Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro hosted his most recent online COVID-19 Town Hall and Tele-Town Hall this afternoon providing the latest updates and news about the local impact of the pandemic and Dutchess County’s response.
Hundreds of residents viewed the event on the County’s Facebook page as the County Executive gave residents updates and answered their questions. The full online discussion can be viewed on Dutchess County Government’s YouTube page.
Highlights from this afternoon’s Town Hall discussion included:
- Just over a week into Phase 1 of the re-opening process, County Executive Molinaro noted the health metrics continue to be encouraging. New York State’s new Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard shows positive trends, including a continued decline in new confirmed cases. The County Executive encouraged citizens to continue wearing masks as required and to take advantage of COVID-19 testing if they have been in settings where they were unable to properly social distance.
- In addition to the industries that are part of Phase 1 – construction, manufacturing, agriculture, wholesale trade and retail for pick up and delivery – dental offices were given the green light by the state to open this past Monday, June 1st.
- The anticipated date for the Mid-Hudson region, including Dutchess County, to commence Phase 2 is Tuesday, June 9th, based on the general guidance of two weeks between phases. However, the final date must be authorized by the Governor. Under Phase 2, the following business categories are allowed to open, provided they reduce capacity to 50 percent, follow social distancing guidelines (including wearing face coverings when less than 6 feet apart) and reduce congregation and personal contact:
- hair salons and barber shops (only haircuts, stylings and colorings are permitted);
- offices;
- real estate;
- in-store retail (fitting rooms must be appropriately sanitized);
- vehicle sales, leases and rentals;
- and commercial building management.
It was announced today outdoor dining at restaurants will be allowed in Phase 2, though tables must be spaced out, and staff must wear face coverings, as do patrons when not at their table. Shopping malls are not allowed to open under Phase 2, though stores located within malls that have their own external entrances open to the public, separate from the general mall entrance, may open as part of Phase 2.
It was also announced this week that day camps may begin operating June 29th.
- County Executive Molinaro reiterated the importance of residents continuing to get tested for COVID-19. Continued testing will give DBCH an accurate assessment of COVID-19 cases in the community, and it will also allow Dutchess County to progress to the next phase(s) of re-opening. County Executive Molinaro again emphasized the need for residents to wear cloth face coverings when they go out in public, in accordance with the Governor’s executive order, to help contain the community spread of COVID-19.
County Executive Molinaro will host another COVID-19 Town Hall on Friday, June 5th at 2 p.m. As with all previous online town hall forums, the June 5th event will be broadcast live on the Dutchess County Government Facebook page, and American Sign Language interpreters will translate the conversation. For information on how to participate and view past online COVID-19 community conversations, view the County’s Coronavirus webpage.
Dutchess County Government continues to provide residents the most current information on its COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard, as well as guidance on its website, dutchessny.gov/coronavirus, its Coronavirus hotline, (845) 486-3555, and its Facebook and Twitter accounts.