ALBANY – While the number of new cases of COVID-19 in the region have declined in recent months, it is still very much a presence as the state health department reported eight more deaths from the virus in the latest report.
Three people succumbed in Orange County last Friday while one person each died in Columbia, Putnam, Ulster and Westchester counties.
The state said the Omicron variant now represents more than 95 percent of the viruses in circulation.
A total of 315 additional people have tested positive for the virus including some who have been previously vaccinated against it.
| COUNTY | TOTAL POSITIVES | NEW POSITIVES |
| Columbia | 12,341 | 4 |
| Delaware | 9,250 | 2 |
| Dutchess | 76,033 | 45 |
| Greene | 9,981 | 1 |
| Orange | 124,990 | 45 |
| Putnam | 28,253 | 14 |
| Sullivan | 21,918 | 7 |
| Ulster | 38,441 | 29 |
| Westchester | 301,863 | 131 |
