KINGSTON – Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan has declared a state of emergency in the county in response to rapidly rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and the emergence of the new Omicron variant.
The order is in effect for at least 30 days and will allow the county to more rapidly procure needed testing supplies for local schools, businesses and families; bolster available public health and medical staff resources across the county; and if necessary, to redeploy the workforce to support testing, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts.
In the month since Halloween, active cases of COVID-19 have tripled in Ulster County, bringing the count to its highest level since April 2021.
Ryan is continuing to urge residents to get vaccinated if they have not already, and to get their booster shot if they received their last dose over six months ago. “With the emergence of the Omicron variant, it’s even more urgent to get vaccinated and get your booster. Vaccines remain our most effective tool to stop the virus and save lives,” the county executive said.
