Will state put COVID testing site back at Anthony Wayne? Rockland Angle
Are you looking for a COVID-19 test or a booster? Rocklanders are reporting long waits – and lines – for both.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day said Monday that he's asked the state to reopen the mass testing site at Anthony Wayne Recreation Area off the Palisades Interstate Parkway. (Read more here.)
The testing scramble comes as active cases in Rockland are soaring. Between Friday and Monday, active cases of virus jumped from 1,669 to 2,121, a 27% increase.
Active case rates are somewhat similar to a year ago. On Dec. 21, 2020, for example, Rockland had 2,056 active cases. But hospitalizations now are much lower. On that Monday in 2020, there were 81 people hospitalized while now there are 39.
Officials say that's due to vaccinations.
That doesn't mean a vaccinated person can't end up hospitalized, either for some other reason and then test for COVID, or for COVID symptoms themselves. "These vaccines continue to prove helpful at preventing hospitalizations as two-thirds of those hospitalized locally are unvaccinated," Day said Monday in a statement.
According to Ramapo officials, Good Samaritan Hospital leaders told local officials that more than 75% of adult patients hospitalized with COVID are unvaccinated and Montefiore Nyack Hospital reported last week that more than 90% of its COVID patients were unvaccinated adults. Vaccinated patients are mostly people who are elderly or have other serious health conditions.
Meanwhile, state and county officials remind people to get a booster if they qualify. Finding one, though, can also be a challenge.
As always, if you have information on COVID issues in Rockland or anything else, email me at ncutler@lohud.com.
Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy. Click here for her latest stories. Follow her on Twitter at @nancyrockland.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland Angle newsletter for Monday December 20 2021
