In case you hadn’t checked he Dutchess County COVID-19 Dashboard lately, the number of Active Cases of the virus has almost doubled since the summer, when alarm bells were sounding and mask recommendations were coming back. The number of Active Cases in Dutchess County as of today is 1,487 with a percentage of 6.02%, which is comparatively a higher percentage than officials have been comfortable with.

There are currently 68 hospitalizations, which is a relatively high number for Dutchess County. As for Active Cases in Beacon, there are 65. Again, a high number historically for Beacon. In East Fishkill, there are 213.

A Beaconite’s Experience Testing Positive

A family of 4 who got COVID-19 a few weeks ago (two vaccinated adults who were not boosted yet and two children under age 11 who had not received vaccination yet) took a home test to confirm results. They called Dutchess County to report in the numbers, and were told by Dutchess County that the county would not be counting them in the Dashboard. The reasoning, the Beaconite says the county representative gave them, was because the diagnosis may limit what kind of medical attention they could seek, aside from the ER. Unclear why that recommendation was made, since telehealth appointments are available when one has COVID-19, and prescriptions can be delivered by local pharmacies like Vogel or Beacon Wellness. Unless Dutchess County is referring to unrelated medical appointments, in which case that would indicate that the county may be OK with people testing positive visiting medical centers in an active state of COVID-19.

That means this family of 4 would not be in Beacon’s count.

State Of Active Cases In Beacon City Schools

Active cases of students and staff in the Beacon City School District continues daily, with about 6-8 cases reported to district families each day. Beacon has not shut down schools, but does contact trace people connected to those who test positive. According to one family of a student who was in the contact tracing lineage twice in the same week by two different exposures, and who is vaccinated and was not showing symptoms, the district advised them not to get tested. The Beacon City School District does offer the Test To Stay Program, which provides free rapid testing to those needing to quarantine, to let them return to school sooner. The free testing kit program is federally funded and administered through Dutchess County.

A few weeks before Governor Hochul declared her indoor mask mandate for all spaces that do not require proof of vaccination, Board of Education Member Anthony White asked to have a consideration about reducing the mask mandate in schools during a recent Board of Education Meeting. The current mask mandate in schools remains, and is a New York State requirement, as Beacon’s Superintendent commonly reminds parents and teachers who are against the mask mandate and present their opinions during Board of Education meetings.

How Is Dutchess County Responding To The Governor’s Renewed Mask Mandate?

Dutchess County is not enforcing Governor Hoschul’s mask mandate, as reported by the Highlands Current. Nor is Putnam County (Cold Spring). Both County Executives are Republican. According to the article, Molinaro said on Facebook that the “requirement is ‘unenforceable’ and ‘will become confrontational.’ The county will not ‘escalate tension or conflict or further burden our local small businesses.’” Dutchess County continues to promote vaccine and booster clinics, in addition to testing locations. Follow their Facebook page for notices.

According to the Highlands Current: “New York reported 18,000 new cases on Wednesday (Dec. 15), nearly 9x the 2,143 from Aug. 1. Although upstate counties are seeing the most infections, cases have also increased significantly in Dutchess, Putnam and other Mid-Hudson counties as the cold weather drives people indoors. Dutchess County’s 231 cases on Wednesday was its highest one-day total since Jan. 11, and Putnam County’s 84 cases on Dec. 10 its highest tally since Jan. 23.”

COVID-19 In Sports

The NFL is having an outbreak, despite it’s apparent 95% vaccination rate. Unknown if that statistic includes any recent boosters that need administered. According to a Washington Post article, a majority of players testing positive are asymptomatic.

Booster Cycles

The Beacon City School District has offered a second vaccination clinic, which offers pediatric vaccinations and boosters for those on cycle.

To learn where to get a booster for yourself, visit vaccines.gov and type in your zip code for an easy and local location. Beacon Wellness and Drug World in Cold Spring are locally owned vaccination locations. Sun River Health on Henry Street is also offering, as is Walmart and other big stores.