuous time, that is the best of times it is the worst of times.

In my life on Earth I was fortunate to advance the cause of the Black Man resulting in the desegregation of schools, and emboldening more awareness of their rights and a new effort grew more fairness, restricting segregation in employment, housing, and increased programs for the Black Man.

This era since the mid-1960s has seen the greatest expansion of the economy, housing, education and success America has ever achieved because it involved all of us black men, black women, Latinos. immirants, because they came to us and were fairly employed and paid by American companies.

I ask is it just a coincidence that this prosperity has come parallel to expanding education for those long denied equal education, training, and equal opportunity employment, and has seen more leaders of minorities elected to offices  for the first time? It is not. The diverse make up of congress and leaders across the country were responsible for that.

But now a majority in this great cathedral of freedom feels this has not worked. They express fear of the immigrant. Fear of the Black man, the Hispanic man, the white race is afraid of them.

Parallel to this tumultuous time came the move for women’s equality that has greatly  fueled the American Economic Engine  the last 60 years.  Our workplaces became more like the faces of America: white, Irish, Jewish, black, Latino, Asian, Muslim, Indian. More than at any other time, America today is the work of  the votes of these citizens, because they could hold politicians accountable.

They had freedom.

They voted for Republicans for President, Democrats for President, they decided.

You sit there before me and I ask you to dream another dream of the future of what will happen if the voting rights being denied by some 36 states through selective rules for registering voters and how votes are done are not preserved in the Voting Rights Bill you have before you.

I have a very different dream for states applying measures denying votes, requiring identification, proof of citizenship, all designed to make it impossible for persons present (you fearful elected officials) feel would not vote for them.

Let us tell it like it is:  not vote for white politicians— would suffer a departure of persons of all nationalities (targeted by these measures) that would hurt the state workforce quality, ability and earnings potential.

(A wash of boos ,with vigorous applause)

How are you going to entice persons of the race you want in your workforce to do jobs the white portion of the population feels too good to do —  if they are going into a state that harasses Mexicans, Haitians, Muslims, Blacks, Indians, Asians for identification, restricted voting hours, only in-person voting.

I see a vast declaration  of independence by persons blatantly targeted by states seeking to preserve their whiteness in government and politicians in office who think that way and exclude persons of other races from voting.

(Catcalls, mixed with applause, applause slightly louder)

Senators and Congresspersons, I direct you to other consequences of suppression of voting rights: economics.

If you restrict voting  and gerrymander districts to create a state unfriendly to change or to address their needs they are going to be poorer and not spend as much money.

Your economy will not grow. Without a workforce educated and successful and involved, you will have nothing to offer companies. Your ability to tax will decline because you will have less people to tax. The wealthy will have to stop firing staff to make a fatter profit (at workers’ misfortune), or as the Captains of Industry explain it “right-sizing.”

(Boos cascade)

I have a greater dream today. When I and you see where America is today, what a more equal fair and accepting society we built the last 50 years, that I believe is what you have to see.

America is not worse for bringing the oppressed from other countries into our country. The facts are there to prove it. They build businesses, they serve in our restaurants, they host television shows, become doctors and nurses who have fought us through Covid.

The politics of hate and division have been with us just five years. My spirit is here today because I am troubled at the  horrifying atmosphere in this country that is Jim Crow at its almost worst (without the whips and the overseers).

The endorsement of hate was introduced by the worst President of this country ever, Donald Trump, who sparked mass shootings of minorities ,school children. Instead of lynchings we now do shootings. We have heard on this Senate floor heinous threats of Senators on Senators.

(Wait Dr. King is raising his hand, pointing his finger. You can hear a pin drop, ladies and gentlemen.)

Now, I have a dream that must become real, this body should not be remembered as the one that took away voting rights in the United States of America.

This body is the the congress that will forever be known as the American Reichstag that turned the country over to the Fourth Reich.

This Senate should not be the one that strikes from the Constitution, Article 15, ratified in 1870 on February 3, 152 years ago.

(Voices are buzzing in the crowd, the tension is thick.)

  1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude
  2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation

(Roars, boos, applause intense, impassioned, vigorous fills the chamnber, I do not believe what I just heard, ladies and gentlemen.)

Is this Senate is this house going to take the responsibility for suppressing  the vote in elections this fall, by ignoring the obscene laws being passed to crush the minority votes across the country?

Ask yourself Republicans who have stood on the side of decency once very long in 1965, can you not summon an ounce of courage to vote to eliminate the filibuster?

Send it to the floor. Let the Senate have its say

Then you all will own it.

There’s a dream I want you to realize tonight.

Better yet all Republicans should vote yes to eliminate the filibuster, then bring the Voting Rights to the floor, with the proviso that the filibuster will be reinstated.

There I have given you a way to do it.

There’s even a greater dream. The Republicans can all vote to eliminate the filibuster and then repudiate the hate I saw in the 1960s by unanimously approving the bill, shaming the two Democrats refusing to vote to preserve voting rights.

(There is awed silence, ladies and gentleman.)

You do not have to be afraid, Republicans and Democrats. It is the easiest and the right way out of this fear of Trump wrath. He has no power unless you give it to him.

You are about to give it to him and endorse a dictatorship. Support for him is make him an overseer, and he will use more than whips. He will suppress the media. He will curtail the internet websites. He will charge reporters with insurrection, or God knows what else. He has already stocked the courts with justices whom I have no faith in because of their lack of reason.

You now have a Supreme Court that has the same reason as the court that made the Dread Scott decision that started the Civil War. We have Court that that restricts appropriate health care for women. You in this body have participate in this courts decisions by not voting legislation overturning the court decisions on women’s help. Yes, you could do that, but you are too afraid.

Right now the man about to turn American into a white plantation who has enslaved you to do his bidding under threat of flogging through his own fixed elections.

You are as enslaved as the blacks of the past.

(A din of angry boos coming from the Republican side of the Senate, ladies and gentlemen, some are walking out. Dr King waiting until the din subsides. He is reaching under the podium, he is withdrawing a book. It is The Bible)

I dream that all 100 of you have a sense –conscience and an awareness of history.

An awareness of the holiness of the vote.

I suggest you listen to your mind tonight the voice within telling you what you should do.  Please do not send America back to repression of the past and pave the way for God knows what.

May the almighty guide your decision.

I know, I KNOW, this dream has to come true, for persons white, Negro, Latino, Indian, Asian, Muslim, Arabic all the citizens and people who are in America because they love what it stands for and will always stand for –for them, not the politicians

Thank you.

Please do your duty!

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MONDAY NIGHT AT 7 WHITE PLAINS WEEK THE JANUARY 12 REPORT WITH JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS ON FIOS COUNTYWIDE CH 45 AND WP OPTIMUM CH 76 AND WORLD WIDE ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

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ANTISEMITISM ON THE COURT–COUNTY EXECUTIVE LATIMER ORGANIZES FORUM ON SECTION I SPORTS BEHAVIOR IN SECTIONALS.

LATEST RESEARCH FINDINGS ON FALL COVID VACCINES FROM DR. KATELYN JETELINA

THE BIG WHITE IS NO PROBLEM FOR WHITE PLAINS DPW…THEN RAIN MOPS IT UP

SALES TAX $$ IN WP AND WESTCHESTER FLAT. COUNTY HAS $23 MILLION DEFICIT.  THE CASE OF THE MISSING INFLATION. 

 

JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS

EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK FOR 23 YEARS

REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW.

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LATEST RESEARCH SHOWS NEW FALL COVID VACCINES EFFECTIVE . “HIGHLY” EFFECTIVE WITH CHILDREN. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CARDIAC ARREST CASES IN CHILDREN. THE MORE SHOTS YOU GET THE MORE YOU ARE PROTECTED. COVID SPREADING FASTER: TRANSMISSION OCCURS WITHIN 1 HOUR

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Si quiere leer la versión en español, pulse aquí.

Covid-19 research roundup: Jan 11

There are several new scientific developments regarding Covid-19 that might be useful to you, given that we are in a big wave right now. Here is a quick research roundup.

(Note: I will dive deeper into long Covid next week. We’ve learned a lot more over the past year. Stay tuned.)

Fall 2023 vaccines are effective

What we know: Recommendations for an updated 2023 Covid-19 vaccine were based on lab and some human data. We didn’t have real-world data or clinical trial efficacy data. (This follows a similar model to the flu.)

New info: Vaccine effectiveness data is rolling in:

  • 70% effectiveness against hospitalization (preprint; Netherlands; among 60+ year-olds previously vaccinated).
  • Another study found significant added protection for (at least) 30 days against emergency department use, outpatient use, and hospitalization. (Kaiser; among those over 18 years.)

Why does this matter? If you’re up-to-date on vaccines, you can be confident it’s providing additional protection.

Vaccines help protect against long covid

What we know: Vaccines have many benefits, including preventing long covid. We didn’t know the incremental benefit of additional doses.

New info: A recent study showed that the more vaccines you get, the less likely you will get long covid. This is called a dose-response relationship: One dose of vaccine reduces risk by 21%, 2 doses reduce by 59%, and 3+ doses reduce by 73%.

Why does it matter? Most people still pay attention to Covid-19 to prevent long covid. Keeping up with vaccines helps a lot.

Children and vaccines

New info: We’ve been lacking real-world effectiveness data among children lately. The evidence is flooding in now. Four recent studies show:

  • Vaccines were highly effective against infection and severe disease across all pandemic periods. Across 4 Nordic countries, for example, there was 73% vaccine effectiveness against severe disease among adolescents. The risk difference was 2 per 10,000 adolescents vaccinated.
  • Vaccines are safe. The rate and cause of sudden cardiac death in young people was not due to vaccines during the pandemic. One study even included autopsy investigations.

Transmission takes hours

New info: Transmission increased linearly by 1% chance per hour. Most transmission resulted from exposures lasting one hour to several days. Households accounted for 6% of contacts but 40% of transmissions.

Figure from Ferretti et al., 2023.. Nature. Source here.

Why does this matter? Transmission = time x proximity. This may help your risk calculations. Quick passersby at a grocery store are far less risky than staying in a house with someone infected.

JN.1 is more severe?

New info: Lab data suggests that JN.1 (the dominant subvariant today) is more severe on a microscopic level than other Omicron variants.

Why does this matter? We don’t know whether this has implications on an individual level (i.e., feeling more crappy). But, it does not seem to affect a population level (hospitalizations are less common than last year). Regardless, it may be worth doubling down on protections right now.

Covid-19 viral load peaking later

What we knew: The virus and our immunity wall have changed significantly over time, which may have implications for antigen testing.

New info: A new study showed that, during the Omicron era, viral load peaked (i.e., had low values in the graph below) on days 3-4. This is very different than the beginning of the pandemic when it peaked at the start of symptoms. (They also looked at the flu, which peaked on days 1-2.)

Original image from Frediani et al., 2023; Annotations by YLE

Why does this matter? You may not reliably test positive on a rapid antigen test until the third, fourth, or even fifth day of symptoms. This raises questions on how best to use tests, too, like with Paxlovid (which needs to be given within 5 days of symptoms) and isolation.

No seasonality?

What we knew: Other viruses are sensitive to temperatures, partially explaining the seasonality patterns of flu and the common cold, for example.

What’s new: A recent animal study suggested SARS-CoV-2 transmission is not driven by temperature or humidity changes. SARS-CoV-2 remains capable of transmission under a variety of temperature and humidity conditions. This is surprising.

Why does this matter? We will likely continue to see multiple waves per year, as human behavior and immune status dominantly determine when we get waves of Covid-19 infection, not the environment.

Bottom line

Although we are four years into this thing, we still learn every day. Yes, science can still help us make better and more informed decisions.

You’re now caught up.

Love, YLE

“Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE)” is written by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, M.P.H. Ph.D.—an epidemiologist, wife. During the day, she is a senior scientific consultant to several organizations, including CDC. At night, she writes this newsletter. Her main goal is to “translate” the ever-evolving public health world so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support this effort, subscribe below:

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IN THE MONEY! $250 MILLION IN BUSINESS AWARDED TO MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN 5 YEARS AFTER LATIMER ADMINISTRATION-ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO PROMOTE WOMENS BUSINESSES.

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Westchester County Executive George Latimer proudly announces a significant achievement in economic empowerment, as the Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) Program has successfully awarded over $250 million in contracts to registered minority and women-owned businesses over the past five years. Under Westchester County’s Office of Economic Development, the MWBE Program helps connect minority and women-own businesses to county departments, contract opportunities and free workshops and training.

Latimer said: “We are thrilled to announce that our MWBE Program has surpassed the $250 million mark in terms of economic impact. This achievement reflects our commitment to creating an inclusive and thriving economic landscape. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain steadfast in our dedication to supporting entrepreneurs and fostering a diverse community where everyone can reach their full potential.”

Relaunched in 2018 as an extension of Westchester County’s commitment to creating a level playing field and helping everyone succeed, the MWBE Program and its goals were strategically reinvented with input from a Task Force Committee to foster the growth and sustainability of businesses led by historically underrepresented entrepreneurs. In 2023 alone, over 150 new MWBE businesses registered with the Westchester County MWBE Program.

Westchester County Director of Operations Joan McDonald said: “Through strategic support, our MWBE program has become a catalyst for innovation and lasting positive change within our vibrant community. Reaching this milestone only reaffirms Westchester’s commitment to cultivating opportunities and diversity.”

Westchester County Office of Economic Director Bridget Gibbons said: “This quarter-billion-dollar infusion has not only fueled economic growth but has also empowered diverse entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, resilience, and a more inclusive business landscape.”

The Minority and Women-Owned Business Program is an excellent resource for minority- and women-owned businesses, which may be just starting out or have long been established in the local economy.

The benefits of registering as a MWBE include having your business listed in the County’s online database and having high visibility to County departments, contractors and anyone interested in doing business with MWBEs. MWBEs also receive notification of contract opportunities and special invitations to workshops, seminars and trainings that are meant to help small businesses succeed.

Director of Minority and Women Owned Business Development Martha Lopez said: “The most important thing is to continue letting those that would qualify as MWBEs know that these contracts and support are available. We know MWBEs are often underserved with limited resources. We want to encourage them and let them know the door to Westchester County is open.”

To learn more or to how to register as a Minority or Women-owned business in Westchester County visit: Westchestercatalyst.com/MWBE

 

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en Español

WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS HOLDS INAUGURATION MEETING
Chooses Leadership for 2024-2025 Term

L-R Bottom Row: Leg. Colin Smith, Leg. Benjamin Boykin, Leg. Erika Pierce, Leg. Nancy Barr,

Leg. Catherine Parker;
Middle Row: Leg. Shanae Williams, Leg. Emiljana Ulaj, Leg. Judah Holstein, Leg. Jewel Williams Johnson,

Leg. David Imamura;


Top Row: Min. Leader Margaret Cunzio, Maj. Whip Terry Clements, Vice Chair Jose Alvarado,

Chair Vedat Gashi, Maj. Leader Tyrae Woodson-Samuels, Min. Whip James Nolan
(Not Pictured Leg. David Tubiolo)

 

The Westchester County Board of Legislators began the 2024-2025 term on Monday night, unanimously re-electing Legislator Vedat Gashi (D- Ossining, New Castle, Somers, Yorktown) as Chair, and electing Legislator Jose I. Alvarado (D – Yonkers) as Vice Chair.

In a ceremony at the Board’s Chamber, all 17 legislators were sworn in by Westchester County Clerk, the Honorable Timothy C. Idoni, including three new legislators beginning their first terms — Legislator Emiljana Ulaj (D – Cortlandt, Ossining, Croton, Briarcliff, Buchanan), Legislator Judah Holstein (D – Eastchester, New Rochelle, Tuckahoe), and Legislator Shanae Williams (D – Yonkers).

The Democratic Majority selected Legislator Tyrae Woodson-Samuels (D – Mount Vernon) as Majority Leader and Legislator Terry Clements (D – New Rochelle, Pelham, Pelham Manor) as Majority Whip.

Legislator Margaret A. Cunzio (C- Mt. Pleasant, North Castle, Pleasantville, Valhalla, Sleepy Hollow, Briarcliff Manor) will continue in her role as Minority Leader, and Legislator James Nolan (R- Bronxville, Yonkers) will continue to serve as Minority Whip.

The Board of Legislators also unanimously elected Sunday Vanderberg to continue in her role as Clerk of the Board.
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WESTCHESTER COVID NEW CASES DECLINE FOR FIRST TIME IN 7 WEEKS

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WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL DOUBLES ADMISSIONS WITH COVID AFTER ADMISSION IN WEEK

WPCNR CORONAVIRUS SURVEILLANCE. Statistics from NY Covid Tracker. Observation & Analysis By John F. Bailey January 10, 2024:

In the week December 29 to January 6, 2,036 Westchester residents tested positive for covid, 155 less than the 2,191 the previous week, down 7%, after 7 weeks of rising cases.

Hospitalizations at White Plains Hospital reported to the state from December 29 through Saturday January 6, of 235 patients admitted to beds, 142 were found to have covid after admission (60%).

The covid infection rate of newly admits December 19 through  December 28, White Plains Hospital admitted 260 persons to beds and found 75 to have covid after admission or 29%. That statistic has now doubled  in one week.

Despite covid infections declining in the county, the onset of more midweek positives is showing just how much faster socialization is spreading the disease.

DEC. 31 TO JAN 6 DAILY INFECTIONS IN

WESTCHESTER COUNTY COVID WEEK DEC 29-JANUARY 6.

SUNDAY: 202

MONDAY: 260

TUESDAY: 426

WEDNESDAY: 278

THURSDAY: 202

FRIDAY: 272

SATURDAY: 196

TOTAL: 2,036

Westchester County in the last 7 days averaged 34 new cases per 100,000 of population a day the 7 days of last week, which multiplied by 10.04 (Westchester population 1,004,0000 means  the county continues to spread more cases each week due to its behavior. If the current new case record a day continues this week  the County will have 2,389 cases this week and if it still continues at  341 a day, that measns 4 weeks of 2,389 cases will mean 9,558 cases by the end of January.

Cases are up in New York City as of Saturday, which reported 1,552 on Saturday alone.

Long Island reported 887. Previously last week Long Island reported 1,101 on Thursday.

The bright spot in last week Covid infections is 1,838 covid positives spread the disease in two weeks to 3,191, which meant that 1 covid infectee spread the disease to 1 other person. This could mean people are behaving more conscientiously in socializing.

It could be the start of a January decline.

The 3 day delay in covid reporting is caused by the lag in reporting results by the Health Department assembly of statistics.

The Mid-Hudson Region had 744 new covid infectionsThursday and on Saturday, 341. Westchester leads the other 6 counties in covid infections.

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STORM WARNING TUESDAY 4 P.M. EST: RAIN HEAVY AT TIMES TONIGHT THROUGH DAWN. WINDS 25 TO 35 KNOTS GUSTS TO 50. COUNTY EXECUTIVE WEATHER BRIEFING FROM YESTERDAY ADDED.

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The Weather Channel is warning waterfront communities on the Hudson River and eastward from the Long Island Sound to Peconic Bay  and the southern ocean front beaches ON LONG ISLAND from Coney Island  to Montauk of high tides at 6 PM and 6 A.M. Wednesday morning that may rise 5 feet along both or higher  shores of the Hudson River.

A storm warning has been issued.  Vessels are encouraged  to stay in port, and lash secure in harbors; put in slack lines to ride out the tides. And put out bumpers on vessels’ sides.

Drivers of motor vehicles will encounter possible flooding throughout the area and the usual highways and main routes are expected to flood due to already melted snow. Avoid entering flooded areas where depth is unknown.

Power outages expected.  As of 4 PM it is 41 degrees in White Plains with light rain, expected to heavy up!

 

 

WEATHER ADVISORY

Heavy Rain and High Winds Predicted
Tuesday, January 9 through Wednesday, January 10

A Major Storm System is predicted for our region from tonight into Wednesday evening, with more than 4 inches of rain and wind gusts up to 55 mph.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for our area, including the following warnings:

  • Flood Watch – 6 PM tonight to 6 PM on Wednesday, January 10
  • Wind Advisory – 6 PM tonight to 6 AM on Wednesday, January 10

Please be prepared for potential flooding and power outages. For your safety and that of our first responders, stay off the roads to the extent possible.

Also note that several local schools, government offices, and recreational departments have suspended their activities this afternoon and evening. Please check ahead for cancellations in your area.

###

 County Executive George Latimer Gives Westchester Weekly Update with weather related preparedness information as of yesterday 2 PM

 

Watch full briefing HERE.
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A WHOLE LOT OF SICKNESS GOING ON. COVID “HIGH,” “INCREASING,” COVID LEADS IN SERIOUSNESS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS SPREAD. COVID VACCINE COVERAGE IS LESS THAN HALF OF FLU. FLU SLOWING DOWN

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State of Affairs: Jan 9

A whole lot of sickness out there

Oof, we are coming out of the holidays, and there is a lot of sickness out there. Here is your state of affairs.

Source: André-Philippe Côté

Influenza-like illnesses: Very high

The climate of respiratory health in the United States (coined “influenza-like illnesses” by CDC) is very high. Over the holidays, exponential growth finally kicked into gear. Today, about 1 of 14 visits to the doctor are for fever, cough, or sore throat. This may be peaking soon, but we often see two or three humps thereafter.

Outpatient Respiratory Illness Visits (Source: CDC; Annotated by YLE)

Flu accounts for most of the symptom burden, as indicated by emergency department visits and test positivity rates.

Emergency Department Visits for Viral Respiratory Illness. (Source CDC; Annotations by YLE)

However, Covid-19 continues to take the lead for severe disease as indicated by hospitalizations and deaths. (Note: I roughly drew in RSV rates below, as CDC continues to keep these data separate.)

Hospitalization rates reported per 100,000 population. (Source: CDC; Annotations and RSV data added by YLE)

The vaccination disparity is still staggering, with Covid-19 vaccine coverage less than half that of the flu. Even more concerning: only 1 in 3 nursing home residents are up-to-date on Covid-19 vaccines, which is just unacceptable at this point.

Cumulative percent of adults vaccinated with COVID-19 (18+ years), influenza (18+ years), or RSV (60+ years) vaccine. (Source: CDC; Annotated by YLE)

Here is your deeper dive into the “big three.”

Covid-19: High and increasing

Wastewater levels—one of the earliest indicators of community transmission—are “very high.” Levels today are 27% higher than last winter and have yet to slow down. This is, in part, thanks to the JN.1 subvariant taking dominance quickly.

It’s incredibly difficult to predict peaks, but some models predict Covid-19 transmission will peak in the next two weeks. Many European countries have already peaked.

Wastewater SARS-CoV-2 viral activity level on a national level (Source: CDC; Annotations by YLE)

According to wastewater dashboards, this is the second-highest Covid-19 wave ever, behind only the original Omicron tsunami. A few pieces of nuance are needed, though:

  1. We don’t know the number of cases. This is a known limitation of wastewater: There is no consensus on a direct comparison between wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentration and clinical case numbers.
  2. We don’t know if wastewater is comparable over time. The virus has substantially changed, including viral load. Also, wastewater surveillance coverage has significantly increased (almost none in March 2020 to more than 1,400 sites now). Wastewater is probably comparable throughout the Omicron era. However, are levels today comparable with Delta, or Alpha, or the original Wuhan strain? We don’t know.
  3. Infections and severe disease keep diverging thanks to our immunity wall. Hospitalizations are also increasing but now 22% lower than last winter, undoubtedly helping stressed healthcare systems.

COVID-19 Hospitalization Rates per 100,000 United States. (Source CDC; Annotated by YLE.)

Hospitalizations are still driven by those over 60 years old and those not up-to-date with vaccinations.

Weekly Covid-19 Hospitalizations, by age (Source: CDC; Annotated by YLE)

Is the reduction in hospitalizations (compared to wastewater) due to a change in reporting? Maybe a little, but not enough to account for the big difference:

  1. There was no change in hospital reporting at the end of the emergency. This is supposed to end in April 2024, but I’m crossing my fingers that reporting will continue.
  2. Routine admission testing has changed, but only slightly since last year. The most change had already occurred by last winter. This means last winter (and this winter) are likely “good enough” to compare.

Flu: High but slowing down

Flu exploded during the holidays but seems to be slowing down, as shown in the positive tests below.

About 20,000 people (22 per 100,000) were hospitalized for flu last week. This is about on track for a “typical” flu season, thanks to our flu vaccines being a good match this year.

RSV: Declining

RSV is still around, but activity is declining. Hospitalizations lag cases, but pediatric severe diseases have peaked, and adults should follow soon. If trends continue, this year will be less severe than last, thanks to RSV immunity lasting a few years.

Weekly rates of RSV hospital admissions by age. (Source CDC)

Other things to pay attention to

  • A measles outbreak in Philadelphia. In addition to the index case, 5 locally acquired cases have been identified. Of those, 4 were hospitalized. All were unvaccinated.
  • Norovirus (think vomiting and diarrhea) continues to go up and up. Wash those hands.
  • Missing work because of sickness remains higher than in pre-pandemic times, but not as high as we saw throughout the emergency.
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Bottom line

There are a lot of sick people out there. Other than Covid-19 infections, this winter seems to largely mirror last year. Is this our new normal? Probably, which is bad news for hospitals, parents’ sanity, and overall quality of life during winter.

It’s not too late to get vaccinated—even if things start to peak, we are only halfway through the journey. I continue to wear that mask in crowded indoor areas; it will help.

Love, YLE

“Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE)” is written by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, M.P.H. Ph.D.—an epidemiologist, wife. During the day, she is a senior scientific consultant to several organizations. At night, she writes this newsletter. Her main goal is to “translate” the ever-evolving public health world so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support this effort, subscribe below:

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