ALBANY – The rate of new positive COVID-19 cases in the Orange County focus area on Saturday rose by 4.05 percent. In the Rockland County focus zone, the positive rate increased by 1.45 percent. In the Westchester focus area, the rate jumped to 12.06 percent.
Those three counties are not the only ones in the state with increases.
Erie County was at 8.17 percent, Onondaga County was at 5.90 percent, and Chemung County was at 5.80 percent.
State officials believe the numbers are increasing because people are staying inside more with the cooler weather, Halloween gatherings, and relaxed social distancing, face coverings and hand sanitizing.
Health officials around the country fear the pandemic will get worse before it gets better as vaccines near approvals and distribution.
| COUNTY | TOTAL POSITIVE CASES | NEW POSITIVE CASES |
| Columbia | 877 | 7 |
| Dutchess | 6,144 | 70 |
| Greene | 583 | 5 |
| Orange | 15,031 | 121 |
| Putnam | 2,134 | 43 |
| Rockland | 19,723 | 156 |
| Sullivan | 1,969 | 13 |
| Ulster | 2,768 | 30 |
| Westchester | 44,093 | 437 |
