Coronavirus Update - October 13, 2020

Press release from the City of Rye:

Post Date:10/13/2020 3:53 PM

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Thinking back on our City's history with the virus since February, we have been relatively fortunate. Now nine months in, we continue to report only a small number of active cases. Though our number remains small, we are seeing an uptick this week, as is Westchester as a whole. The virus, we know, remains remarkably fond of people and overbearingly sociable.

It is therefore not a surprise that the Rye City School District previously announced the temporary closure of Rye High School and, today, Midland School because of COVID cases. Rye High will be closed into next week. Midland will be open tomorrow, with quarantining in effect for some. Virtual learning will be ongoing. It is good to see our schools are alert and prepared to respond in a measured way. The City, which is providing children's programs intended to be used in tandem with the varied school schedules, also must be responsive to what the schools are experiencing. Here is what the City will be doing both now and to the extent similar occasions arise: COVID protocols.

Halloween is coming up fast and we know how fond many of us are of trick or treating (both young and old, and on either side of that barter-bargain). We continue to await guidance from NYS or County and will share that guidance when received.

Purchase Plaza will remain open through November 30, if all goes well, followed by a winter plan which will substantially open all of Purchase Street to traffic. Many residents have indicated their wish that the Plaza and outdoor dining remain. We hope that people will continue to enjoy the Plaza through November, even as the weather changes, and that all the stores, as well as the restaurants, will be the beneficiaries of our attentions.

As for our new active COVID cases, we know the contact tracing mechanism is at work to limit further exposures. Your City government will continue to work, as it has before, with County and State to limit transmission of the virus. Please continue to work with us and do the things that we all know we must to stop the spread: wash hands/ face mask/social distance.

The rain is letting up. It is a moment to grab a sweater and get some air. And add that mask, please, if you will mingle.

Mayor Josh Cohn

Useful Contacts:

• People under self-quarantine or exposure to known case, call (866) 588-0195 or 2-1-1 to self-report
• NYS Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline (888) 364-3065
• Westchester County COVID-19 Information Call 211
• COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.

CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/diseases-and-conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus-2020.html
NY Dept of Health Coronavirus Update
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
NY Dept of Health Contacts
https://health.ny.gov/contact/contact_information/
County COVID Updates
https://health.westchestergov.com/2019-novel-coronavirus

This press release was produced by the City of Rye.The views expressed here are the author’s own.