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Update -COVID numbers--why long lines at testing sites--restaurant dining bubbles not safe. I spoke with the Westchester County Commissioner of Health, Sherlita Amler today about the COVID cases.  We talked about the long lines at testing sites which are due to great demand for testing as students and family return for the holidays. Ken Jenkins, Deputy County Executive advised me that it is his "understanding that there are simply not enough people to work in administering the testing. Hence the long lines." The Commissioner told me that restaurant dining bubbles which are becoming popular around the metropolitan area raise COVID safety concerns. These clear, igloo like structures are used by restaurants because the cold weather threatens outdoor dining.  Not much cross ventilation. Droplets people produce when they are talking or breathing inside the bubble can be spread. This is today's breakdown of cases  Unincorporated Greenburgh has 135 cases;  Dobbs Ferry 46; Tarrytown; 37; Elmsford 23;  Hastings 18;  Ardsley 5;  Irvington 10 https://dailyvoice.com/new-york/greenburgh/news/covid-19-the-numbers-are-not-good-latimer-says-breakdown-of-westchester-cases-by-community/798458/ Current Westchester COVID Data Westchester Cases: 47,262 (+421 overnight) Westchester Tests: 1,031,624 (+8,343 overnight) Westchester Fatalities: 1,500 (+10 over the last week) New York State Cases: 602,120 (+5,906 overnight) New York State Tests: 18,187,840 (+191,489 overnight) New York State Fatalities: 26,390 ·         County Executive Latimer spoke about long lines at testing facilities. CE Latimer expressed that, per our understanding at this time, these lines are due to increased demand for testing as students and family return for the holiday. o   CE Latimer reiterated the importance that municipalities inform their constituencies that testing is not a viable procedure through which to ‘vet’ family members attending large gatherings. Tests may not detect especially early infection, and infection (and contagious spread) is possible through any interval between the administration of the test and the gathering. ·         County Executive Latimer discussed ongoing efforts through Westchester’s 5 Yellow Zones. Westchester County is distributing masks and hand sanitizer, and is partnering with community organizations to improve communication. o   CE Latimer reiterated Governor Cuomo’s earlier note that some Yellow Zones could become Orange Zones ·         The National Guard are now assisting the collection of travel forms from inbound passengers at the Westchester County Airport. Governor Cuomo has deployed the National Guard at all New York airports in order to support this effort. ·      . ·         County Attorney Nonna is highlighting that local ordinances regarding mask wearing are unnecessary due to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.14, which (among other things) requires “…Any person who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering…” wear a mask in public.  Paul Feiner