After a quiet June, 50 new cases were diagnosed in just three days at the beginning of this month. The unwelcome eruption in positive virus determinations led to swift expressions of concern in the social media. People were scared, and they had every right to be. The virus could easily get out of control. Perhaps it already had.
Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced today that Ulster County had zero new cases of COVID-19 over the last 24-hour period. This marks the first time this has occurred in Ulster County since the outbreak began in mid-March. 512 people were tested yesterday, with none of them testing positive for COVID-19. Since the pandemic began, 25,910 total Ulster County residents have been tested with 1,781 confirmed cases, 1,354 recovered and 344 currently active cases.
Ulster County is more than a week into New York State’s Phase One reopening plan and getting close to Phase Two. Phase One businesses include construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, manufacturing, wholesale trade and retail businesses – the latter limited to curbside or in-store pickup and drop-off.
Two local businessowners – a barber and auctioneer – were cited in the last week for operating in violation of the state ban on nonessential businesses. Local observers immediately took to social media to argue the case. Were businessowners like these demonstrating a recklessness that would prolong the outbreak? Or was the time ripe for rebellion against overly restrictive (or paternalistic) state guidelines?
Ulster County reached a milestone this week: The county now has more people who have beat Covid-19 than are currently
Beginning tomorrow, four Upstate New York regions will be permitted to begin a phased reopening of businesses that have been closed since mid-March. But the Mid-Hudson Region isn’t one of them. We checked in with a variety of local businesses to see how they’re holding up.
Did you get an illegal haircut on Broadway in Kingston in the last few weeks? If so, you may have been exposed to Covid-19.
The Mid-Hudson Region, which for the purposes of re-opening includes Ulster, Dutchess, Sullivan, Orange, Putnam, Westchester and Rockland counties, is lagging on two of the state’s seven indicators required to enter phase one of re-opening.
Finally. Liberated from their second round of Covid-19 quarantine, Carol and Ed Lundergan of New Paltz were able last week to donate their blood plasma. The couple went to the plasma donation clinic at Vassar Brothers Hospital on May 6 after being cleared to donate.
Beginning Sunday, May 10, anyone over the age of 18 can make an appointment on Rite Aid’s website. Appointments will begin the following day.