Latimer Talks Phase 2; Number Of Active Cases Continues Dropping

RYE BROOK, NY — While at the Village of Rye Brook village hall, Westchester County Executive George Latimer offered some clarification about what happens in the Hudson Valley region after a successful Phase One reopening during the new coronavirus crisis. He said the same benchmarks had to be met as a region to reopen the second phase as the first.

The benchmarks are for total hospitalizations, decline in deaths, new hospitalizations, hospital bed capacity, ICU bed capacity, diagnostic testing capacity and contact tracing capacity.

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Businesses allowed to reopen Tuesday under the first phase included construction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting and retail, which is limited to curbside or in-store pickup or drop off.

Under Phase Two, which could come as early as June 9, Latimer said that professional services, administrative support, real estate rental and leasing and expanded retail, though some restrictions will still exist.

"When those offices open up, and join with the blue collar work force, we start to have people back out in society," Latimer said.

Restaurants will not be opening up until Phase Three, he said.

Regarding the latest numbers, Latimer said, as of Thursday, there were 33,293 confirmed positive cases of the new coronavirus. There are 1,501 active case.

The total number of residents tested for infection in the county is 148,651. Latimer said he expects the number to grow soon to 150,000, which would be 15 percent of the county's population.

Latimer said there were five additional fatalities since Wednesday, bringing the total for the county to 1,357.

Here is the map showing the active and confirmed cases by community.

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