“New Yorkers never cease to amaze me. As tough as we are is as loving as we are and is as big as our heart is.”
– Governor Andrew Cuomo
The Numbers: Increasing as ExpectedTested for Covid-19 - 138,376 people tested in NYS and 16,272 since yesterday.
- 29,515 people tested in Westchester and 3,227 since yesterday.
Please call 888.364.3065 to arrange for testing. Confirmed COVID-19 Cases - 44,635 confirmed positive cases in NYS and 7,377 since yesterday.
- 7,187 confirmed positive cases in Westchester and 1,243 since yesterday.
- 23 confirmed positive cases in New Castle and seven since yesterday.
Hospitalizations Due to COVID-19 - 6,481 current hospitalizations and 1,583 patients in the ICU in NYS. The latter number increased by 290 from yesterday.
- 73 hospitalizations in Westchester and 17 since yesterday.
- On the positive side, 2,045 people in NYS have been discharged from the hospital including 528 since yesterday.
Deaths Associated with COVID-19 - 519 people have died in NYS and 134 passed since yesterday.
- 10 people have died in Westchester and two have passed since yesterday.
Unfortunately, some people are on ventilators for in excess of 20 days. The longer one is on a ventilator the more precarious one’s health.
Ranking of StatesNew York far and away has the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 at 44,635. - New Jersey has 6,876 confirmed cases with 81 deaths.
- California has 4,060 confirmed cases with 82 deaths
The Good NewsWhile we are an estimated 21 days away from the apex, the rate of doubling positives cases is decreasing. 
Worldwide COVID-19 Statistics- 542,788 positive cases, 24,361 deaths, 124,351 recoveries, and 394,076 pending cases
More Hospitals Needed: New SolutionsSimply, NYS needs more hospital beds and is seeking to build four additional emergency or temporary structures of 1,000 beds each. With the assistance of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Governor would like to construct these at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, College of Staten Island, and the New York Expo Center in the Bronx. Ultimately, we want one in every borough as well as Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester. However, we need President’s Trump’s support. Fortunately, the USNS Comfort is arriving Monday.
 Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act: Signed by President Trump The CAREs Act received President Trump’s signature after passing both the House and Senate. Briefly, the Act provides for relatively immediate individual cash benefits, lending to small businesses that have suffered during the epidemic, monies for COVID-19 related healthcare spending and relief for other businesses across the nation and right here in the Hudson Valley https://lowey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-third-package-covid-19-relief-lower-hudson-valley late on Friday.
Supporting Main Street: Small Business Loans Our small businesses make our Main Streets vibrant and give our community an identity. They need our help. Westchester businesses can apply for and potentially secure up to a $10,000 loan within three days by way of a Community Capital Express Loan. Although there are qualification requirements, the interest rates are 2% with terms of 27 months. Additionally, small businesses should apply for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan. Because it takes longer to secure a SBA Disaster Recovery Loan and the amounts are up to $2 million, it is recommended that you commence this latter process first if needed. Additional business development information is available at The Catalyst, Westchester County Economic Development.
Westchester County Taxes: Under ReviewCounty Executive George Latimer and the Board of Legislators will continue reviewing multiple issues in the upcoming week. In no particular order, the County is working to better grasp the actual impact of the pandemic on our sales tax projections and determining how to address upcoming property tax bills payable on or before April 30, 2020.
Schools: Closed Beyond April 1stGovernor Cuomo extended school closures from April 1st to April 15th. The Governor will continue to assess the situation and make a determination whether to open or continue closures before the new April 15th date.
Childcare & Support: Essential Workers Can Contact the CountyIn addition to local school districts, Westchester County is assisting healthcare workers, first responders and essential workers with childcare. Please contact Blanco Lopez at BPL3@westchestergov.com for further assistance and information.
NYS Needs Your Help: N95 Masks, Gloves & GownsOn a statewide level, if you can manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns and masks, please contact Eric Gertler, Empire State Funding at 212.803.3100. If you have PPE to sell NYS, please contact Simonida Subotic, Executive Chamber, at 646.522.8477. If you can procure ventilators, please contact Rachel Baker, NYS Department of Health, at 518.281.5120.  Westchester residents can donate PPE such as N95 masks, gloves and gowns or volunteer to help by emailing ICanHelp@westchestergov.com. Locally, in New Castle, please donate PPE and N95 masks in the bin located inside the New Castle Police Department at Town Hall. Please donate to healthcare workers and those on the frontline who expose themselves protecting you!
Healthcare Professionals: Volunteer in NYS or Westchester CountyAny psychologist or therapist willing to volunteer in the Mental Health Electronic Help Center can find additional information at the NYS Department of Health website. If you are a retired health professional anywhere in NYS, please fill out this form to provide greatly needed services to those in need. Alternatively, if you are in Westchester and you want to volunteer your services locally, please email lajc@westchestergov.com. As of yesterday, over 100 healthcare workers volunteered in Westchester County.
Mental Health Help: Westchester County & NYSWe cannot state say it enough. Not only is some nervousness, rational fear and anxiety normal and a healthy means to ensure you adhere to best practices, but it can also take a terrible toll if not managed properly. There is nothing shameful nor any reason to be embarrassed if you need assistance. The Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health has resources available to those in crisis. If you need support, please call 914.995.1900. Additionally, you can call the Crisis Prevention and Response Team at 914.925.5959 or National Suicide Hotline 800.273.TALK or 800.273.8255. Remember, the NYS Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline is 888.364.3065 and Westchester County residents who are looking for COVID-19 Information can call 211.
Essential Businesses: Updated GuidanceMany residents and businesses are unsure of what is considered “essential” pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Orders. To better determine whether a business enterprise is subject to a workforce reduction under the recent orders, please review materials provided by Empire State Development earlier today. Further guidance from the NYS Department of Agriculture is available for landscapers, garden centers and nurseries.
Metro North: Essential Service ScheduleStarting today, Metro North is not running its regular schedule and instead is adhering to an “Essential Service” schedule. Information about train, bus and other services, including closures, is available here.
Westchester County Parks: Open for NowThe Westchester County Park System remains open for passive use. Nature centers, hiking trails, golf courses, etc. provide an outlet while allowing people to stay far enough apart. However, if visitors do not comply with social distancing, CE Latimer will consider closing the parks. Please know that Westchester County continues to provide guidance on enforcement issues and potential legal action against businesses and individuals that violate any Executive Order. The New Castle Police Department will continue to address problems locally should they arise. There is no decision yet as to opening Playland, beaches, and public pools that are due to open between May and June. Similarly, spring and summer ethnic festivals and movies at night at the Kensico Dam may have to be postponed or cancelled. The county expects to make a decision in about three weeks.
Town Board & Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce: Finding SolutionsThe Chamber and the Town Board met earlier today and discussed, among other things, creating a directory of business professionals and service providers similar to the merchant-restaurant directory. This will give residents the opportunity to contact local businesses that can provide notary, legal, and other services right here in our community. For more information, please reach out to Councilwoman Lauren Levin at llevin@mynewcastle.org.
Other Critical Information: Paid Sick Leave to Unemployment Insurance BenefitsIn an effort to further centralize critical information we receive from NYS or the federal government, New Castle has created a resource center that we will continue to update.
One New Castle: A Family Supporting One AnotherAs Governor Cuomo correctly noted yesterday, in the worst of times people show their true colors. Just like across NYS, the outpouring of volunteerism and support in New Castle has been remarkable even if not unexpected. A heartfelt “thank you” to former Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein and others who spearheaded a drive to donate meals for healthcare providers. Although nearly at their goal of $35,000.00, you can contribute on the GoFundMe page.
New Castle: No Place We’d Rather BeJust like the 62,500 medical staff and the 10,100 mental health professionals who have volunteered, each one of us can make a difference if we take the time and make the effort. Whether it is a phone call to a neighbor or friend, dropping off food for someone, spending money at local businesses, donating PPE, or merely saying “thank you” to the cashier at the grocery, each one of us has a responsibility to our family inside and outside our home. Paraphrasing the Governor, when we look back at this difficult time, we will certainly be REMOVE “a” sad, but we will also be proud of what we accomplished together.
Governor Cuomo’s calm assertion, “When someone needs something, there is not place I’d rather be than New York,” could not be ADD “more” true. However, Supervisor Ivy Pool, Deputy Supervisor Jeremy Saland, Councilmembers Lisa Katz, Lauren Levin and Jason Lichtenthal, Town Administrator Jill Shapiro, and the many nameless members of your hardworking Town staff and those who toil for us as first-responders, would unhesitatingly double down. Yes, we are strong, kind, tough and compassionate, but the only place we want to be is with our New Castle family. Together we will rise above the scourge of the Coronavirus and see one another through these challenging times.
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