Dutchess active cases increase rapidly

But executive says that while cases are rising, so are vaccinations

KINGSTON, N.Y. >> The number of COVID-19 cases in Dutchess County has almost doubled since the beginning of the month, a rate of transmission County Executive Marc Molinaro said is concerning, but not alarming.

According to the Dutchess County COVID-19 dashboard, the county had 481 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Aug. 6, up 47 from the 434 confirmed cases reported a day earlier, and up 230 from the 251 confirmed cases reported on July 31.

Hospitalizations, meanwhile, rose to 17 on Aug. 6 from five reported hospitalized on July 31.

“We’re concerned about the rate of growth and the severity of those cases, but in context of all of our data we’re monitoring,” said Molinaro on Sunday.

Molinaro said that while the number of cases of COVID-19 is rising, so too is the number of county residents getting vaccinated. And he said the most severe cases of COVID-19 now being reported are among those who are not vaccinated against the virus.

“The transmission rate is up but severity has not increased with that, except of course, with those who present themselves at the hospital. That rate of growth, if it accelerates, would be something that concerns.

“We know the severe cases, the ones that are in the hospital, are not vaccinated,” he added.

Molinaro said the county is also starting to see the transmission of the virus by people who are showing symptoms, prompting him to urge those who are not feeling well to isolate themselves away from others.

“In particular if you’re not feeling well we need you to be respectful of others,” he said. “It’s an easy

choice you can make.”

Here are the latest local COVID-19 statistics.

Active cases

• Ulster County: 223 reported Friday by the county executive. (Peak was 2,622 on Jan. 30.) Ulster County does not update its dashboard on the weekends

• Dutchess County: 481 reported Sunday, up 47from the previous day. (Peak was 2,576 on Jan. 16).

Latest positivity rates

• Ulster County: 5.2%.

• Dutchess County: 3.5%

Pandemic history

• Ulster County: 15569 confirmed cases, 15,109recoveries, 267 deaths.

• Dutchess County: 30,233 confirmed cases, 448 deaths. (1new death reported Sunday.)

Vaccination rates

• Ulster County: 60.3% fully vaccinated, 66.2% with at least one dose of a two-dose regimen, 76.1% of 18+ population with at least one dose.

• Dutchess County: 55% fully vaccinated, 61.1% with at least one dose of a two-dose regimen, 71% of 18+ population with at least one dose.

• Appointments: vaccinateulster.com, bit.ly/dut-vax, bit.ly/ ny-vaxme.