Latimer Reports Another Sharp Increase in COVID Cases this Week

Unfortunately, predictions about a post-Thanksgiving surge in COVID cases are turning out to be accurate. At a briefing on November 30, 2020, County Executive George Latimer reported that the prior days numbers continue to show a sharp increase in the rate of infection. As of November 30, there were 6,117 active cases in Westchester, up more than 1,300 from the prior week’s count of 4,800 active cases. Two weeks ago, the active case count was 3,515 so the county has seen a 74% increase in active cases in just 14 days.

The number of active cases is alarming as is the infection rate which Latimer reported was 5.6% for the last 24 hours. The infection rate for the two prior days was 4.7% and 5.0%.

Hospitalizations are on the rise as well, but so far the number of cases can be accommodated by Westchester’s hospitals. As of Monday 244 were in the hospital with COVID as compared to 168 a week ago and 121 two weeks ago.

And finally 15 people passed away last week, and in the last two weeks, the county lost a total of 25 people.

Latimer said he had spoken to the Governor whose priorities are to:

-Manage hospitalizations and staffing.

-Make sure we have testing – especially for school students and staff.

-Stop the spread of the virus at fall gatherings.

He commented that the county has already shutdown sports, gatherings, meetings and public events and therefore it is up to individuals to stop the spread. Latimer noted that there was no change in designated yellow and orange zones since last week.

Finally as of December 1, the case count in Scarsdale had risen to 43, an all-time high.