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Health officials are cautioning that Putnam could soon become a designated COVID-19 “yellow zone” micro-cluster as the positive infection rate continues to spike.
An area is designated as a “yellow zone” if it sees positive infection rates of 3.5 percent or more for 10 straight days.
Putnam has been above that threshold for seven straight days.
According to the most recent information from the Department of Health, the infection rate recently rose to 6.3 percent on Sunday, Nov. 15, and 6.4 percent on Monday, Nov. 16.
The Hudson Valley has also seen a spike, with the positive infection rate rising from 3.6 percent on Saturday, Nov. 14 to 4.3 percent on Monday.
Yellow zone restrictions include a 25-person maximum capacity on mass gatherings, four-person to a table maximum while dining, and 20 percent weekly testing of in-person students, faculty in schools. Bars and restaurants located in the zone are also subject to curfews.
Schools will also have to beef up testing of students and staff members each week if they want to remain open.
“Putnam residents have come too far to go back,” health officials stated. “Please continue to wear your mask, keep your distance, wash your hands, and avoid gatherings with people outside of your household.”
There have been 2,243 positive COVID-19 cases in Putnam since March, with an overall positivity rate of 3.1 percent.
"The number of cases across the country and in New York are only continuing to climb. Despite our success in managing the spread, New York is not immune to this national surge of COVID," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. "Our micro-cluster strategy and testing capacity will help us through this new season, but ensuring we don't go back to where we were in the spring is going to depend on our behavior.
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