Jenkins, White Plains’ Roach Test Positive as COVID Cases Skyrocket
Westchester’s Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins and White Plains Mayor Tom Roach tested positive for COVID-19 within three days of each other as the explosion of active cases likely fueled by the Omicron variant accelerates.
Jenkins, who said he was told of his positive last Thursday, and Roach, whose office issued a statement on Monday after the mayor received his test result Sunday night, are isolating at home with mild symptoms.
They join County Executive George Latimer, who learned of his positive case on Dec. 13, in isolation as the county and at least one local government are taking precautions to limit community spread.
Jenkins compared his symptoms to a cold with a bit of a cough, some body chills and aches but no fever. He said he was fully vaccinated and boosted in October. He is eligible to complete his isolation on Dec. 26.
“Vaccinations are the means to reduce the severe hospitalizations and fatalities, and going through this particular process right now, I feel fine,” Jenkins said.
The statement from Roach’s office offered a similar scenario.
“The Mayor’s symptoms are mild, but he is taking every precaution, including isolating at home,” the statement read. “Mayor Roach is thankful that he received 2 doses of vaccine plus a booster shot and cites this as the reason he is not suffering more severely. He continues to carry out the work of the Government from his residence.”
An alarming spike to a 7.2 percent positivity rate for Westchester on Saturday was coupled with a jump to 7,468 active cases, a more than 50 percent surge in under a week. Putnam County had a 10 percent positivity rate on Saturday.
Latimer, speaking virtually from his home in Rye on Monday as he continues to isolate, said that the rapid increase in cases is leading to long delays for people who want to get tested. As a result, Westchester has asked the state to temporarily re-establish testing sites at the County Center in White Plains and Glen Island Park in New Rochelle.
A positive development is that hospitalizations are under control. As of Saturday, there were 134 COVID-19 patients being treated in Westchester hospitals. Considering the rate of increase in cases, it is a relatively low number, Latimer said.
“Given the astoundingly high number of infections, we’re hopeful that the number of hospitalizations are as low as 134,” Latimer said. “We might have thought that they would be double that by now, so we’re cautiously optimistic.”
During last winter’s peak, when cases peaked at more than 11,500 on Jan. 18, there were more than 500 hospitalizations.
Other steps the county is taking is to distribute 500,000 masks from its stockpile to local businesses, nonprofit organizations and religious institutions, sending 35,000 tests kits to some of the public health facilities in economically stressed areas, including the Mount Vernon Health Center, the Greenburgh Health Center, Open Door Family Medical Centers and the Hudson River Health Care Center in Peekskill.
Latimer said he has sensed that in recent weeks residents are getting tired and upset with the latest surge and the precautions that are needed, thinking the worst of the pandemic had been in the past.
“I am concerned by the agitation I see out in the community, people who are now almost two full years off normalcy, they worry their kids won’t go to school, they worry about not being with loved ones for the holidays, they’re much more agitated, much more anxious, looking for somebody to blame, irritated,” Latimer said.
All Board of Legislators meetings and those of their committees will return to virtual only at least through Jan. 31.
On Monday, the Town of Yorktown announced that its municipal office will be closed to visitors. Anyone doing business at Town Hall must call or e-mail staff in advance. The John C. Hart Memorial Library in Shrub Oak will return to porch pickup service only.
There will also be a resumption to online-only public meetings starting Tuesday evening. The situation will be re-evaluated during the first week in January.
“These actions are common-sense responses designed to protect the health and safety of the public and our employees,” said Supervisor Matt Slater. “I ask everyone doing business with our Town to have patience and understanding. We are still open for business by phone and email.”
The Town of Ossining has also returned to virtual board meetings in recent weeks.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
