Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, Marist dormitories were offered for use of housing for Dutchess County medical workers. As of now, they have not needed to be used.

“When the pandemic broke and its implications for the region were beginning to be understood, the College reached out to the county as well as the two major hospitals to see what, if anything, we could do to assist,” Executive Vice President Dr. Geoffrey Brackett said in an email to the Marist Circle.

One of the requests that came from the College’s conversation with Dutchess County officials was the possibility of using empty residence hall vacant rooms for short term housing for front line doctors and nurses. “While Marist would be glad to assist in this way, thankfully as a region we have not had to pursue any plan thus far,” Brackett said.

According to a March 25 Poughkeepsie Journal report, Dutchess Community College’s Conklin Hall would be the first dormitory to be used if needed. From there, Falcon Hall on the Dutchess Community campus, and Vassar and Marist colleges “may be enlisted in the future if needed, according to the county.”

Brackett said Marist dorms were agreed to be used as overflow housing for medical professionals. “The County never forecast a need to house patients in Marist residence halls and so the request was never made,” Brackett said.

As of April 21, Dutchess County had a total of 2,234 confirmed Covid-19 cases with 1,890 active or confirmed cases not yet recovered. This includes 90 current hospitalizations, 29 deaths and 315 recovered cases.

According to the Dutchess County Covid-19 Community Impact Dashboard, a total of 11,239 tests had been completed by April 21. There are currently 244 active cases reported in Poughkeepsie and 229 in Poughkeepsie City.

“As you and your fellow students know (and exhibit year after year) a commitment to service is one of the foundational principles of the College handed down from the Marist Brothers,” Brackett said in the email. “Dutchess County’s leaders in the private and public sectors appreciate the commitment all members of the Marist community have to the region.”

Meanwhile, Ulster County has seen 1,018 positive cases and 17 deaths as of April 21. Ulster has seen 3,779 negative cases simultaneously. The Villages of Fishkill, Millbrook, Millerton, Pawling, Red Hook, Tivoli, and North East have seen less than five reported cases each.

These numbers are accompanied by Governor Cuomo’s announcement that New York State will take a regional approach to re-opening. “Manhattan is not Buffalo,” Governor Cuomo said in his April 21 address. “Let’s use that same regional template when we talk about re-opening.” The policy will exclude Westchester, Rockland, Erie, Albany and Dutchess Counties, and New York City.

Marist Dorms offered for Frontline Medical Workers Not Needed

MARIST CIRCLE