Molinaro’s Extensive COVID-19 Outreach Continues with Latest Online Town Hall

Dutchess County, NY sent this bulletin at 08/12/2020 04:45 PM EDT

Molinaro’s Extensive COVID-19 Outreach
Continues with Latest Online Town Hall

Poughkeepsie, NY… Five months to the day since the first positive case of Coronavirus/COVID-19 in Dutchess County was reported, County Executive Molinaro today hosted his latest online Town Hall Forum about the pandemic, providing residents with the latest updates and answering their questions.

County Executive Molinaro has hosted more than 30 such virtual discussions, and an archive of the online conversations, including today’s, can be viewed on Dutchess County Government’s YouTube page.

Among the highlights of today’s discussion:

• County Executive Molinaro reviewed Dutchess County’s most recent COVID-19 data posted on the County’s COVID-19 data dashboard:

o 4,619 total confirmed cases
o 103,993 tests completed
o 235 current active cases
o 2 hospitalizations
o 153 deaths
o 4,231 recoveries
o 1% infection rate

• Andrew Evans, Coordinator of Communicable Disease for the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health’s (DBCH) Communicable Disease Control and Preparedness Division, joined County Executive Molinaro to provide additional information about the pandemic and answer residents’ questions. Mr. Evans has been an integral part of the County’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Team and has been involved with providing guidance to schools about contact tracing as part of their re-opening plans.

• County Executive Molinaro provided residents an update on a decline in the County’s sales tax revenue during the pandemic. New York State provided Dutchess County its latest sales tax payment last week, which was a 4.6 percent decrease, compared to the same time in 2019; sales tax supports 40 percent of Dutchess County Government programs and services. The County’s sales tax revenue, year-to-date, is down 10.7 percent over 2019. On Tuesday, County Executive Molinaro joined his counterparts from Suffolk and Broome counties for a virtual press conference, calling on the federal government to deliver disaster assistance for counties dealing with unprecedented budgetary shortfalls and increased costs caused by the pandemic.

• Five weeks since the Mid-Hudson region, including Dutchess County, entered Phase 4 of the state’s “NY Forward” re-opening process, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not provided guidance about permitting establishments such as gyms, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and indoor wedding venues. Earlier this week, the governor updated the list of states from which travelers must quarantine for 14 days, adding Hawaii, South Dakota and the Virgin Islands to the travel quarantine list, while taking Alaska, New Mexico, Ohio and Rhode Island off the list. There are now 33 states and two territories on New York’s travel quarantine list.

Gov. Cuomo last week announced school districts throughout the state will be allowed to open for in-class instruction in September, provided their individual re-opening plans receive approval from the state health and education departments. Districts have until this Friday to submit their plans, outlining how they can educate students safely to the state, and are awaiting final endorsement.

• Dutchess County will continue its longstanding partnership with the Dutchess County SPCA to holds its next free rabies vaccination clinic on Saturday, August 29th, from 8 a.m. to noon at the DCSPCA, located at 636 Violet Avenue in Hyde Park. Vaccinations for dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets are free for Dutchess County residents, and non-residents will be charged $10 for each pet vaccinated; proof of residency is required. Pre-registration is required by visiting the Dutchess County SPCA website at DCSPCA.org.

• County Clerk Brad Kendall will host a small, socially distant naturalization ceremony this Friday, August 14th, in the County Office Building’s Legislative Chambers to welcome 17 new American citizens. The event will be live streamed on the County’s website.

• U.S. Census counters began collecting information door-to-door earlier this week, visiting only homes whose residents have not already filled out their 2020 census form. County Executive Molinaro stressed the importance of every County resident to fill out their census form, as census counts play an important role in how much federal funding the County and local communities receive; how legislative district lines are drawn; and how many congressional seats each state receives. The County’s current census response rate is 62 percent. Census counters in the field will carry proper identification and have been extensively trained in social-distancing protocol. The deadline for residents to submit census information is September 30th.

• County Executive Molinaro announced Dutchess County will host a free, socially distant, drive-in movie event at Wilcox Memorial Park, located on Route 199 in the Town of Milan, on Friday, August 28th. The movie, “The Secret Life of Pets 2,” will be screened in the park’s main parking area, which will open to cars at 6:30 p.m. Attendees must pre-register at dutchessny.gov/parksevents. This drive-in movie night is a carry-in, carry-out event. Picnics and coolers are allowed, but glass containers, smoking, and alcohol are prohibited on park property. Restrooms will be available.

• A week after Tropical Storm Isaias impacted Dutchess County, County Executive Molinaro provided another, brief recap of the storm’s effect on local communities. The storm resulted in 72,238 power outages throughout the County: 58,653 reported by Central Hudson, 13,585 reported by New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG). Both utility companies reported earlier this week that power had been restored to all storm-related outage areas. County Executive Molinaro has scheduled two virtual meetings with mayors and supervisors of the County’s 30 municipalities to recap the storm and its local impact, as well as how to plan for future significant weather events.

County Executive Molinaro will continue his outreach about the pandemic on Wednesday, August 19th, when he hosts his next virtual Town Hall Forum, which will be broadcast live on the County’s Facebook page. As with each of the County Executive’s 30-plus online forums since March, American Sign Language interpreters will translate the August 19th discussion, as residents ask their questions virtually.

FAREGOUND INC. WILL PROVIDE DINNERS TO GO ON SATURDAY AUGUST 22, 2020. PLEASE SEE INFORMATION BELOW AND SHARE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS

Fareground, Inc., a charitable 501(c)(3) is a women-run food justice, anti-hunger organization, dedicated to nourishing the community by increasing access to healthy and affordable food by supporting and creating opportunities for delicious meals, education, and volunteer opportunities. Fareground aims to collaborate to serve the community in a variety of ways to create fair ground. With a focus on healthy food and accessibility for all, Fareground will support the necessary changes to build local food security.

Fareground strives to:

• Provide local, organic food whenever possible. We work with local farms and organizations to secure donations or affordable food.
• Honor our community and all of its members, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, religious beliefs, political beliefs, education levels, or socioeconomic class. We value inclusivity and equity.
• Reach out and help to meet the needs of our community. We connect with the community in a variety of ways (I.e. coat drives, food drives, first responders to crises, social services, etc.).
• Eliminate hunger by creating a bridge between communities by addressing poverty and sustainability. We are continuously examining privilege and disparities and disrupt this whenever possible.
• Be as ecologically sound as possible and maintain the utmost respect for our environment. We recycle and compost and use actual dishes, cups, and cutlery to prevent waste at any time.

Please scroll down and read about the Census from Marc Molinaro.

Attention Residents of Beacon Housing Authority, the Census Bureau workers will only ask for your name, address, how many in your household, ethnicity and race and they may ask for your phone number.

These workers will have a badge with their name and picture as well as a Census Bureau bag and phone to input the information.

They will NOT ask for your Social Security number or any financial information.

If someone comes to your door or calls on the phone and states they are with the Census Bureau and starts asking about your social security or financial information do not talk to them and notify the authorities.

Molinaro Urges People to Fill Out Census as
Workers Start Going Door to Door

Census Completion Deadline Shortened to September 30th

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro reminds residents today that the U.S. Census count is underway and noted, “everyone needs be counted to ensure federal dollars flow fairly to communities.”

Census workers are now beginning to go door-to-door to collect responses from households which have not yet completed their census. Dutchess County’s response rate is currently at 62 percent, since the census began in March.  

Every 10 years, as required by the Constitution, the U.S. Census Bureau undertakes the count, which largely determines how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funds are distributed across the country. Census data is also used to determine the number of seats in Congress each state receives, and congressional and legislative lines will be redrawn based on these numbers. The federal government relies on census information — including the final headcount — to allocate funding for everything from highways to hospitals.

“There is a lot at stake and we need to make sure we are all counted to ensure we are properly represented and receive the funding our communities depend on,” County Executive Molinaro said. “Fortunately, it doesn’t take long to complete their census, whether you do it online or spend a few minutes with a local census worker who knocks at your door.”

In Dutchess County, census workers began collecting responses door-to-door today, August 11th. They will be visiting households that have not responded to the questionnaire through the internet or by phone or mail. Originally, the census count was to be completed this month but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the Census Bureau had to temporarily suspend all field operations. While the Census Bureau was working under an Oct. 31 end date, it was recently announced the count will now end on September 30th, making the census workers’ mission even more challenging.

“With the deadline shortened, it’s essential people fill out the form as soon as possible and help spread the word to their neighbors and friends about how important the census is to their communities,” County Executive Molinaro said.

Local individuals employed as census workers carry a valid U.S. Department of Commerce ID badge with their photograph and an expiration date. They wear masks and following local public health guidelines, having completing a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing and other health and safety protocols. Census assistance is also available by calling (844) 330-2020 for English or (844) 468-2020 for Spanish.

However, people do not have to wait until a census worker knocks on their door. They can go to My2020Census.gov and fill out the form, which takes about 10 minutes to complete. Personal information collected through the census is kept confidential for 72 years.

In 2019, County Executive Molinaro established the Dutchess County Complete Count Committee to conduct outreach and raise awareness about the importance of the census. Committee members represent various organizations from throughout Dutchess County and have a broad range of experience in community outreach. In the year since its inception, the committee has made presentations at municipal meetings and attended community events to educate the public about the importance of the census.

To find out more about the census and the Complete Count Committee, visit DutchessNY.gov/census2020.

“100 years ago, people understood that it was smart to wear a mask. So why don’t people get it today?”

PSA Uses Archival Photos of The 1918 Influenza Pandemic to Drive Mask Compliance

National PSA Campaign Has Been Viewed by Over 4 Million Americans Nationwide

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today released a new “Mask Up, America” Public Service Announcement, highlighting the effective use of masks during the 1918 deadly Influenza Pandemic that infected 500 million people – a third of the world’s population. The advertisement features archival photos of the use of masks during the 1918 outbreak, which was crucial to preventing the spread of the deadly virus, to inspire Americans to wear masks today. This new PSA is one in a series launched by the Governor to inform the public on the importance of wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the PSA campaign has been viewed by over 4 million Americans nationwide. 

“All the data and science show that masks work, and it is essential that everyone wear a mask to protect one another and further prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Governor Cuomo said. “Our message is simple: I wear a mask to protect you and you wear a mask to protect me, and by using historical images and targeted approaches in our integrated “Mask Up, America” campaign, this new advertisement will help educate the public and further drive mask compliance.”  

This new national PSA is part of Governor Cuomo’s nationwide “Mask Up America” PSA campaign, featuring Robert De Niro, Kaitlyn Dever, Jamie Foxx, Morgan Freeman, John Leguizamo, Anthony Mackie, Rosie Perez, Ellen Pompeo, Paul Rudd and Jeffrey Wright.

HVCS invites you to participate in their celebration of International Overdose Awareness Day

Hudson Valley Community Services (HVCS) will be conducting a live stream via Facebook Live on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at 12:00pm. HVCS will broadcast videos of personal experiences, messages from community service providers, an online memorial  to remember those lost to overdose, and a Narcan training and demonstration. The entire program should last less than 90 minutes and will be re-watchable on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/HudsonValleyCommunityServices/)

HVCS welcome you to be a part of their virtual observance of International Overdose Awareness Day!

 Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro commenced his sixth month of outreach to residents regarding Coronavirus/COVID-19 yesterday hosting his most recent of more than 30 online Town Hall Forums – providing residents with the latest updates and answering questions about the pandemic as well as the County’s ongoing response to Tropical Storm Isaias.

An archive of the online conversations, including today’s, can be viewed on Dutchess County Government’s YouTube page.

Among the highlights of today’s dialogue:

• Dutchess County Emergency Response Commissioner Dana Smith joined the County Executive to update residents on the County’s ongoing response to Tropical Storm Isaias, which impacted the region on Tuesday.

Dutchess County’s 911 Communication Center dispatched over 1,100 storm-related calls between 7 a.m. Tuesday and midnight Wednesday. Highway crews from the County’s Department of Public Works have been addressing roadway issues and are coordinating with Central Hudson and NYSEG to clear downed trees and wires to reopen roadways as quickly as possible.

As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 37,000 Central Hudson customers in Dutchess County remained without power, in addition to some 13,000 reported by NYSEG. Central Hudson reported complete service restoration is expected to take several days, and potentially into the weekend; NYSEG estimated that 50 percent of outages should be restored by tomorrow, with the remainder restored over the following days. Due to limited availability and high demand, ice, dry ice, and bottled water distribution sites are closed for today and both utilities are working to establish additional distribution sites for tomorrow.

Wilcox Park is currently closed due to downed trees and wires, and Parks staff is assessing damage and cleaning up Dutchess County’s other parks and trails. Visitors should expect sporadic closures of portions of parks and rail trails while clean-up takes place.

• County Executive Molinaro reviewed Dutchess County’s most recent COVID-19 data posted on the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard:

o 4,557 total confirmed cases
o 96,461 tests completed
o 240 current active cases
o 3 hospitalizations
o 153 deaths
o 4,164 recoveries
o 1% infection rate

• The County Executive renewed his support for low-income residents who were “rent-burdened” before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for the state’s Rent Relief Program after the state extended its deadline for applications to Thursday, August 5th. More than $100 million is available to low-income residents who pay more than 30 percent of their gross monthly income for rent and have experienced an additional decrease in income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Dutchess County and the Mid-Hudson region commenced Phase 4 of the state’s “NY Forward” re-opening process on July 7th, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday amended New York’s list of states from which travelers must quarantine, adding Rhode Island to the travel quarantine list while taking Delaware and the District of Columbia off the list. Currently, 34 states and Puerto Rico remain on New York’s travel quarantine list.

• For the period July 19th to August 2nd, the New York State Department of Health reported 165 individual cases of COVID-19 in Dutchess County; 64 of those reported cases were inmates at Downstate Correctional Facility in the Town of Fishkill and Green Haven Correctional Facility in the Town of Beekman. Though those 64 cases of COVID-19 were contracted in the two correctional facilities, each operated under the auspices of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and not any County or local jurisdiction, the state assigned the cases as occurring within Dutchess County and, as such, appeared on the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard.

• More than 170 Dutchess County Government employees across numerous departments and divisions have applied for the County’s separation incentive program, which has been offered in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its anticipated economic impact. The County anticipates saving between $10 and $15 million in the 2021 County Budget through the separation incentive program, depending on how many applications can be approved; separations will be approved the employee’s position can be held vacant or if there is an offsetting position that can be held vacant. Employees were offered three options from which to choose as part of the program:

o eligible for retirement only: an additional 10 percent County contribution on retiree health insurance and 100 percent County-covered vision and dental coverage for 10 years from date of retirement;
o eligible for retirement only: an additional 10 percent County contribution on retiree health insurance and $10,000 separation payment; or
o eligible for retirement or separation: $20,000 separation payment.

The Dutchess County Legislature’s Budget, Finance & Personnel Committee will consider a resolution Thursday that would authorize the incentive program for 2020 and pay for employee benefit payouts and incentive payments.

County Executive Molinaro’s next virtual COVID-19 Town Hall forum will occur on Wednesday, August 12th; residents can view the conversation on the Dutchess County Government Facebook page and submit their questions in the comment section. American Sign Language interpreters will translate the discussion live on Facebook, as they have for all 30 of the County Executive’s previous virtual conversations.POWERED BY

“New Yorkers are doing better than anyone expected, but we’re staying cautious,” Governor Cuomo said. “Look at what’s going on across the country, look at those increases, look at the number of states included in our travel advisory, and look at incidents of lack of compliance. The numbers are a result of New Yorkers’ actions–we have been disciplined and we have to stay disciplined. In terms of enforcement, local governments have to do a better job. We’re doing everything we can on the state side.” SHARE

Click on following links: AUDIO PHOTOS

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 874 establishments in New York City and Long Island and observed 29 establishments that were not in compliance with state requirements. Over the weekend, the Task Force visited more than 3,000 establishments and observed 106 establishments not in compliance with state requirements. A county breakdown of yesterday’s observed violations is below:

• Bronx – 6
• Brooklyn – 3
• Manhattan – 6
• Queens – 8
• Staten Island – 2
• Nassau – 2
• Suffolk – 2

Today’s data is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization – 536 (-20)
• Patients Newly Admitted – 58
• Hospital Counties – 30
• Number ICU – 136 (-7)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 62 (-9)
• Total Discharges – 73,279 (+57)
• Deaths – 3
• Total Deaths – 25,172

New Yorkers are doing better than anyone expected, but we’re staying cautiousGovernor Andrew M. Cuomo