COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in Orange and Ulster counties as residents cope with the virus’ delta variant.

As of Aug. 5 there had been 49,246 positive cases in Orange County since the onset of the pandemic. That figure is up approximately 800 from the number of positive cases on July 1. Deaths have remained nearly stagnant, as only one new death in Orange County was reported between July 29 and Aug. 5. In total, the virus has claimed the lives of 868 residents. As of Aug. 5 there were 24 confirmed hospitalizations due to COVID-19, which is almost five times the figure that was reported on July 6.

“A year ago when we had no vaccine we had an increase of nine from the day prior,” Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said during his COVID-19 briefing on Aug. 5. “Yesterday we had an increase of 106 from the day prior.”

As of Tuesday morning, the Town of Wallkill led all Orange County towns with 92 active cases. At that time, the Town of New Windsor had 79 active cases while the Town of Newburgh had 60. The City of Newburgh had 54 active cases while the Town of Montgomery had 48. The Town of Crawford had far fewer active cases, as the municipality had only 14 as of Tuesday morning.

Like Orange County, Ulster County has also seen an uptick in positive COVID-19 cases. There were 265 positive cases in the county as of Aug. 8, which is up considerably from the 14 positive cases that were reported on July 1.

“The delta variant of COVID-19 presents a significant escalation in risk to our entire county, to every resident,” Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said during his COVID-19 briefing on Aug. 3. “But in particular a much greater risk to unvaccinated residents.”

As of Tuesday morning, the Town of Lloyd had the second most active cases in Ulster County (31), trailing only Saugerties. Shawangunk had 22 cases while the Town of Marlborough had 18 at that time. Plattekill and Gardiner saw fewer active cases, as those municipalities had only 14 and three cases as of Tuesday morning.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 77 percent of New York counties should recommend mask wearing for all people indoors, regardless of whether or not they are vaccinated. 48 of the state’s 62 counties should now require the wearing of masks indoors. Federal data shows that 18 of those counties have reached the highest level of community spread. Most of the Hudson Valley is now listed as having high rates of transmission including Orange and Ulster counties.
However, the state has not issued any broad mask mandates. Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged counties to implement their own indoor masking rules and some have. At this time, neither the Orange or Ulster County Executives have issued broad mask mandates.

Ryan did however say that visitors entering county buildings must show proof of vaccination. Visitors who are not vaccinated will be required to wear masks in the county buildings. All unvaccinated county employees are now subject to required weekly testing and must wear masks at work.

Both Neuhaus and Ryan encouraged residents to get vaccinated. They urged residents who are not vaccinated to wear masks and maintain social distance.
“We’ve risen to these challenges before,” Ryan said. “Let’s come together and do it again.”