Putnam To Use NY County Exec Association Coronavirus Guidelines

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — As the coronavirus Delta variant continues its sweep across New York and the nation, county executives statewide have been working on prevention strategies to keep their communities safe and healthy.

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell announced that Putnam will follow the guidelines developed by the New York State County Executives’ Association.

It offers a three-tiered approach of strategies that will be implemented depending on infection rates, hospital bed availability and vaccination rate, Odell said.

"Right now, based on the numbers from our Putnam County Department of Health, we are at the lowest level — Tier 1 — which calls for face masks for the unvaccinated,” she said in the announcement. "If our infection numbers increase dramatically, and if our hospital system gets stressed, we could be looking at Tier 3 — face masks for all, vaccine proof for indoor dining and limiting gatherings to 25."

She said NYSCEA’s plan allows for flexibility for each community while providing guidance in the absence of requirements from the New York State Health Department.

"It all sounds terribly familiar. We thought we were past this. But really, getting everyone eligible vaccinated is the only way out," she said.

In Putnam County, 78 percent of those 18 years and older have been vaccinated against COVID-19, she said. The 7-day rolling average per 100,000 population per day was 20.08 people testing positive. As for hospitalizations, there have been 0-3 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Putnam County over the past three weeks, she said.

The state County Executives’ Association guidelines do say that "more robust prevention strategies may be necessary to prevent hospitalizations, decrease transmission and allow for in-person K-12 instruction."

NYSCEA also emphasizes the importance of ongoing mitigation strategies — getting vaccinated, staying home when sick, social distancing and hand washing — to stop the virus from spreading.

The NYSCEA's guidelines differ from the federal Centers for Disease Control guidelines. The CDC rates the level of community transmission in Putnam County as 'high.' In areas of substantial or high transmission, CDC recommends community leaders encourage vaccination and universal masking in indoor public spaces in addition to other layered prevention strategies to prevent further spread.

The CDC updated its guidance July 27 on the need for urgently increasing COVID-19 vaccination coverage and a recommendation for everyone in areas of substantial or high transmission to wear a mask in public indoor places, even if they are fully vaccinated. CDC issued the new guidance after seeing COVID case and hospitalizations rise around the country at a rate they called "rapid and alarming." Delta, currently the predominant strain of the virus in the United States, is more infectious.

In the seven days ended Aug. 17, according to the CDC, cases of coronavirus went up by 61.46 percent in Putnam, with 157.65 per 100,000 population.

This graph from the CDC shows Putnam County's 7-day moving averages since the beginning of the pandemic.

About 95 percent of recent positives in New York were linked to the Delta variant, state health officials said based on samples collected Aug. 1 - 14.

State Education Department Commissioner Dr. Betty Rosa informed school districts on July 29 that CDC guidelines should be the basis of preparing for the 2021-22 school year, and that those guidelines included universal indoor masking.

To keep up with the latest Putnam health news, see the county website at putnamcountyny.com