4 Micro-Cluster Zones Designated In Orange County

MID-HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Yesterday's announcement that the yellow zone centered around the village of Kiryas Joel was removed was followed Thursday by the addition of four new micro-cluster zones in Orange County.

At his Thursday news conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Newburgh, New Windsor, Middletown and Highland Falls have seen increases in positivity rates and the number of daily cases, meeting the metrics for yellow precautionary zones.

"If you look around the country, around the world, COVID is surging," Cuomo said. "In New York, we are not immune to what's happening around us — and with the cold weather and holiday travel, from here to January is going to be very dangerous."

He said the next few weeks will be challenging with the holidays, "especially since we all want to see our loved ones after the year we have had, but we cannot let our guard down."

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said during a news conference Thursday that a lot of the cases were avoidable.

"In Pine Bush we had 20 people who tested positive from a house party," he said.

According to the county's coronavirus dashboard, as of Thursday, there have been 15,594 positive cases of the virus. There are 81 people hospitalized with COVID-19-related illness, with 516 people dying from the disease.

To see the maps of the micro-cluster zones, click on the links below:

• Newburgh
• New Windsor
• Middletown
• Highland Falls

Under yellow zone regulations, the following restrictions are implemented:

• Indoor and outdoor dining is permitted but there is a four-person maximum per table; bars and restaurants must still close at 10 p.m., late night takeout is permitted.
• Schools can remain open, however 20 percent of the weekly in-student and teacher population must be tested.
• In-home private gatherings are limited to 10 persons.
• All other nonessential gatherings are limited to 25 people max, whether indoors or outdoors.
• Houses of worship capacity is limited to 50 percent.

Like Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.