Campaign encouraging residents to stop the spread of COVID-19 will be heard on radio spots and social media platforms
KINGSTON, N.Y. – Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan today announced a new public awareness campaign in response to the beginnings of a second wave of COVID-19 in Ulster County. The campaign started this week and will run through the New Year. The ads will be played on over a dozen area radio stations and be featured on the County’s social media pages.
“We know that this is a make or break moment for us as a county and a community,” County Executive Pat Ryan said. “As we see our numbers increase to levels that we have not seen in months, we must remain proactive to blunt a much more significant second wave. We will be doing everything that we can to remind residents to continue to social distance, wear masks, and take all precautions necessary.”
“All of the data shows that we are in the early stages of a second wave,” said Ulster County Commissioner of Health Carol Smith. “This new campaign will serve as another reminder that we are all in this together. As we enter the holiday season, let’s spread cheer instead of COVID.”
On Monday, County Executive Pat Ryan announced the county’s new mobile rapid response team including a rapid mobile testing vehicle. The new rapid testing capability will bolster Ulster County’s rapid response plan. The bus, equipped with four rapid testing machines and staffed by public health nurses, will be dispatched to high-risk locations identified as potential clusters in order to screen out positives as quickly as possible.
Additionally, over the weekend, County Executive Ryan convened a call with county and municipal leaders where he updated them on the evolving COVID-19 situation in Ulster County and urged them to make preparations and to continue to enforce COVID-19 precautions. Last week, County Executive Ryan stated that Ulster County is seeing the beginnings of a second wave in Ulster County and called upon all residents to take the sudden rise in positive cases seriously. As hospitalization rates and active cases rise to levels not seen since early summer, County Executive Ryan urged residents to adhere to health precautions like social distancing and wearing a mask.
Since early October, Ulster County has seen a consistent uptick in cases and hospitalizations. Ulster County’s hospitalization rate is at the highest it has been since early May, and active case rates are at the highest point since early-June.
Residents can find information about their nearest testing location and both walk-in testing sites and mobile testing sites by visiting https://covid19.ulstercountyny.gov/covid19-testing/.
For additional information about COVID-19 visit: https://ulstercountyny.gov/coronavirus
Ulster County COVID-19 Hotline: 845-443-8888
NYS Coronavirus Information Hotline: 888-364-3065