Coronavirus: Rockland, Orange County Execs On Weekend Spikes

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — State health officials have sent rapid testing machines to communities in Orange and Rockland counties where the coronavirus positivity rate has spiked in the past week.

The highest infection rate appeared to be in Rockland County clusters where 30 percent and 25 percent of people tested for the coronavirus in two ZIP codes, respectively, came back positive Sunday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a news briefing Monday.

In Orange County, 112 people tested positive over the weekend.

"That's by far the largest increase since May," said County Executive Steve Neuhaus in his Monday coronavirus briefing on Facebook, comparing it to just 38 positive test results the weekend before.

Neuhaus said he and Rockland County Executive Ed Day had spoken about people and communities who aren't following pandemic guidelines for social distancing and wearing masks.

During Cuomo's Thursday press conference, officials acknowledged links between Rockland, Orange and Brooklyn, all of which are home to large Orthodox Jewish communities.

Health officials in New York City said a return to lockdowns in certain neighborhoods was imminent if no improvement was evident.

On Monday, Cuomo deflected questions, saying analysts needed to drill down into the data first.

Neuhaus on Monday pointed out that 56 percent of those testing positive over the weekend were from the town of Palm Tree. That's the location of Kiryas Joel, a large Hasidic community.

Day, in his public statement, said he was concerned about the significant increase of positive test results within two zip codes in Ramapo. That town is home to most of Rockland's Ultra-Orthodox.

"I am both privately and publicly urging local municipalities to utilize their employees such as building and fire inspectors and police in educational efforts. It is my expectation that appropriate enforcement action will be taken, as necessary," Day said.

He thanked state officials for sending additional testing machines and test kits to local providers.

"We are continuing to work closely with municipal, community and religious leaders throughout Rockland," he said. "To the residents of our County, we all need to take this situation seriously. By working together, we can limit the further spread of COVID and protect our families, friends, and neighbors. I strongly urge all Rockland residents to do their part."

Cuomo was expected to talk more about the clusters at a noon news briefing Tuesday.