ALBANY – The State Health Department reported on Friday that there are 43 confirmed/probable cases of monkeypox in the Hudson Valley.
Westchester County has recorded the most cases at 32. Dutchess and Rockland each recorded three cases. There were two cases in Orange County and one each in Columbia, Greene, and Sullivan counties.
Governor Kathy Hochul has issued an executive order declaring a state disaster emergency in response to the outbreak.
The executive order enables the state to respond more swiftly to the outbreak and allows healthcare professionals to take additional steps that will help get more New Yorkers vaccinated.
The executive order specifically extends the pool of eligible individuals who can administer monkeypox vaccines, including EMS personnel, pharmacists and midwives; allows physicians and certified nurse practitioners to issue non patient specific standing orders for vaccines; and requires providers to send vaccine data to the State Health Department.
“More than one in four monkeypox cases in this country are in New York State, and we need to utilize every tool in our arsenal as we respond,” said the governor. “It’s especially important to recognize the ways in which this outbreak is currently having a disproportionate impact on certain at-risk groups. That’s why my team and I are working around the clock to secure more vaccines, expand testing capacity and responsibly educate the public on how to stay safe during this outbreak.”
