1 Week In, Red Zone Coronavirus Rates High In Orange, Rockland

At the end of the first week of tightened restrictions in Rockland and Orange counties where small geographic areas have experienced big jumps in coronavirus cases, the data still shows the "red zones" have above average positivity rates.

Thursday Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday would be too soon to tell if the restrictions could be lifted after 14 days.

Thursday, Rockland County had 91 new cases and Orange County had 65, according to data released Friday by state health officials. However, data show the positivity rates dropping over the past two weeks in the six micro-clusters that have been the state's focus since Cuomo called them "embers in dry grass."

The "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of the state population yet had 11.7 percent of all positive test results reported to the state yesterday, and 11.9 percent of all positive case results reported to the state this current week, Cuomo said.

He blamed lack of enforcement of pandemic protocols such as masks, social-distancing and restrictions on mass gatherings, and announced sanctions on local governments that did not enforce the restrictions. SEE: NY May Withhold Funds From Governments, Schools Over Coronavirus

The microclusters have been in Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities where compliance with pandemic protocols has been low. The restrictions led last week to violent protests in Brooklyn. SEE: Coronavirus Hot Spot Unrest is 'Measles Redux': Cuomo.

Saying they are unconstitutional and anti-Semitic, three rabbis in Rockland have sued the state over them. SEE: Rockland Rabbis Sue Cuomo, NY Over Red-Zone Coronavirus Rules

Enforcement in Orange and Rockland counties has been accelerating.

On Oct. 6, Orange County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman shut down public, private and religious schools and educational facilities in the village of Kiryas Joel and the town of Palm Tree, that county's 'red zone.'

The 'red zone' in Rockland is centered in the town of Ramapo. County Executive Ed Day said in a Thursday afternoon briefing on Facebook that village officials in Spring Valley had committed five people to the state-supervised enforcement task force, but that the town of Ramapo has not joined in.

"Frankly we have gotten a lot of calls," Day said. "Pictures. Children on buses without masks. We're responding to your complaints and concerns." SEE: Rockland Mandates Masks For Kids On Buses, In School, At Day Care