State Establishes Cluster Zones In Orange Where Virus Is Spiking

GOSHEN, NY — Orange County has released a map showing the cluster zones where new coronavirus infects are spiking.

County Executive Steve Neuhaus said the town of Palm Tree is in the red zone which means closing schools, nonessential businesses and restaurant dining; forbidding mass gatherings; and limiting houses of worship to a maximum of 10 people. Fines for mass gatherings have been hiked to $15,000.

The new rules will be in effect for a minimum of 14 days.

The up-to-date map can be found on the governor's website.

The surrounding yellow zone is where places of worship are limited to 50 percent capacity, restaurant and bars are limited to 50 percent capacity, with no more than four people at a table and schools will have additional testing.

Neuhaus said there will be additional enforcement throughout the zones.

"This is a good good step," he said.

Senator James Skoufis said that science and data must drive decision-making for two reasons.

"The public's health is paramount and it will be even more difficult to rebuild our economy if there's a resurgence in COVID-19," he wrote in a Facebook post.