Molinaro Updates Residents at Latest
COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall Forum
Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro hosted the latest in his ongoing series of virtual town hall forums regarding COVID-19 today, updating residents about the pandemic, the County’s response, and vaccine distribution, among other topics, while answering their questions.
The event is available to view on-demand on the County’s YouTube page, which includes an archive of the nearly 65 other online conversations County Executive Molinaro has hosted since March 2020.
Among the highlights of Wednesday’s conversation:
• County Executive Molinaro updated residents on the most current data, as of April 5th, available on the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard:
o 635,289 tests completed to date
o 26,776 confirmed cases to date
o 1,320 current active cases
o 67 current hospitalizations
o 426 deaths to date
o Positivity Rate for Dutchess County (7-day rolling avg.): 4.53%
• Dutchess County vaccine metrics (as of today) from the State’s Vaccine Tracker:
o 106,041 Dutchess residents with at least one dose
o 36.1% of population with one dose
o 61,425 residents completed vaccine series
o 20.9% of population with complete vaccine series
• April is National Volunteer Month and the County Executive recognized and thanked the dedicated volunteers of the Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County for their assistance with the County’s vaccination efforts, as well as numerous other events and initiatives. Additionally, this week is National Public Health Week, recognizing the Dutchess County Government employees who work to protect the community’s health in so many ways.
• This week, 6,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been allocated to providers throughout Dutchess County by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), County Executive Molinaro said. Allocations include:
o The Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) is slated to receive 2,600 doses of Moderna vaccine and 1,000 doses of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine
o 1,720 doses will be used to vaccinate eligible groups at the County’s Fixed PODs in Poughkeepsie and Dover; 800 doses will be distributed at Community Pop-ups; and an additional 1,180 doses will be provided to local primary care partners to vaccinate homebound and medically frail senior citizens at Partner Pop-ups.
o Community Pop-up vaccination sites continue, including one at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park today and another planned for LaGrange next week by appointment only. Additional Community Pop-ups will be held in Millerton, the City of Poughkeepsie, Pawling, and Union Vale in the coming days.
o In total, nearly 5,000 total first and second doses will be given this week through DBCH and its partners.
o Additional doses have been allocated by New York State to hospitals and pharmacies in Dutchess County; updates about these vaccine allocations are posted at dutchessny.gov/covidvaccine.
Additional vaccine doses are available at New York State-run sites, which includes SUNY Orange in Middletown and the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz. Some other locations in the county, such as CVS, Tops Pharmacy, and others, are receiving doses from the Federal Government and residents can use the CDC’s Vaccine Finder for information about these locations.
• The State announced all individuals ages 16 and older are now eligible to be vaccinated. Residents are reminded that only Pfizer’s vaccine has received emergency use authorization for those 16 and 17 years of age.
• The County Executive announced beginning Saturday, April 10th Dutchess County residents in need of transportation to and from their vaccination appointments at DBCH Fixed PODs will be able to ride Dutchess County Public Transit buses for free. Further details on this new service will be announced later this week.
• As vaccine allocations continue to increase, residents who have completed the Dutchess County Vaccination Information Request Form are encouraged to watch their emails for appointment scheduling links as the County has begun sharing links for last-minute appointments at County sites that are available due to cancelled appointments or individuals being notified already having been vaccinated, as well as vaccination clinics hosted by other providers in the area. These appointments will be limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Once allocations have increased sufficiently, the County will return to sending emails about future appointments and posting appointment links on the County website.
• Residents who have already been vaccinated and completed the Dutchess County Vaccination Information Request Form can remove themselves from the County’s list by completing the form at dutchessny.gov/GotMyVaccine to help expedite notification about appointments available at County sites to others waiting to be vaccinated. Individuals will still receive weekly updates to share with friends and loved ones still waiting for their shot.
• DBCH will host a virtual public forum on Chemical Dependency and Substance Use services offered in Dutchess County on Thursday, April 8th. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear an overview on services, ask specific questions of providers, and offer feedback. To register for this event, or offer comments ahead of the forum, visit DutchessNY.gov/ForumComments.
• Registration opens Thursday, April 8th for the Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management’s next Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Event, on Saturday, May 8th from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Dutchess County Department of Public Works, located at 626 Dutchess Turnpike in the Town of Poughkeepsie; residents can access the event by taking Route 44 East to Burnett Boulevard. The collection is open to Dutchess County residents only. Residents can register online or by calling (845) 463-6020.
• Dutchess County Public Transit (DCPT) is hosting an online survey now through April 16th for residents to share information on their past, present, and future use of DCPT services, as well as private transportation services, as part of an ongoing transit study to develop ways to further enhance the transit system. The survey is available online in English and Spanish and Dutchess County residents who complete the survey can also enter their email address to be entered to win one of four $25 Visa gift cards. Visit the Dutchess County Public Transit website for more information or, for assistance completing the survey, contact DCPT at 845-473-8424.
County Executive Molinaro will host his next Facebook Live Town Hall on Wednesday, April 14th at 3 p.m. As always, residents are encouraged to watch live on the County’s Facebook page.