The State of Emergency will be in effect for at least an additional 30 days, the Emergency Order has allowed Ulster County to rapidly procure over 50,000 at-home kits and secure a second school specialist from the State to assist with contact tracing

In the last thirty days, driven by the Omicron variant, active cases in Ulster County have more than doubled to its highest number since February

County Executive Pat Ryan urges the public to get vaccinated, get their booster shot, and continue to socially distance and wear masks when indoors  

KINGSTON, N.Y. – Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced that this week he has signed a thirty-day extension to the State of Emergency order originally enacted on November 28th. The extension of the order comes as cases of COVID-19 in Ulster County, driven by the Omicron variant, have more than doubled in the last month. The order, now in effect for an additional thirty days, has allowed Ulster County to rapidly procure over 50,000 at-home kits and secure a second school specialist from the State to assist with contact tracing. County Executive Pat Ryan has continued to emphasize his goal of responding to the pandemic rapidly in order to keep our schools and local businesses open safely while protecting the community at-large. 

“This emergency order has proven to be critical in allowing us to rapidly respond to the changing public health situation,” County Executive Pat Ryan said. “Our ability as a County to partner with our schools, municipalities, and nonprofit partners, has allowed us to distribute over 50,000 free rapid at-home kits. We must do everything we can, individually and collectively, to prevent another difficult and deadly winter. I encourage all residents to get vaccinated, get your booster, and continue to socially distance and wear masks when indoors around others.”

Since the first declaration of an emergency order on November 28th, the active cases of COVID-19 have reached its highest point since February 11th. Ulster County Executive Pat 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. “The science is clear, with the emergence of the Omicron variant, it’s even more urgent to get vaccinated and get your booster,” County Executive Pat Ryan said. “Vaccines remain our most effective tool to stop the virus and save lives.” 

In addition to two county-run COVID-19 test drive-through distributions events held this week at TechCity and the Ulster County Fairgrounds, Ulster County has again partnered with all 24 municipalities to provide rapid at-home COVID-19 test kits at no cost to all cities, towns and villages. Residents are encouraged to contact their municipality for additional details on how to obtain kits. Please remember to call ahead to make arrangements for outside pick-up, if you are symptomatic, to stem the spread of COVID-19. Each at-home rapid kit contains two tests per-box. To date, Ulster County has acquired over 50,000 COVID-19 at-home rapid kits to distribute directly to families and residents in an effort to allow local schools and businesses to remain open safely while increasing testing capacity and access throughout the area.

Ulster County will continue to hold regular vaccination PODs for residents who need to receive their 1st dose, 2nd dose, or booster dose. Appointments are recommended for the County’s vaccination PODs; although walk-ins will be accommodated as capacity allows. Sign up for an appointment at VaccinateUlster.com.

In addition, County Executive Ryan reiterated the continued need for residents to volunteer to staff and support the county’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts. The Ulster County Department of Health is still accepting volunteers, particularly medical volunteers to be vaccinators, and screeners. Vaccinators need both an active license and current CPR certificate, or can be basic and advanced EMTs with current CPR certificate. Screeners create the record of vaccination for each patient, so they should be computer literate, have attention to detail, and good customer service and communication skills.  Both of these medical volunteers will receive a stipend.  Sign up to volunteer at https://covid19.ulstercountyny.gov/vaccine-volunteer/. 

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