Ulster exec Ryan urges Christmas caution

“We are still in a community spread situation,” he said. “The last thing we want to do is see that ramp up....”

KINGSTON, N.Y » On the eve of one of the most popular holidays for family gatherings, Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan urged county residents to avoid the kind of family gatherings that he said is driving the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ryan said during a Facebook Live event Thursday that another county resident had died from the coronavirus since Tuesday, bringing the total death toll in the county to 132, including 31 who have died since the beginning of this month.

There are just over 2,000 Ulster County residents currently battling the virus including 21 who are hospitalized. Four of those patients are in intensive care, Ryan said.

Over the most recent 48 hours, Ryan said, the county had 201 new COVID diagnoses, including “an all-time high for the second wave” of 115 among results received Wednesday.

Ryan also said the rate of positive test results stood at a “concerning” 7.8%.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 5,486 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ulster County.

Ryan attributed the rise in new cases to gatherings that took place first around Halloween and then at Thanksgiving.

“We are still in a community spread situation,” he said. “The last thing we want to do is see that ramp up due to Christmas gatherings.”

Ryan urged county residents to keep their holiday celebrations small and limited to their own families, and he said if people do gather indoors, they should wear masks, socially distance and wash their hands frequently.

“Let the science guide us in that regard,” he said.

On the vaccine front, Ryan said the county already has administered hundreds of shots, primarily to health care workers. Earlier this week, he said, residents at one of the county’s nursing homes received the vaccine, and others are expected to follow as the county moves through the first phase of what is expected to be a fivephase rollout.

He said he expects that essential workers — including police and firefighters, grocery store employees, teachers and pharmacists — will begin receiving the vaccine by mid-January.

Dutchess County currently has 1,645 active cases of COVID, including 116 hospitalizations. Its rate of positive test results is 6.42%.

For local coverage related to the coronavirus, go to bit.ly/DFCOVID19.