WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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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. 

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WPCNR COVID VIRUS REPORT. By John F. Bailey (Analysis of the New York State Covid Tracker.) August 5, 2021:

Westchester County Covid infection rate Wedneday continued rising at an over 2% rate (2.6% of those tested) as are the New York State covid numbers

Official figures on the number of new cases in Westchester County have not reported a breakdown how many are suffering from the Delta variant , now officially being blamed by the county for the Third Covid Wave that washed over Westchester in the last 11 days.

As the Delta variant of Covid continues it was reported by the Center for Disease Control today that as of July 31 5 days ago, the Delta variant has infected 93% of all new covid cases nationwide.

The CDC notes today that 99% of the Delta Variant cases were persons who had not been vaccinated.

The CDC reported that the Covid Delta variant has caused 97% of hospitalizations from covid.

In a related matter, today Dr. Howard Zucker, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health said under the lifting of the State of Emergency in New York decisions on how to open schools were now solely in the hands of the school districts across the state.

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WPCNR CUOMO CRISIS UPDATE. From wire reports. August 5, 2021:

The New York Times reported Thursday morning the New York State Assembly may not officially take a vote on whether or not to impeach Governor Andrew M. Cuomo until after it completes its Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment on the part of the Governor, supported by State Attorney General Letitia James Tuesday.

The newspaper report this morning reported a projected timetable that would not start a State Senate trial of the Governor should the assembly vote to impeach him in early September until possibly October. The State Senate has 30 to 60 days to act and begin the trial of Governor Cuomo if impeached, which would place the start of the proceedings to try him that could begin as late as the week before elections.

The Times also reported that no lawsuits by any of the 11 women named in the state investigation report released Tuesday, conducted by State Attorney General Letitia James into the Governor’s alleged actions, have yet to be filed with District Attorneys, though the Albany County District Attorney is quoted by the Times as saying his office has attempted to reach the women who have accused the governor to see if they are willing to file lawsuits with no positive responses.

The Times reports Lindsey Boylan, the first woman to accuse the Governor, plans to sue for the Governor’s alleged “retaliatory actions,” according to Ms. Boylan’s lawyer, Jill Basinger.

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Westchester County has re-established a mandatory mask mandate for most County facilities and County Executive George Latimer is making sure the message reaches the Spanish-speaking community.

                                                You can view the full message here

Latimer said: “We have a large population in Westchester County that does not speak English and we want everyone in our communities to know and understand these requirements, so we can continue to stay safe and healthy. I am proud the County has reached an 80% vaccination rate and we want everyone living here and visiting here to know when they should mask up.”

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.

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.

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WPCNR CONTINUING COVID REPORT. By John F. Bailey Comment on the NY Covid-19 Tracker and Westchester County Covid Tracker Trends August 4, 2021:

A lesser percentage of Westchesterites were newly infected with Coronavirus Tuesday: 2.2%–139 of 6,448 tests conducted. The number of new infections was 8 less than Tuesday at a much lower infection rate.

This shows another dynamic of a 117 new cases a day spread which Westchester has averaged the last 10 days. As you go up in amount of testing, the infection percentage may go down but, with more persons infected previously, the spread continues at approximately the same rate. As County Executive Latimer said Monday the virus spreads at 7 times the number of infections.

That happens because each new person according to the Johns Hopkins Center modeling of the virus spread 1 new person spreads the disease to 7 people over 10 to 14 days before symptoms of covid appear. The newly covid positive person (who is not aware of it because they are not sick yet) is a carrier to infect others if they do not quarantine and especially if they do not mask.

The last 10 days saw the Third Wave strengthen after infections the week of July 17 through 24 rose significantly above the 1.1% infection rate (which controls and stabilizes virus spread) through Sunday the 24 of July to 1.6% raising infections from 50 a day to 75, 439 infections that week.

Since July 24, beginning the next day, Sunday July 25 through 10 days through yesterday August 3 produced an average 2.4% infection rate among an average 5,000 tested a day in 10 days of testing new persons testing positive. Counting yesterday, the August 3 infections posted today new infections in 10 days have mounted to 1,170 new infections in two weeks of growth.

On Monday, August 2nd, 147 new persons tested positive for the first time the county has had over a thousand new infections in a week since April in the second Wave of Covid.

August 2 was he first time the county has passed the 1,000 infection mark in a week’s worth of tests roughly since April 24 when 150 of 10,000 tested tested positive, when we were on the way down in infections. In the 9 days from April 13 to April 22, 2,389 were found positive, however the infection rates were much lower.

What I as an observer notices is the high spread 3.2% rate on low test numbers. If 3.2% of 4,570 test positive, and 147 get infected as of Monday. What if you tested 10,000 as we were doing in mid-April?

If you take a 3.2% infection rate applied to 10,000 you come up with 320 infections. If the 3.2% goes up to 3.5%, 350, if we hit 4.0% big new case numbers multiply: 400 a day.

This is disturbing. Why? Because 10 days before April 24–when Westchester recorded 150 new cases at a 1.5% infection on 10,000 persons, we experienced a 2.9% infection rate on a test field of 12,000 persons the number infections was 346. This tells you what will happen if this infection rate isn’t dealt with — by masks, new restrictions. It will just keep expanding.

Right now some one in your town, or city in the county has to pay attention. Perhaps the leader of the County or any county. Or just perhaps The state house and the new governor if Governor Cuomo is inpeached, can tear themselves to focus on this Third Wave gaining more robust by the day.

Masks, yes. Vaccine proof for entering restaurants, bars, events. Yes. Vaccinating all teachers in New York City. (Who knew only 60% of NYC teachers were vaccinated? That has to be done otherwise you cannot open the NYC schools if you do your are whistling past the graveyard.

If your school district does not have fully vaccinated staffs, teachers and administrators, your district will see so many infections the first month you will have to shut down. God help the schools in NYC. They have had 5 months to vax the teachers and administrators. It