Putnam Coronavirus 2021: Hospitalizations Rise

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Three COVID-19 deaths were reported between Dec. 28 and Jan. 4, according to Putnam health officials. The death toll rose to 67 from 64.

There are 20 COVID-19 patients at Putnam Hospital Center, up from eight on Nov. 27. The health department is tracking 401 active cases, compared to 167 at the end of November.

In December, the cumulative total of tests done in the county since the pandemic began rose by 37 percent and the total of confirmed cases almost doubled.

County Executive MaryEllen Odell told Patch the local increase since Thanksgiving is the holiday surge that health officials had warned about.

"Not all these positives are symptomatic," she said. "What we're more concerned about is the hospitalization rate."

Putnam is working with Orange and Rockland counties on the vaccine rollout.

"The vaccines as they're arriving are being distributed at warp speed," she said. "We'd like to see 2021 be more the 'year of hope' — get the economy back, people get their jobs back, kids back in school."

Putnam's average positivity rate is second-highest in the seven-county Hudson region.

The coronavirus vaccines continue to be rolled out across New York. SEE: New York Coronavirus Vaccine: Who, When, How