These services are provided virtually and can be accessed via the number listed below
NY Project Hope helps New Yorkers understand their reaction and emotions during COVID-19. Through an emotional support helpline, educational materials, and trusted referrals, NY Project Hope helps people manage and cope with changes brought on by COVID-19.
Project Hope Crisis Counselors understand what you are going through. Talking to them is free, confidential, and anonymous. Talk to someone who is trained, knowledgeable and never judges. Sometimes it helps to talk with someone you don’t know.
In his latest briefing, Dr. Anil Vaidian, Commissioner of the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health, discusses how New York State’s expansion of its COVID-19 vaccine eligibility today has impacted the limited local availability of the vaccine the state has distributed to Dutchess County.
Dr. Vaidian also explains how the vaccination process will take months to complete — the governor last week, for example, stated vaccinating eligible New Yorkers in Phases 1A and 1B will likely take 14 weeks — while providing several options for local residents to receive updates about the process, including Dutchess County Government’s Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as the County’s free Dutchess Delivery system, which sends updates about specific topics, including COVID-19 and its vaccine, directly to residents’ email inboxes.
He also provides residents with the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline, which residents can call to schedule a vaccination appointment.
Yesterday I delivered my annual State of the State address. There are moments in life that can change a person fundamentally, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Likewise, there are episodes in history that transform society and COVID is one of those moments. New York sees this moment for the crisis it is, but also the opportunity it presents. COVID transformed New York and so we must plan for what the state will look like post-COVID. This coming year, economies will realign and reset around the world. From defeating COVID to expanding telehealth to election reform, this year we will Reimagine, Rebuild and Renew New York.
Here’s what else you need to know tonight: 1. Starting yesterday, New Yorkers in Phase 1b groups are now eligible to receive the vaccine. New Yorkers in Phase 1b include individuals age 75 and up, first responders, teachers, public transit workers, grocery store workers and public safety workers. See the full list here. New Yorkers age 75 and up will primarily be vaccinated at pharmacies and can use the Am I Eligible tool to find vaccination providers near them, or they can call the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). Public employees (for example, police departments, public school teachers and MTA employees) who are also part of Phase 1b will primarily be vaccinated through their groups’ relevant health programs or as organized by their unions. Appointments are REQUIRED to be vaccinated. Note that due to limited supply of the COVID vaccine from the federal government, it could take up to 14 weeks for eligible New Yorkers to schedule their vaccine shot. 2. Total hospitalizations rose to 8,645. Of the 203,904 tests reported yesterday, 13,714, or 6.72 percent, were positive. There were 1,427 patients in ICU yesterday, down 10 from the previous day. Of them, 891 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 170 New Yorkers to the virus. 3. There are three new confirmed cases of the UK variant in New York State. Over the weekend, the Department of Health confirmed two new cases in Saratoga County, related to the first case of the virus strain, as well as an unrelated case in Nassau County. 4. As of 3:00pm Monday, New York has administered 605,677 vaccine doses. Of those doses, 511,369 were administered in hospitals, while 94,308 were administered in Long Term Care facilities. With the beginning of Phase 1b vaccinations today, we will keep up the pace and ramp it up even further.
Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: When school facilities across the state were shuttered earlier in the pandemics, the Ithaca-based Vitamin L Chorus saw an opportunity to inspire others—despite not being able to perform its usual in-person concerts at elementary schools across the state. The group, who has performed at schools and festivals across the state for more than three decades, produced a music video of their new song called “We Keep Going,” written in and for the COVID-19 era.
With the state’s expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility this morning, many residents in Phase 1B have inquired about where they can get their vaccination. The state will open a statewide vaccination hotline (1-833-697-4829) at 4 p.m. today where eligible residents can schedule a vaccination appointment.
We continue to ask residents for patience, as the governor announced last week vaccinating all New Yorkers in Phase 1A and 1B will likely take 14 weeks, but no one will miss their shot.
We encourage you to check http://www.dutchessny.gov/covidvaccine for updates on available appointments at the County-operated PODs, when more vaccine is made available to Dutchess County. There you can access the state’s “Am I Eligible?” online tool, which will list local providers offering the vaccine, when it becomes available.
There are no appointments currently available at the points of dispensing (PODs) established by Dutchess County Government due the limited number of doses made available to the County from New York State.
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced the County’s Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) has established initial Point of Dispensing (POD) sites where the County will administer COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible residents as vaccine is available. These sites will be open next week by appointment only from 10am to 4pm for eligible individuals in Phase 1a and 1b as determined by New York State’s Phased Distribution Plan. Appointment availability is based on vaccine allocation provided by New York State.
Initial DBCH Points of Dispensing (PODs) will be operated at the following locations:
Additionally, DBCH is partnering with Northern Dutchess Hospital for vaccinations to be available at the Health Annex at Northern Dutchess Hospital located at 107 Montgomery Street in Rhinebeck. Under New York State’s phased distribution process, individuals in Phase 1a are currently eligible for vaccinations. Phase 1a includes hospital staff, direct care providers and emergency responders.
Governor Cuomo announced late yesterday that individuals in Phase 1b are eligible for vaccination starting Monday, January 11th. Phase 1b includes:
· People 75 and older · Teachers and education workers · First responders · Public safety workers · Public transit workers
County Executive Molinaro said, “Though New York State’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccine has been slow and sorely lacking, Dutchess County has planned for weeks how to best dispense the doses we do receive efficiently and effectively. The opening of these initial Points of Dispensing sites is the next step in ensuring eligible residents have access to this life-saving vaccine.”
Dutchess County’s PODs are in addition to current locations, including local hospitals, that are dispensing vaccine to eligible priority groups, and the expanded location network being established by New York State. Residents can utilize the State’s online Am I Eligible? tool to determine if they are currently eligible for vaccinations and, if eligible, will see a list of the various locations in the State’s network.
Current vaccine supply is very limited and Governor Cuomo announced on Friday that distribution to Phase 1a and 1b is expected to take 14 weeks based on current projected vaccine availability. Eligible residents should anticipate it may be several weeks before they can get an appointment as demand far exceeds supply.
County Executive Molinaro said, “Dutchess County stands ready to quickly dispense each and every dose of vaccine we receive into the arms of eligible residents. We encourage residents who are currently eligible to get vaccinated, and we urge patience as this process will take time due to limited vaccine availability. We must continue to all work together to stop the spread of coronavirus – so keep wearing a mask, washing those hands and physical distancing, then get vaccinated as it becomes available to you.”
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced the County’s Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) is now using a texting program to provide guidance and direction to residents who test positive for COVID-19. Across the state, as the high volume of new daily positive cases continues, it has become increasingly difficult for case investigators to connect with individuals who test positive in a timely manner, even with additional staffing resources available. The texting application provides those who test positive for COVID with important information about how to properly isolate and notify close contacts to prevent the spread of the virus, as well as other resources and information.
The County has partnered with Rumble Up, a texting platform, for this additional notification tool. The program, which is available to residents who provide their cell phone number to providers at the time they are tested for COVID-19, allows DBCH to concurrently alert multitudes of residents of their positive test results and offer them follow-up instructions regarding quarantining — alleviating the already-overwhelmed contact tracing and case investigation apparatus.
County Executive Molinaro said, “Time is of the essence when working to stop the spread of COVID-19: The quicker our Department of Behavioral & Community Health can notify residents they’ve tested positive, the quicker they can quarantine and notify their close contacts to isolate. Dutchess County has been a statewide leader in recruiting contact tracers, and this new texting tool will complement these tracers’ exhaustive efforts to keep our community as safe and healthy as possible.” While the additional staff have made tremendous progress connecting with those who test positive, the addition of the new text-messaging platform will increase the efficiency of these tracers’ productivity, giving the County the ability to reach countless residents with just a few keystrokes, and expands the case investigation process efficiency.
DBCH Commissioner Dr. Anil Vaidian said, “Hundreds of local contact tracers — volunteers and DBCH staff alike — have worked countless hours for months to stop the community spread of COVID-19, notifying their fellow residents who have tested positive and providing them vital information to keep them and their contacts safe. Though the recent uptick in positive cases has stressed the system, our new text notification system will augment our tracers’ tireless efforts, instantaneously reaching hundreds of residents with positive cases, while providing critical resources for themselves and those they may have unknowingly exposed.” While DBCH has begun vaccinating eligible individuals against COVID-19, vaccine supply remains limited and most residents are not yet eligible under the New York State vaccine administration plan, making it critical to continue to prevent the spread of the virus.
“The vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel but make no mistake – we are still in tunnel. We still have far too many people impacted by COVID-19 and we cannot let down our guard when we are so close to the finish line. If you test positive – isolate, notify your contacts and stay home to recover,” concluded Dr. Vaidian.
In his latest briefing, Dr. Anil Vaidian, Commissioner of the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health, discusses the current priority groups New York State has authorized to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the establishments of points of dispensing as vaccine eligibility expands, and the importance of frontline responders to get vaccinated. More information about local COVID-19 vaccine distribution is available on Dutchess County Government’s Vaccine Information webpage.
The BHA office does close due to inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions. We recommend that you call ahead if you have an appointment and the weather is questionable.
