Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell announced that Wednesday, May 19, 2021 will mark the return to near normal that we’ve all been longing for when the fully vaccinated can remove their masks in public settings, and restaurants, gyms and other businesses can be open to full capacity for customers who are vaccinated.
“I want to say ‘Thank you’ to the people of Putnam County,” County Executive Odell said. “All your hard work – the isolation, the closures, the social distancing, the great care we took to protect others from getting sick – it all paid off and we did it. It’s been a very long road, but now we’re back.”
County Executive Odell was among a bipartisan group of six county executives who had urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday to adopt the CDC’s guidelines and allow those who are fully vaccinated to stop using masks in most settings.
“New York needs to follow the science-backed guidance of the CDC,” read the statement from County Executive Odell, Orange County’s Steven M. Neuhaus, Rockland’s Ed Day, Dutchess’ Marc Molinaro, Suffolk’s Steve Bellone and Pat Ryan of Ulster County. “As we continue to see active cases, hospitalizations and deaths steadily dropping day by day and more people receiving vaccinations, the Governor should implement the CDC’s common-sense guidance.”
Odell noted that even President Joe Biden said the CDC’s guidance on May 13 made a “Great day for America.”
The next day, the governor announced that New York State would allow fully vaccinated people to go unmasked indoors and out as of Wednesday. Those who are not yet vaccinated will still be required to wear masks and social distance in all public places, the CDC and state guidelines say. And everyone – vaccinated or not – must still be masked on public transportation and in schools, nursing homes, homeless shelters, correctional facilities and healthcare facilities.
Private businesses are free to follow the CDC guidelines or maintain their own mask requirements. The state will no longer impose capacity or social distancing limits on restaurants, if they ask customers for proof of vaccination, such as the Excelsior pass or vaccination card. Otherwise, social distancing requirements apply.
County Executive Odell said that Putnam County employees who are vaccinated can return to work unmasked. Those who have not yet been vaccinated must be respectful and protect themselves and other unvaccinated people by wearing a mask. Anyone who is exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 must still isolate themselves and present proof of a negative Covid-19 test before returning to work.
As of Tuesday, 62.7% of all Putnam residents over the age of 15 have had at least one dose of the vaccine and 45.1% have been fully vaccinated.
Leaders throughout Putnam County government said they were excited about the lifting of restrictions for their vaccinated staff and clientele.
“The County Clerk and DMV offices have been open serving our customers throughout the pandemic, but now our fully vaccinated customers may visit our offices without masks if they choose as per CDC guidance,” Putnam County Clerk Michael C. Bartolotti said. “The appointment system implemented during the pandemic greatly improved our customer experience when visiting our offices. Given the success of the appointment system, we have decided to keep it in place for the foreseeable future.”
“I’m looking forward to hearing from and actually seeing our constituents at our Legislative meetings,” Deputy Chair Sullivan said. “I’ve missed the public feedback and hearing people’s viewpoints. It’s been hard to have meaningful dialog over audio calls and computer.”
The governor’s executive order regarding remote governmental meetings remains in place through June 9. Barring another extension of that order, Sullivan expected normal Legislative meetings to return then.
Perhaps no one in the county was more excited about the lifting of capacity and mask restrictions for the fully vaccinated, than Michael Cunningham, Director of the Office of Senior Resources said.
The county’s senior centers in Carmel, Mahopac, Putnam Valley and Philipstown were among the first institutions closed when the coronavirus pandemic struck in March 2020. Seniors have been “chomping at the bit” to return to the centers and see their friends ever since, Director Cunningham said.
“Since we closed last March, the first question we’ve heard from every senior is ‘When are you opening up again?’” he said. “And as much as our seniors have missed coming here, our staff has missed seeing them. We are all looking forward to welcoming them back on Monday when we reopen.”
Cunningham estimated that more than 90% of the seniors who regularly use the centers have been vaccinated.
County Executive Odell reiterated that the lifting of mask restrictions is only for the fully vaccinated.
“There are plenty of vaccinations available,” she said. “The county Department of Health is holding clinics frequently, now you can even just walk in without an appointment. Pharmacies have them, doctor’s offices have them. The vaccines are safe and effective. It’s only because of vaccines that our life is getting back to normal. I urge everyone to get vaccinated as quickly as possible.”
For more information on vaccination clinics, see putnamcountyny.com/covid-19-vaccine-information/
For state regulations on specific industries, see forward.ny.gov/