Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the red zone micro-cluster in Orange County has met the metrics to shift to an orange zone.
"In terms of adjustments of the micro-clusters, Orange County has made very good progress,” Cuomo said in a statement.
The area's positivity rate dropped from 12% to 2% in three weeks, Cuomo announced. Cuomo also said the rate of new daily hospital admissions flattened.
Cuomo also announced that local health departments will be allowed to require that mask mandates be extended at all times in public and private schools.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer responded to the mask mandate announcement:
“I want to start out by thanking Governor Andrew Cuomo for approving our request for a mask mandate in Westchester County’s school districts. Throughout the pandemic, we have experienced first-hand just how much mask wearing, when coupled with social distancing, can help curtail the spread of COVID-19."