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THE CORONAVIRUS THIRD WAVE CONTINUES: STATEWIDE POSITIVES ON THE 9TH 3.5%. WESTCHESTER POSITIVES ON THE 9TH, 3% OF THOSE TESTED FOR 2ND STRAIGHT DAY- 161 NEW CASES. WESTCHESTER INFECTION RATE AHEAD OF MANHATTAN (2%) , EVEN WITH BROOKLYN (3.1%) EVEN WITH QUEENS (3%) BEHIND NASSAU(4%), SUFFOLK (4.7%), RICHMOND (4.5%)
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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS MONITOR. August 10, 2021: From the New York State Coronavirus Tracker with Observations by John Bailey. August 10, 2021:
New York State tested over 91,000 persons across New York Monday and 3-1/2% (3,222) showed positive with coronavirus. That is high spread and spreading higher. The area outside New York City is spreading at a 3.4% rate so Coronavirus infections are spreading statewide at an ominious rate.
In Westchester County the third wave continued relentlessly maintaining momentum: 161 persons of 5,404 tested in Westchester County turned positive for coronavirus sending the Westchester infection rate for Monday up to 3% of those tested yesterday for the second straight day.
The upshot is that in 10 to 14 days those 161 persons testing positive in Westchester in one day may pass the virus to 1,227 other people based on the Johns Hopkins metrics of the virus spread. The county is now facing a series of new cases of about 1,000 or more a day in two weeks . You could see more than 7,000 infections a week in two weeks at this exponential rate of spread.
The legislature and the Governor (on his way out) and the Lieutenant Governor-soon-to-be Governor Kathy Hochul have to make some hard decisions about schools, vaccinations, and gatherings going into the Labor Day Weekend and the religious holy days now in view of this spread in Westchester, New York City and Long Island. Westchester infections are coming very close to NY City infection rates.
Westchester County is ahead of Manhattan 3% infections vs. 2%; behind Nassau County with 4% infections; trailing Suffolk with 4.7% infections; behind Richmond County 4.5%; EVEN with Queens at 3%; and JUST ABOUT EVEN WITH KINGS (BROOKLYN) AT 3.1%. Westchester I believe has never been this close to New York City in infection rates.
It is significant that the 2nd wave coronavirus began in Westchester in January and lasted 4 months and now a third wave has taken place after the July 4th weekend getting into high gear the last two weeks
Hopefully the New York State Covid Tracker will not be discontinued when Governor Cuomo’s resignation takes effect.
It is the only reliable daily monitor of the coronavirus cases, despite its very concerning news.
UP FROM AVERAGE OF 2.5% LAST WEEK–SEE BELOW
Governor Cuomo’s Resignation Address This Morning:
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Good morning. Let me begin by thanking Rita Glavin for that powerful presentation. I’d like to address several issues today. First, I’ve always started by telling New Yorkers the facts before my opinion. So let’s start New York tough with the truth.
The attorney general did a report on complaints made against me by certain women for my conduct. The report said I sexually harassed 11 women. That was the headline people heard and saw and reacted to. The reaction was outrage. It should have been. However, it was also false. My lawyers, as you just heard from Rita Glavin, have reviewed the report over the past several days and have already raised serious issues and flaws that should concern all New Yorkers because when there is a bias or a lack of fairness in the justice system, it is a concern for everyone, not just those immediately affected.
The most serious allegations made against me had no credible factual basis in the report. And there is a difference between alleged improper conduct and concluding sexual harassment. Now, don’t get me wrong, this is not to say that there are not 11 women who I truly offended. There are. And for that I deeply, deeply apologize.
I thought a hug and putting my arm around a staff person while taking a picture was friendly, but she found it to be too forward. I kissed a woman on the cheek at a wedding and I thought I was being nice, but she felt that it was too aggressive. I have slipped and called people honey, sweetheart and darling. I meant it to be endearing, but women found it dated and offensive. I said on national TV to a doctor wearing PPE and giving me a Covid nasal swab, “You make that gown look good.” I was joking, obviously, otherwise I wouldn’t have said it on national TV. But she found it disrespectful. I take full responsibility for my actions.
I have been too familiar with people. My sense of humor can be insensitive and off-putting. I do hug and kiss people casually, women and men. I have done it all my life. It’s who I’ve been since I can remember. In my mind, I’ve never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn’t realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn. There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate, and I should have. No excuses.
The report did bring to light a matter that I was not aware of and that I would like to address. A female trooper relayed a concern that she found disturbing, and so do I. Please let me provide some context. The governor’s trooper detail had about 65 troopers on it, but of the 65 only six women and nine Black troopers. I’m very proud of the diversity of my administration. It’s more diverse than any administration in history. And I’m very proud of the fact that I have more women in senior positions than any governor before me.
The lack of diversity on the state police detail was an ongoing disappointment for me. In many ways, the governor’s detail is the face of state government that people see. When I attend an event, people see the detail that’s with me. I was continuously trying to recruit more to diversify. On one occasion, I met two female troopers who were on duty at an event. Both seemed competent and impressive, and I asked the state police to see if they were interested in joining. I often meet people, men and women, and if they show promise, I refer them to be interviewed. The state police handled the interviewing and the hiring, and one of the two troopers eventually joined the detail. I got to know her over time, and she’s a great professional, and I would sometimes banter with her when we were in the car. We spent a lot of time driving around the state. This female trooper was getting married, and I made some jokes about the negative consequences of married life. I meant it to be humorous. She was offended, and she was right.
The trooper also said that in an elevator I touched her back and when I was walking past her in a doorway I touched her stomach. Now I don’t recall doing it, but if she said I did it, I believe her. At public events, troopers will often hold doors open or guard the doorways. When I walk past them, I often will give them a grip of the arm, a pat on face, a touch on the stomach, a slap on the back. It’s my way of saying, ‘I see you. I appreciate you, and I thank you.’ I’m not comfortable just walking past and ignoring them. Of course, usually they are male troopers. In this case, I don’t remember doing it at all. I didn’t do it consciously with the female trooper. I did not mean any sexual connotation. I did not mean any intimacy by it. I just wasn’t thinking. It was totally thoughtless in the literal sense of the word, but it was also insensitive. It was embarrassing to her, and it was disrespectful. It was a mistake, plain and simple. I have no other words to explain it. I want to personally apologize to her and her family. I have the greatest respect for her and for the New York State Police.
Now, obviously, in a highly political matter like this, there are many agendas and there are many motivations at play. If anyone thought otherwise, they would be naive, and New Yorkers are not naive. But I want to thank the women who came forward with sincere complaints. It’s not easy to step forward, but you did an important service, and you taught me and you taught others an important lesson: personal boundaries must be expanded and must be protected. I accept full responsibility.
Part of being New York tough is being New York smart. New York smart tells us that this situation and moment are not about the facts. It’s not about the truth. It’s not about thoughtful analysis. It’s not about how do we make the system better. This is about politics, and our political system today is too often driven by the extremes. Rashness has replaced reasonableness. Loudness has replaced soundness. Twitter has become the public square for policy debate. There is an intelligent discussion to be had on gender-based actions on generational and cultural behavioral differences on setting higher standards and finding reasonable resolutions. But the political environment is too hot and it is too reactionary for that now, and it is unfortunate.Sign up for the New York Today Newsletter Each morning, get the latest on New York businesses, arts, sports, dining, style and more. Get it sent to your inbox.
Now, you know me. I’m a New Yorker, born and bred. I am a fighter, and my instinct is to fight through this controversy because I truly believe it is politically motivated. I believe it is unfair and it is untruthful, and I believe that it demonizes behavior that is unsustainable for society. If I could communicate the facts through the frenzy, New Yorkers would understand. I believe that, but when I took my oath as governor, then it changed. I became a fighter, but I became a fighter for you, and it is your best interests that I must serve. This situation by its current trajectory will generate months of political and legal controversy. That is what is going to happen. That is how the political wind is blowing. It will consume government. It will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. It will brutalize people.
The State Assembly yesterday outlined weeks of process that will then lead to months of litigation, time and money that government should spend managing Covid, guarding against the Delta variant, reopening upstate, fighting gun violence and saving New York City. All that time would be wasted. This is one of the most challenging times for government in a generation. Government really needs to function today. Government needs to perform. It is a matter of life and death — government operations, and wasting energy on distractions is the last thing that state government should be doing. And I can not be the cause of that.
New York tough means New York loving, and I love New York, and I love you. And everything I have ever done has been motivated by that love. And I would never want to be unhelpful in any way. And I think that given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing. And, therefore, that’s what I’ll do because I work for you, and doing the right thing is doing the right thing for you. Because as we say, “It’s not about me. It’s about we.”
Kathy Hochul, my lieutenant governor, is smart and competent. This transition must be seamless. We have a lot going on. I’m very worried about the Delta variant, and so should you be. But she can come up to speed quickly. And my resignation will be effective in 14 days.
To my team: Melissa DeRosa, Robert Mujica, Beth Garvey, Stephanie Benton, Dana Carotenuto, Kelly Cummings, Rich Azzopardi, Howard Zucker, Rick Cotton, Janno Lieber, Jack Davies and the hundreds of dedicated administration officials. I want to say this: Thank you. Thank you. And be proud. We made New York state the progressive capital of the nation. No other state government accomplished more to help people. And that is what it’s all about.
Just think about what we did. We passed marriage equality, creating a new civil right. Legalized love for the L.G.B.T.Q. community and we generated a force for change that swept the nation. We passed the SAFE Act years ago, the smartest gun safety law in the United States of America, and it banned the madness of assault weapons. We’ve saved countless lives with that law. Fifteen dollar minimum wage, the highest minimum wage in the nation, lifting millions of families’ standard of living, putting more food on the table and clothes on their backs. And we led the nation in economic justice with that reform. We have managed every emergency mother nature could throw at us: fires, floods, hurricanes, super storms and pandemics.
We balanced the state budget and we got it done on time, more than any other administration because government should work and perform. Free college tuition for struggling families. Nobody in the state will be denied their college dreams because of their income. We have built new airports, rail, transit, roads, all across this state, faster and better than ever before, and more than any state in the nation. The most effective green economy program in the nation. We did more for Black and Latino families than any other administration. We did more for working families. We did more for our union brothers and sisters. We did more to battle racism and anti-Semitism.
Today so much of the politics is just noise, just static, and that’s why people tune it out. What matters is actually improving people’s lives, and that’s what you did. You made this state a better state for the generations that follow, and that is undeniable, inarguable and true, even in these ugly, crazy times.
I thank Speaker Carl Heastie and Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for their leadership. And let me say this on a personal note. In many ways, I see the world through the eyes of my daughters, Cara, Mariah and Michaela. They are 26 and 26, twins, and 23. And I have lived this experience with and through them. I have sat on the couch with them, hearing the ugly accusations for weeks. I’ve seen the look in their eyes, and the expression on their faces, and it hurt. I want my three jewels to know this. My greatest goal is for them to have a better future than the generations of women before them.
It is still in many ways a man’s world. It always has been. We have sexism that is culturalized and institutionalized. My daughters have more talent and natural gifts than I ever had. I want to make sure that society allows them to fly as high as their wings will carry them. There should be no assumptions, no stereotypes, no limitations. I want them to know from the bottom of my heart that I never did and I never would intentionally disrespect a woman or treat any woman differently than I would want them treated. And that is the God’s honest truth. Your dad made mistakes, and he apologized, and he learned from it. And that’s what life is all about.
And I know the political process is flawed. And I understand their cynicism and distrust and disappointment now. But don’t give it up. Because government is still the best vehicle for making positive social change.
Lastly, I want to remind all New Yorkers of an important lesson and one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and that’s what you New Yorkers did in battling Covid. The enemy landed in New York State. Covid launched the attack here. It came on planes from Europe, and we had no idea. It was an ambush. And it was up to New Yorkers to fight back. We were on our own, and it was war.
Nurses, doctors, essential workers became our front line heroes. Hospitals became the battlegrounds. Streets were still, and sirens filled the city’s silence. Trailers carried the bodies of our fallen brothers and sisters. But you refused to give up, and you fought back, and you won, going from the highest infection rate in the nation to one of the lowest. No one thought we could do it. But you did it. You led the nation, and you showed the way forward. And how you did it is what’s most important. You did it together, not as Black New Yorkers or white New Yorkers, not as L.G.B.T.Q. New Yorkers or straight New Yorkers, or Democrats or Republicans, or upstate or downtstate, or Jewish, Muslim, Protestant or Catholic New Yorkers, but as one community, one family, the family of New York. You overcame the naysayers and the haters and the fear and the division. And you unified, and you rose and you overcame.
And you saved lives. And that was powerful in its effect. It was beautiful to see. And it was an honor to lead. Please remember that lesson. Hold it dear and hold it up high for this nation to see because it is New York State at her finest, creating her legacy, fulfilling her destiny, giving life an animation to the lady in the harbor, saying “excelsior we can be better. We can reach higher.” And proclaiming, E Pluribus Unum. Out of many one. unity, community, love. That is our founding premise, and our enduring promise. And that is the salvation of this nation that it so desperately needs to hear. Thank you for the honor of serving you. It has been the honor of my lifetime. God bless you.
CUOMO RESIGNS. EFFECTIVE IN 14 DAYS. KATHY HOCHUL TO SUCCEED HIM, COMPLETE REST OF TERM.
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ASSEMBLYMAN CHRIS BURDICK OF THE 93RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT ISSUED THIS STATEMENT:
Assemblymember Chris Burdick issued the following statement regarding the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo:
“I am pleased that Governor Cuomo has done the right thing for the people of New York and tendered his resignation, effective in 14 days. This is a sad turn of events for our state, but I am relieved that the Governor has recognized that the needs of New Yorkers must come first.
I have great confidence in Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and know New York will be in capable hands as she leads our state through this difficult period.”
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN–BE A PART OF IT-WHITE PLAINS, WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK! NEW YORK!
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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From the Rosedale Residential Association. August 10, 2021:
Greetings RRA Neighbors,
The RRA and many other neighborhoods have been working with the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) to push for a new or drastically updated city-wide Comprehensive Plan.
The RRA and other WPCNA members are in favor of beginning the planning process immediately. We are also supporting a plan that positively addresses our city’s continually changing socio-economic demographics and a plan that addresses the post COVID-19 economic realities that White Plains will be dealing with for the foreseeable future.
Our neighborhood is advocating to be a part of the planning process from the very beginning and wants to be regular and active participants until the plan is complete. We have shared our neighborhood visions with our elected officials and now we have to ensure that the city incorporates our visions into the plan as much as possible.
Though the RRA and the other members of the WPCNA are hoping to work with the city in a much closer capacity, the city has created a schedule for a public Comprehensive Plan Listening Tour. These listening sessions will hopefully offer great opportunities outside of the RRA’s endeavors to provide feedback on plans that effect both the RRA and the entire city. We hope that you will be a part of the planning process that will likely shape the character of our individual neighborhoods and our city for years to come.
If you have any questions please go to https://one-white-plains-comprehensive-plan-1-wp-planning.hub.arcgis.com/ or feel free to reach out to us at wprra@yahoo.com.
We also encourage you to urge the Mayor and the Common Council to reengage with the WPCNA over the next several years throughout the planning process. Our elected officials’ active participation in the WPCNA is critical to ensuring our collective associations play an active role in the planning process and so that our voices are heard on the topics that are important to us.
Mayor Thomas Roach
troach@whiteplainsny.gov
mayorsoffice@whiteplainsny.gov
Justin Brasch
jbrasch@whiteplainsny.gov
braschlaw@aol.com
Nadine Hunt-Robinson
nhrobinson@whiteplainsny.gov
nadine.hunt.robinson@gmail.com
John Kirkpatrick
jkirkpatrick@whiteplainsny.gov
John M. Martin
jmartin@whiteplainsny.gov
Jennifer Puja
jlpuja@whiteplainsny.gov
Victoria Presser
vpresser@whiteplainsny.gov
SEPT. 1: BACK TO SCHOOL FORUM WITH DR. JOSEPH RICCA ON ZOOM
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Back to School: Alleviating Anxiety & Concerns Last year was, to put it mildly, obviously a not-as-expected school year. While things are hopefully looking better for the coming year, you and your children may have some concerns. On Wednesday, September 1st at 7:00 p.m., a panel of childcare and School District professionals will be on-hand to answer questions and discuss what to expect in this school year. Please submit your questions using our form here. Note: the panel will not be able to answer questions specific to individual children or families during the program. Join the program and our panelists on Zoom Wednesday, September 1st at 7:00 p.m. here. A Spanish language translator will be present during the Zoom program. Thank you to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for providing translation services.Submit your questions here!  This program is made possible with support from:   |
THE JOHN BAILEY WHITE PLAINS REPORT ON WVOX THIS MORNING’S DENNIS AND TONNY “GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER” TRANSCRIPT
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appears weekly live at 7:50 AM on the Dennis and Tonny “Good Morning Westchester”
program on WVOX 1460 AM and worldwide on wvox.com
“THERE’S A CONCERN IN WHITE PLAINS ABOUT THE ALMOST MONTHLY APPEARANCES OF “POP UP DEVELOPMENTS” IN WHITE PLAINS.
IT SEEMS THAT DEVELOPERS PRESENT DEVELOPMENTS PRIVATELY TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATION AND IF THE ADMINISTRATION LIKES IT, THE DEVELOPERS COME IN TO A COMMON COUNCIL WORK SESSION ONE WEEK BEFORE THE COMMON COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING AND IT IS PRESENTED, AND BEGINS TO WORK ITS WAY TOWARD APPROVAL.
“THIS HAS LED TO A CITY OF IDOL CRANES, STALLED PROJECTS. THE UPSHOT IS THERE ARE ABOUT 9 PROJECTS APPROVED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS THAT THE CITIZENS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CONSISTENTLY SURPRISED AT. AND IMMMEDIATELY OBJECT TO. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS MODUS OPERANDI HAPPENS IN HARRISON OR NEW ROCHELLE ESSENTIALLY PRE-APPROVED DEVELOPmEMTS WHICH SAIL THROUGH , SITE PLANS APPROVED WITH LITTLE QUESTIONING BY AN UN-INVOLVED, UNQUESTIONING COMMON COUNCIL
“I WAS APPROACHED YESTERDAY BY A CITIZEN WHO HAS WATCHED THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND SHE IS TIRED OF IT. SHE IS PLANNING TO PUT TOGETHER AN OVERALL MAP SHOWING APPROVED PROJECTS SO CITIZENS AND NEIGHBORHOODS CAN SEE WHAT DEVELOPMENTS ARE IS ALREADY ON THE BOARDS.
“SHE CONTACTED ME YESTERDAY AND POINTED OUT THERE IS NO OVERALL MAP ON THE CITY WEBSITE THAT SHOWS THE STATE OF COMPREHENSIVE THOROUGH ENCROACHMENT OF NEW PROJECTS ON AN OVERHEAD MAP.
“THERE ARE PICTURES OF PROJECTS BU T THERE IS NO IN YOUR FACE “HERE’S WHAT’S BEING DEVELOPED IN WHITE PLAINS OVER NEXT 5 YEARS MAP” THAT SHOWS YOU THE SPREAD OF DEVELOPMENT IN WHOLE CITY PERSPECTIVE.
“THE EFFECT OF THIS CLANDESTINE DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATIONS IS THAT NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE LITTLE COURSE BUT TO SUE TO STOP DEVELOPMENTS AS THE GEDNEY ASSOCIATION DID AND THAT IS STILL BEING HELD IN ABEYANCE IN THE APPELLATE COURT.
“THE CITY SOLUTION TO THIS AFTER OR BEFORE DEVELOPMENTS ARE APPROVED IS FOR DEVELOPERS TO SMOOZE THE NEIGHORHOODS AND MAKE COSMETIC CONCESSIONS.
“THE EFFORT BY THIS CONCERNED CITIZEN IS TO GO TO EACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND WORK TO DEVELOP A MAP OF EACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND SHOW THE ENCROACHMENT OR THE ADDITION OF PRESENTLY APPROVED DEVELOPMENTS IN VARIOUS AREAS WE WILL SEE HOW THIS PROGRESSES.
THE VAN GOGH EXHIBITION AT SOUTH STREET SEAPORT IS LIKE WATCHING HIM PAINT. YOU FEEL THE POWER OF HIS STROKES, AND ENJOY THE SCOPE OF HIS PAINTINGS COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY.
“I WENT IN TO NEW YORK CITY SATURDAY TO SEE THE VAN GOGH SPECTACULAR VISUAL PRESENTATION OF VINCENT VAN GOGH’S MASTERPIECES IN A MESMERIZING AMAZING ANIMATED VISUAL EVOLUTION OF THE MASTER’S WORK.
“I WITHOUT RESERVATION RECOMMEND THIS SHOW. IT THROUGH ITS TECHNIQUE OF VIDEO VISUALLY TURNING ONE PAINTING INTO ANOTHER MAGICALLY TRANSFORMING AND MAKING YOU FEEL THE BOLD BRUSH STROKES IN VINCENT’S VOLUPTUOUS COMMANDING STYLE AS HE CREATED THEM, WHICH GIVES YOU A THRILLING INSIDE FEEL FOR THE ARTIST’S WORK ACCENTUATING THEIR POWER.
THE PARKING IS EASY. THE PEOPLE ATTENDING THE SHOW WERE MESMERIZED OFTEN STAYING FOR THREE SHOWINGS….THEY TOOK PICTURES WATCHED PAINTINGS COME ALIVE AND THEY ALL WORE MASKS
” SPEAKING OF MASKS –AFTERWARDS OUR FRIENDS AND I WENT OVER INTO THE VILLAGE TO HAVE DINNER AND AT THE FIRST RESTAURANT WE SELECTED THE HOSTESS ASKED FOR PROOF OF VACCINATION.
“I REALIZED I DID NOT HAVE MINE AND THE HOSTESS SAID SHE WOULD NOT ADMIT ME TO THE RESTAURANT.
WE WENT TO ANOTHER RESTAURANT AND THE HOST DID NOT ASK FOR PROOF OF VACCINATION. SO THIS POINTS OUT THAT FOLKS NEED TO BE ASKED FOR THE VACCINATION PROOF FOR THIS MAYOR DIBLASIO REGULATION TO BE EFFECTIVE WHEN IT GOES INTO LAW MED-MONTH
I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE STREET SCENE—IN THE AFTERNOON THERE WAS MORE MASKING ON THE STREETS. BUT AFTER DARK WHEN THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS WERE OUT AND ABOUT THERE WAS NOT MUCH MASKING AT ALL. THE RECOVERY WAS LIKE OLD TIMES IN MY OPINION IF YOU MEASURE STREET TRAFFIC.
COVID NEW CASES ALMOST DOUBLE FROM LAST WEEK. 1,209 NEW CASES IN WESTCHESTER AUG 1ST TO AUG 8, UP FROM 786 NEW CASES JULY 25 TO JULY 31. THE 7 DAY INFECTION RATE – 2.5% – COULD MEAN 8,463 NEW CASES IN 14 DAYS
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WPCNR CORONA VIRUS REPORT (REVISED). From the NYS Covid Tracker with analysis by John F. Bailey. August 9, 2021 UPDATED 6:11 pm EDT:
The New York State Covid Tracker figures for Sunday August 8 are in. The seven days from Sunday August 1 to Sunday Aug 8, report 1,209 persons tested of 48389 tested tested positive for Covid,
That computes to a new infection rate of 2.5%. In 10 to 14 days, using the Johns Hopkins infection model that shows 1 newly infected covid person spreads the disease to 7 persons this could mean that those unfortunate 1,209 persons could infect 8,463 other persons in the county.
The County Executive George Latimer today reported there were 51 new hospitalizations Monday, as opposed to 25 last week. County Commissioner of Health Dr. Sherlita Amler made a brief statement that all of the new hospitalizations the week of July 25-31 “are among the unvaccinated. “
Dr. Amler said largest number of persons coming down with the disease are aged 30 50 and the second largest were aged 16-25. She said the surest way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated edition of an earlier report, that contained a mathematical error.
NEW COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS IN LAST TWO WEEKS–HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED: County Health Commissioner Tells Ages and Vaccination Status of the new County Hospitalizations for Covid in Last Two Weeks–Latest hospitalizations: 51. Dir of Disease Control Warns Children’s Protection from Covid, Depends on Adults’ Decisions. No Under-12 Covid Vaccines Until January. COUNTY EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE ON THE SPREAD IN TODAY’S COVID BRIEFING.
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DR. DIAL HEWLETT, ON CHILDREN UNDER 12 AT RISK
THE HEAT IS BACK ON! DR. SHERLITA AMLER ISSUES HEAT ADVISORY FOR WESTCHESTER NEXT 4 DAYS TEMPERATURES IN HIGH 90S TO 105
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A heat wave is expected to hit Westchester County Tuesday through Friday, with temperatures ranging from the mid-90s to 105, and humidity making it feel even hotter than the thermometer reads.
These heat wave conditions could last into Saturday.
With such high temperatures expected, the Westchester County Health Department is issuing a heat advisory. As humidity and temperatures rise, residents should avoid strenuous activity, drink lots of water, avoid alcohol and caffeine and cool off to prevent heat-related illness.
“Pace yourself — don’t overdo it in the heat,” said County Executive George Latimer. “If you spend a lot of time outdoors, take breaks in an air-conditioned place and drink lots of water. And during a heat wave, remember to always check in on your elderly or ailing neighbors.”
Sherlita Amler, MD, Westchester County Commissioner of Health, said people who are most vulnerable to adverse effects from the heat include the very young, seniors, people who are obese and those with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or lung conditions.
“By now we should all know what to do, but heat stroke and dehydration can take you by surprise,” Amler said. “High humidity, chronic health conditions and some medications can also increase a person’s risk for heat stroke.”
Heat stroke
is a serious and life-threatening condition that claims many lives nationwide each year. Symptoms include hot red, dry skin, shallow breathing, a rapid, weak pulse and confusion. Anyone suffering from heat stroke needs to receive emergency medical treatment immediately. Call 911 if you suspect heat stroke and immediately cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency help to arrive.
Amler reminded residents never to leave children, pets or people in a car. Temperatures can quickly rise to unsafe levels, so motorists should always look before they lock their vehicles.
“To avoid tragedy, it’s also vital to never leave infants, children, seniors or pets in a closed car no matter how brief the time,” Amler said. “Closed vehicles can quickly heat up to a life-threatening 140º F or more.”
Heat exhaustion.
Seniors, young children, people who are overweight or who have high blood pressure, people who work outside or in other hot environments are most at risk. Frequent breaks and drinking lots of water can help prevent heat exhaustion. Signs include headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness and exhaustion, as well as cool, moist, pale or flushed skin. Anyone suffering from heat exhaustion should move out of the sun and apply cool, wet cloths to their skin.
“During a heat wave, seniors, young children and people with compromised immunity especially should avoid vigorous outdoor activity, seek the shade, spend time in air-conditioned locations and drink lots of water throughout the day,” Amler said. “Especially when they’re swimming and playing in the water, children often forget to drink, so parents and caregivers should prompt children to take breaks to hydrate.”
Those who plan to travel by car should prepare their vehicle before hitting the road. Always travel with a spare battery, and avoid leaving radios, phone chargers and other accessories running when the engine is not. Check to make sure your air conditioning is properly functioning and coolant is at the proper level. If you plan to travel in less populated areas, bring water and an umbrella for shade if it becomes necessary to leave the car. Always keep air flowing throughout the vehicle, and try to park in the shade.
For tips to prevent heat-related illness and places to stay cool, residents can visit the Health Department website at www.westchestergov.com/health.
Residents who need a place to cool off can go to an indoor mall. Senior centers, libraries and community centers often serve as cooling centers, but call before you go.
Elevated heat and humidity can also lead to unhealthy levels of ozone, a gas produced by the action of sunlight on organic air contaminants from auto exhaust and other sources. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forecasts daily ozone conditions at (http://www.dec.ny.gov), or call the New York State Air Quality Hotline at 1-800-535-1345.
The County’s Department of Emergency Services is monitoring the weather forecast, tracking the opening of local Cooling Centers and is in contact with Con Edison and NYSEG concerning the potential for power outages.
For tips to prevent heat-related illness and places to stay cool, residents can visit the Health Department website at www.westchestergov.com/health.