Putnam County Could Be Headed For Coronavirus Microcluster Status

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — As coronavirus cases continue to rise in Putnam, county officials are worried that Putnam is headed for more restrictions on businesses, gatherings and schools.

If the coronavirus test positivity rate runs above 3.5 percent for 10 days and the county has 15 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on a 7-day average, Putnam could be designated a yellow zone under New York's current micro-cluster initiative.

As of Sunday the 14-day rolling average was 3.9 percent, according to the state's positivity dashboard. There were 33 new positive cases on Sunday, and the 7-day average was 29.7 new cases, according to thestate's COVID-19 tracker.

"Putnam residents have come too far to go back," county officials wrote in a COVID-19 update Friday. "Please continue to wear your mask, keep your distance, wash your hands, and avoid gatherings with people outside of your household."

New York's micro-cluster strategy detects small outbreaks and takes focused action to eliminate them. According to the state health department:

Once any area meets certain metrics that demonstrate substantial coronavirus spread, it may be designated a focus zone: a Red "Micro-Cluster Zone" (with accompanying Orange and/or Yellow buffer zones) or an Orange Warning Zone (with potential for accompanying Yellow Buffer Zone) or solely a Yellow Precautionary Zone.

The restrictions are on non-essential gatherings, businesses, houses of worship, dining, and schools.

On Friday, the Putnam health department issued three warnings:

• 2 Brewster Businesses Possible Sites Of Coronavirus Exposure
• Putnam County Eatery Site Of Possible Coronavirus Exposure

Putnam leads the Hudson region in test positivity rates.