MARCH 16, 2020 24 Hour Hotline Number: 1-888-364-3065
Website: New York State Department of Health COVID-19
The Village of Nyack offices remain closed with only essential personnel working in Village Hall. We remain committed to helping the public with Village business whenever possible. Village Department telephones will be manned and calls will be returned within a day. Rockland County has declared a State of Emergency and the Governor has asked all bars, restaurants, movie theaters, and businesses where larger groups congregate to close their doors to slow the spread of the virus. Restaurants will be able to provide food delivery and take-out, bars, in an unusual move, will be able to sell take-out liquor. As soon as we have the details on these new rules, we will share them. We will provide more information on the Governor's plan as it becomes available. All of these steps are being taken to reduce the spread of the virus, limit the number of new infections and work toward getting this behind us sooner rather than later. We must all do our part.
We need to work together to not overwhelm our hospitals, protect ourselves from unnecessary exposure to the virus and make sure that the sickest have access to the medical care they need. Your private physicians or the Department of Health Hotline (888-364-3065), either here or, if you are a friend from away, in your own state, can answer key questions. Let the health experts direct you based on their assessment of your symptoms and keep you away from an overly busy hospital full of sick people if you don't need to be there. And direct you to the hospital if they think it is the best place for you to be. Let's all just keep doing the right thing to reduce risks.
We continue to urge residents to responsibly observe social distancing guidelines. Rockland County does have many confirmed cases of the virus including one death and the County should be considered a moderate risk area. With this in mind, we strongly recommend that residents use common sense and appropriate caution. Avoid large gatherings, visit businesses only for necessities, avoid touching your face and wash hands with warm water and soap or use a sanitizer that contains more than 60% alcohol after any time outside of your home. It is important that we reduce the spread of this disease to protect our most vulnerable neighbors…the elderly, those with compromised immune systems including pregnant women, people who have had chemotherapy or people with asthma.
This is going to be a very difficult period for our businesses and our not-for-profits we must commit to supporting them as fully as possible, either online or with take-out now, or in person once this danger has passed. The Village is compiling a list of government programs that will help small businesses recover from this devastating hit and we are researching additional ways that the Village can help. And we know how hard it will be for all of us to stay away from the places we love to shop, eat, drink and see our friends. It is imperative however that we do so to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Nyack is a strong and supportive community and we will get through this. What we can not get through is losing beloved neighbors because we did not take proper precautions or watching our neighborhood hospital overwhelmed with illness that could have been reduced. It is on us to do our part to slow and eventually stop this virus. It will not be easy - but should we not make these important sacrifices now - we will most certainly and devastatingly regret it later.
As hard as this all is, and it is truly hard, take a minute to make a phone call to an elderly neighbor or someone you know may not have family support nearby. Check in remotely with friends, share a picture or some music or let someone know about a good book. In a world that sometimes seems too focused on technology, use this same technology to keep in touch and stay close. Even if we can’t stay side by side, we can still be together.
You can contact us at (845) 358-0548, or visit www.Nyack-NY.gov.
