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Increasing COVID-19 numbers in Rockland is sending some county employees to work from home. Staff from designated departments will, starting tomorrow, join their colleagues who were already working remotely to ensure the continuation of critical government services, though in-person meetings will be limited. And speaking of in-person meetings….

New York’s governor is predicting a huge spike in COVID cases after Thanksgiving. Andrew Cuomo says it’s just a matter of human behavior…

Several groups have filed emergency applications asking the U.S. Supreme Court to remove New York’s COVID-19 limits on attendance at houses of worship. The Times Herald-Record reports Agudath Israel of America, a national group representing Orthodox Jewish congregations, and two Orthodox congregations from New York City filed an emergency application on Monday. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brooklyn filed its application on Thursday. Both claim Cuomo’s executive order restricting attendance for houses of worship is unconstitutional. New York State Attorney General Letitia James has until Friday to respond.

Pfizer announced yesterday that new test results show its coronavirus vaccine to be 95% effective, up from the estimated 90% effective rate announced last week. Pfizer and its co-development partner said the vaccine is safe and protects older people who are most at risk of dying. They will formally ask U.S. regulators to allow emergency use of the vaccine. Globally, the companies expect to produce up to 50 million vaccine doses this year. Pfizer has research and development facilities in Pearl River.

COVID-19 by the numbers now, here in Rockland, we’ve lost another to COVID, the death toll now at 691. We’ve got one in the hospital being examined, another 51 are hospitalized confirmed with coronavirus, and a total of 1,524 active cases. The state says since the crisis began, we’ve had a total of 20,176 reported cases, 132 more than Wednesday.

The County Department of Health is warning Rocklanders of a possible coronavirus exposure at a Clarkstown Church. A staff member at St. Francis of Assisi in West Nyack tested positive for COVID-19 and was at two masses during the infectious period. That was Sunday, November 8th, at 10:15 am and noon. If you attended these masses, you should contact the Rockland County Department of Health at 845-364-2997 to see if you need to quarantine.

COVID-19 by the numbers now, here in Rockland, we’ve got 50 in the hospital confirmed with coronavirus, and a total of 1,370 active cases. The state says since the crisis began, we’ve eclipsed the 20,000-mark, for a total of 20,044 reported cases, 140 more than Tuesday, and the number of deaths in the county since the pandemic began remains at 690.

What was once a red zone in Ramapo has now been changed by the state to yellow, so all 14 schools in the East Ramapo School District will be open for in-person learning starting today. The North Rockland Central School District announced Friday they are considering a “Holiday Pause” of in-person instruction, and instead going fully-remote, possibly starting next Monday and running through Tuesday, January 19th. A decision is expected this week.

Rockland’s county executive is blasting the governor’s micro-management of the COVID crisis. Late last week, governor Andrew Cuomo issued new restrictions on restaurants and bars, gyms, and anyone with a state liquor license, along with indoor and outdoor gatherings at private homes. On Friday, Ed Day told “The Morning Show” limiting restaurants and other businesses’ services after 10pm doesn’t make sense…

Governor Cuomo meanwhile is taking aim at the president who threatened to withhold vaccines from New Yorkers after Cuomo called for an independent review of the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness before its release…

Cuomo said the state is considering legal action if the federal roll out of the vaccine is deemed to be unfair.

COVID-19 by the numbers now, here in Rockland, we’ve added two more deaths to the total over the weekend since the pandemic began, we’re now at 689. We’ve got 39 in the hospital with confirmed cases of coronavirus, and a total of 1,216 active cases. The state says since the crisis began, we’ve had a total of 19,567 reported cases, 153 more than Friday.

After months of delays, the East Ramapo Central School District now has enough laptop computers for each student in the district. The district’s superintendent says 6,224 Chromebook laptop computers from Dell are being distributed to students and families. The delays reportedly stemmed from production shutdowns in China. T-Mobile is also creating 2,100 Wi-Fi hot spots for students to use with the new laptops.

New York’s governor yesterday launched new COVID-19 restrictions for indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences, thanks to the spread of COVID from recent Halloween parties. The gatherings will be limited to no more than 10 people. Bars, restaurants, gyms, and anyone with a State Liquor license will have to close from 10pm to 5am daily. Restaurants will still be allowed to provide curbside, food-only pick-up or delivery after 10pm, but can’t serve alcohol-to-go. The new rules go into effect tomorrow night at 10.

COVID-19 by the numbers now, here in Rockland, we’ve got one in the hospital being examined, another 30 have been confirmed with coronavirus, and a total of 1,100 active cases. The state says since the crisis began, we’ve had a total of 19,277 reported cases, 144 more than Wednesday, and the number of deaths since the pandemic began is 687.

Coronavirus appears to be making its way through Rockland schools. Rockland has also lost two more to the virus. The North Rockland Central School District is considering pausing in-person instruction in all its schools and going to a fully remote learning model during the holidays through the middle of January. In a letter sent to North Rockland parents, Superintendent Kris Felicello said rising positivity rates in the county and district could force the shift to full remote learning starting Monday, November 23rd. Felicello said yesterday the district learned of several positive COVID cases, including a student at Willow Grove Elementary, another student and a staff member at West Haverstraw Elementary, and an employee of Haverstraw Transit. A final decision on the potential move is expected this Monday.

Tappan Zee High School in the South Orangetown Central school district will be closed at least until Monday, perhaps longer, due to staffing issues, after an individual there tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday morning. Classes will continue online as scheduled.

Strawtown Elementary in Clarkstown Central was dismissed early yesterday after a student tested positive for COVID-19. The school will go 100% remote learning and return to hybrid instruction on Monday, November 23rd. Link Elementary was also sent home early yesterday after a Rockland BOCES staff member tested positive. Both schools will be closed for cleaning through Thursday. Classes at Link will be 100% hybrid until further notice.

Nyack High School is scheduled to re-open Friday after being closed October 29th due to a positive COVID test.

COVID-19 by the numbers now, here in Rockland, two more people have been lost to coronavirus, the total up now to 687. We’ve got one in the hospital being examined, another 24 have been confirmed with the virus, and a total of 992 active cases. The state says since the crisis began, we’ve had a total of 19,133 reported cases, 138 more than Tuesday.