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Putnam County Department of Health

News & Press Releases

A PHAB Accredited Health Department

The Putnam County Department of Health is made of several divisions all working towards improving and protecting the health of the community. Click on one of the options below to learn more about that division.

Health Department Offers Free HIV Tests on HIV Testing Day

07 June 2023

The easiest way to know your HIV status is to get tested. The Putnam County Department of Health is offering free HIV testing for New York State residents on Tuesday, June 27 from 10 am to 2 pm at the health department, located at 1 Geneva Road in Brewster. The test takes just 15 minutes and is completely confidential. Walk-ins welcome. For questions or to make an appointment, please call 845-808-1390 extension 43155.

According to the CDC, there were approximately 150,000 people with HIV in the United States in 2019 who did not know it. It is important to know your HIV status so that, if positive, treatment can begin as early as possible, and you can begin taking steps to prevent transmission to a partner.  If your HIV status is negative, there are still certain steps you can take to lower your chances of getting HIV. Abstinence, choosing less risky sexual activities, having fewer partners, using condoms the right way every time, not sharing drug injecting equipment, or taking medications called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if you are high-risk all can decrease the chances of HIV transmission. Free condoms are always available at the health department in the lobby. Stop by the health department on Tuesday, June 27th to ask about the many ways to reduce risk of HIV transmission. For more information about HIV prevention, visit cdc.gov/hiv/risk/index.html.


Welcome Message

The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health is to improve and protect the health of our community.

We strive to prevent the spread of disease, protect against environmental hazards, promote healthy lifestyles, ensure access to quality health services, and respond to disasters.

We encourage you to explore our website and contact us if you have any questions.

In the event of an emergency, Health Department staff are available 24/7. Please call 845-808-1390 to report a public health emergency, rabies exposure, communicable disease, water outage or sewer overflow.
If you are a member of the media and would like to contact the health department, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Contact the Department of Health


  • Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD

    Commissioner of Health