Westchester To Decide On Restarting High-Risk Sports

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Westchester County will have a decision on playing "high risk" sports during the coronavirus pandemic by the end of the week.

County Executive George Latimer said, during his news briefing Monday, that he aims to have a joint decision with other county executives in the Hudson Valley that comprise the Section One high school sports conference announced by Friday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday that local county health departments could make a decision about playing school sports during the pandemic.

"It is quite the decision," Latimer said, "but we are happy to have responsibility in these areas."

He said the county school superintendents were asked to compile data on key areas that represent how high school sports could be opened up safely and properly, if that is what is decided.

Latimer pointed out that high school sports is a multi-county issue and everyone in the division has to agree.

Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins that tents erected outside of the Westchester County Center will be coming down over the next two to three weeks.

"That should be a sign of the beginning of relief," he said.

The tents were put up by the state after the pandemic began as a backup to hospital capacity in case beds were in short supply.

The county center has been used as a testing site and now as a mass vaccination site.

New Coronavirus Numbers

The most recent numbers, as of Jan. 24, saw 11,068 active cases, which is down slightly over the past couple of days.

"I think we're starting to see the start of the end of the holiday spike," Latimer said.

The total number of positive cases in the county is 90,029, or 5.3 percent of the total number of people tested, according to the Westchester County COVID-19 Dashboard.

There have been 1,851 fatalities.

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