Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan Tuesday held a live briefing on COVID-19. In his address, County Executive Ryan detailed new efforts between the Ulster County Health Department and senior living facilities in Ulster County to provide a rapid response team. County Executive Ryan has directed the Health Department to reach out to all senior living facilities that are at high risk to offer guidance and to better coordinate a COVID-19 response. This rapid response team will support these facilities with testing, PPE, and setting up health protocols. Ulster County has 13 senior living facilities.

In addition, County Executive Ryan announced plans for a third COVID-19 testing facility in partnership with HealthAlliance. The new location will be located in Midtown Kingston and is expected to be operational next week. In addition, County Executive Ryan acknowledged the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on communities of color. In response, he has directed the Ulster County Human Rights Commission to develop a plan and work with these communities to better ensure equity and access to information, treatment, and other resources.

“As a County, we are working to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the members of our community who are most impacted by COVID-19. I am confident that the work that we are doing with our senior community will undoubtedly save lives,” County Executive Pat Ryan said. “We also must recognize that communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by the virus. Our new testing center in Midtown Kingston will provide additional access for the community and I am looking forward to working with our Human Rights Commission to ensure that we do everything we can to ensure every resident gets the absolute best care and support.”

“The Human Rights Commission will do everything in its power to ensure that residents from underprivileged communities have the resources that they need to keep themselves and their families safe during COVID-19,” Human Rights Commissioner Tyrone Wilson said. “I want to thank County Executive Pat Ryan for acknowledging that the virus disproportionately impacts our community and for working towards a solution to fix that.”

There are currently 1,018 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ulster County and 17 fatalities.