YONKERS, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — COVID-19 deaths are rising in Westchester County in an alarming trend that has been increasing since Thanksgiving.
The vaccine has offered hope and sparked optimism, but it cannot instantly erase the virus and halt its onslaught.
During the summer, 11 people in Westchester died from COVID.
County Executive George Latimer said Monday that in the last week, 31 people have been lost.
"And if you go back slightly before that, the number is 59 individuals, so three weeks ago, which would be the Saturday before Thanksgiving, to date, we've lost almost 60 individuals, fatalities, in that period of time. Those numbers are concerning and they bespeak of some issues," Latimer said.
Complacency and pandemic fatigue appear to be driving the spread of the virus and Latimer said this is no time to let our guard down.
Westchester has been on a steady upward trajectory for two months and the county now has nearly 8,600 active cases of the virus.
In Rockland County, there were 11 more deaths in a week.
There are hot spots in Spring Valley, Nanuet and Pearl River.
In Westchester, Port Chester has been an orange zone for weeks.
Cases have also been soaring in Yonkers and New Rochelle.