City Of Rye: COVID Update - December 24, 2021

Rye NY

25 December, 2021

10:01 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Rye: 12/24/2021 3:54 PM A short time ago, I would have said there would be no need for me to write again under the COVID Update banner, but here we are.  Under the good news head, the press reports on surging Omicron are that the symptoms are milder and especially so for those vaccinated. This, though, increases the potential for asymptomatic transmission -- a potential that already existed with the other COVID variants that are still with us. The County has offered us some help with a limited supply of at-home testing kits. The City will distribute approximately 800 kits on Monday. Distribution will be at City Hall, beginning at 10 a.m., first come, first served, one kit per Rye household. Please, each household desiring a kit, send one household member with proof of residence. Please bear in mind we have more than 5,000 households in Rye and many of them may want kits. I think everyone understands the limits of these test kits and the need for us to guide ourselves according to the symptoms we may be experiencing, as well as by what the test may be telling us. This is particularly difficult with respect to Omicron, which we are told may manifest, particularly in those vaccinated, much like a common cold. Please, if you aren't vaccinated and you can, get vaccinated. Same with getting boosted. And if you are experiencing COVID symptoms (any variant!), please stay home. We have as of December 22nd, 298 known active cases in Rye. There were 12,748 such cases in the County. An important goal, as before, is to avoid having our hospitals overwhelmed, a goal served by a vaccinated population bearing a lower risk of hospitalization. This COVID surge is interfering painfully with holiday plans. I know that many are falling back to smaller celebrations. I hope that the warmth and joy of Christmas and Kwanzaa is not diminished by this persistent pandemic. The City would ordinarily be celebrating this New Year's Day with an open inauguration ceremony. Due to COVID, though, the inauguration of Bill Henderson, Julie Souza, Ben Stacks and me will be simply a swearing-in of the elected, attended only by immediate family and televised by Rye TV. Wishing all safe, warm and healthy holidays! Mayor Josh Cohn Return to full list >> This press release was produced by the City of Rye. The views expressed here are the author's own.