Coronavirus Transmissions Rising, Rockland Joins The Rest Of HV

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — The Centers for Disease Control says the risk of coronavirus transmission in the community has risen in Rockland — and has downgraded the county in its four-level ranking of counties across the country.

The risk of community transmission has risen across the Hudson Valley in the past week, according to the CDC, to more than 50 cases per 100,000 people. SEE: More Hudson Valley Counties Have 'Substantial' Risk For COVID.

"We continue to urge everyone eligible to get vaccinated if they have not done so already," said Rockland County spokesman John Lyon. "Appointments are available at the Rockland County Department of Health and other locations through our website or through the state website."

As of Tuesday, the CDC's county-level tracker showed Dutchess and Ulster counties in the "substantial risk" category. They had been in the "moderate risk" category Monday with Rockland.

The CDC reported Friday that vaccinated people can spread the delta variant. However, they are far less likely to become very sick. Almost all hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated.

Federal coronavirus guidelines from the CDC now say that to maximize protection from the delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, anyone in an area of substantial or high transmission should wear a mask indoors in public spaces.

New York's transmission rates remain low compared to much of the nation.

Still, local public health officials are worried. Putnam Officials Worried About Surge In Coronavirus Transmission.

New York is above average in terms of vaccinations, as 75.6 percent of the population age 18 and up have received at least one dose of vaccine, compared to 70.1 percent of that population nationwide, according to the CDC.

According to the state's vaccine tracker, the vaccination rate for all people in the mid-Hudson region, including children, ranges from 50.9 percent to 67.8 percent with Ulster and Westchester counties having the most people vaccinated.