Rockland Continues With Coronavirus Recovery

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — With just six people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, Rockland officials continue their efforts to help the county reopen safely.

Still, the outbreak isn't over — there were 22 new cases Sunday in Rockland County, according to state health officials. That compares to 13 new cases confirmed in Dutchess, 15 in Orange, 1 in Putnam, 7 in Ulster and 35 in Westchester.

One sign of return in Rockland is the start of a virtual job fair at the Palisades Center. Another is the $20 million recently invested in local businesses under the Office of Economic Development through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 504 Loan Program.

"We are continuing to move forward and are sending a clear message that businesses can make it in Rockland County, right here and right now," County Executive Ed Day said on Patch.

Health officials updated the county's statistics on the new coronavirus on Friday:

COVID-19 has killed 674 people in Rockland, most in April and May; only 28 deaths have been reported in the past three months. Since the outbreak began in the Hudson Valley, Rockland has had 14,197 confirmed cases. The community with the most cases and most deaths is Spring Valley in the 10977 zip code.

Across New York COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU patients have dropped to new lows, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced at a news briefing on Monday. Hospitalizations dropped to 418, a new low since March 16, and the number of patients in ICUs dropped to 109, a new low since March 15.

Yesterday, one person was reported to have died from COVID-19 in New York State, which is the lowest single-day death toll since mid-March.

"That New Yorker's family is in our thoughts and prayers but I'd just like everyone to pause for a moment on that fact - one New Yorker passed away. There was a time when we were going through this when we literally had hundreds of people dying every day. I'm sure you all remember," Cuomo said. "And I asked New Yorkers, I beseeched New Yorkers to understand the facts and to act responsibly and I said that what the future holds is determined by what New Yorkers do and quote/unquote flattening the curve - we've used that expression over and over again - but flattening the curve actually saved lives."