Westchester County Executive George Latimer has authorized what he calls a state of emergency to proactive planning for a potential major spike in COVID-19 cases, Monday, December 6, during his Westchester Weekly Update.
He says there has been an uptick in cases since the Thanksgiving holiday, so between the holiday season and the new omicron variant, the county executive says they want to be prepared.
“The hospitalization number of 84 has come up in the last month. At a month ago, we were at 29 people hospitalized to COVID. Now, we’re at 84. That is an increase in the number of people hospitalized,” Latimer said Monday.
The State of Emergency is a proactive move that currently only raises the level of concern about the current status of COVID-19 in Westchester County. Latimer says this serves as a warning to make sure people and business organizations get vaccinated and wear masks indoors before the numbers really spike and the government has to step in.
The state of emergency declared over the hospitalizations does not include any additional mandates right now. Instead, Latimer once again encouraged residents to get vaccinated or boosted.
“We envision a step-by-step approach. We got it down to a 5-step approach. Step one to step five, the degree of indicators will determine whether we go from one step to another and how robust our response will be,” Latimer shared. “We are not looking to put in mandates for sport, we are not looking to restrict economic realities, we are not looking to meddling in everybody’s business circumstances unnecessarily, it depends on infection rate, and hospitalizations, and deaths and active cases.”
See full Latimer’s Westchester Weekly Update in its entirety below.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER ANNOUNCES FIRST OMICRON CASE IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY
“Earlier this afternoon [Tuesday, December 7] we were informed that there is a confirmed case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in Westchester County. The positive case is in a 13-year-old Westchester County resident. We are concerned about this discovery and are closely monitoring the situation. With the new variant circulating, the best way we can protect our families and ourselves is by being vaccinated, and by getting a booster shot if you are eligible.
“Additionally, I have officially signed the State of Emergency Executive Order for Westchester County. I am taking this action to combat the Delta and Omicron COVID variants. There is currently a public health threat, I know it has been many months, I know you are tired but we – together – must take action to be better prepared to fight COVID and the new variants.”
AJ Woodson
AJ Woodson is the Editor-In-Chief of Black Westchester and Co-Owner of Urban Soul Media Group, the parent company, Host & Producer of the People Before Politics Radio Show. AJ is a Father, Brother, An Author, Journalism Fellow (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism), Hip-Hop Artist - one third of the legendary underground rap group JVC FORCE known for the single Strong Island, Radio Personality, Hip-Hop Historian, Documentarian, Activist, Criminal Justice Advocate and Freelance Journalist whose byline has appeared in several print publications and online sites including The Source, Vibe, the Village Voice, Upscale, Sonicnet.com, Launch.com, Rolling Out Newspaper, Daily Challenge Newspaper, Spiritual Minded Magazine, Word Up! Magazine, On The Go Magazine and several others.
