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April 19, 2020 Update

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Sunday, April 19, 2020
From: Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell
COUNTY CHAIRMAN ISSUES FACE COVERING REMINDER
As a reminder, Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell said Sunday, the wearing of a face covering is now mandatory when six feet of distance cannot be maintained between yourself and others.
“If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot maintain that distance, you must wear a mask or some sort of cloth covering over your nose and mouth,” Murell said. “It’s simple. If the virus cannot find a host, it will die.”
Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports has shown that a high population of county residents are still working, many are visiting grocery stores and pharmacies, and many continue to visit others.
County Department of Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Chuck Kaiser said the upcoming expansion of testing capability in the county will enable officials to get a better picture of how the virus is affecting the community.
“Friday we had one of the highest one-day counts of new cases for Columbia County,” Kaiser said. “Whether that will continue to trend up for the next week or so we don’t know yet. Testing surges will skew those trends but can help confirm the ‘those tested’ to ‘those positive’ ratio. We can then extrapolate that to the larger population at hand to get an idea of what percentage of our population have the disease. Once approved, accurate, serologic tests come on board, this will help us determine not only those who recently were infected, but also those who may have developed an immunity. This is vital information that will assist in our planning moving forward.”
COUNTY LEADS IN INFLUENZA CASES
On top of the COVID-19 situation, the New York State Department of Health’s Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report shows Columbia County leading the state’s 62 counties in influenza cases for the week ending April 11, county Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said Sunday.
The report is calculated based on lab-confirmed influenza cases per 100,000 of population, according to the state DOH.
STATEWIDE COVID-19 STATISTICS
As of Sunday morning, said county Director of Emergency Management David W. Harrison, Jr., New York State reported that 596,562 tests for COVID-19 had been administered statewide. Of that number, 236,732 yielded a positive result.
There are currently 16,967 individuals hospitalized, with 5,002 of those admitted to the ICU. At this time, 13,362 have died from the virus.
FAMILY ASSISTANCE NETWORK IS THERE TO HELP
As part of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Columbia County Emergency Management has asked leaders in the human services and spiritual areas of our community for help, Director of Emergency Management David W. Harrison, Jr., said Saturday. The individuals were asked to form a Family Assistance Network to provide information to assist county residents who may be dealing with someone close to them who passed away as a result of the COVID-19 virus.
Information on where someone can reach out for help is posted on various websites, including the Columbia County website at: www.columbiacountyny.com and the Columbia County Emergency Management Facebook page.
MASK DONATIONS; FREE FABRIC AVAILABLE
Those interested in donating masks should contact Austerlitz Town Supervisor and county Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Rob Lagonia at [email protected]. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s five or 100, we need every one,” said Lagonia, who recommends that those wishing to help out with mask donations consult CDC guidelines at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
Currently, Ocean State Job Lot stores are offering free fabric for use in the construction of masks in a “Mask Fabric For Free” campaign. Visit any Ocean State location for the fabric, which is said to be of a high-quality cotton/polyester blend available in two sizes. Further information is available on the Ocean State Job Lot website.
MONETARY, FOOD DONATIONS
Those wishing to make donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as N95 masks, face shields, and gowns, are advised to contact the Emergency Management Office at 518-828-1212. If no one answers, leave a message and someone will return the call.
Food donations should be directed to the county Office for the Aging (518-828-4258) and local food pantries. Monetary donations intended for the purchase of much-needed equipment for emergency responders, medical personnel, and others on the front lines of the coronavirus fight are advised to send a check in care of Columbia County, with coronavirus noted in the memo field. The check can be sent to the Columbia County Controller’s Office, 401 State Street, Hudson, NY 12534. All money received is being placed in a dedicated account.
HOTLINE FOR ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE
Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett has established a hotline for the elderly and vulnerable in our county, including those with medical conditions or are disabled, who would welcome a deputy checking on their well-being on a daily basis. The number for the hotline is 518-828-0601, extension 1400.
SELF-ISOLATION
Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell continues to urge anyone migrating from outside Columbia County to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival. “Everyone should consider they are a carrier of the coronavirus,” said Murell.
DISCLAIMER
It is the county’s intention to issue accurate information regarding the coronavirus situation under conditions that can change by the minute. For the most up-to-date, accurate information, visit the County Department of Health’s website at https://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com/home/coronaviruscovid-19 or their Facebook page @: https://www.facebook.com/Columbia-County-Department-of-Health469399129790791/. The state’s coronavirus website, with up-to-the-minute information, can be located at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home.
The county will issue a daily press release on the coronavirus situation every afternoon at 4. The releases can be found on the Columbia County website and the Facebook pages of the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Health, and the Emergency Management Office.
Columbia County Emergency Management
Family Assistance Network (FAN)
The purpose of this group is to provide emotional, spiritual and logistical support for residents who have non-health related COVID 19 related needs. Support providers for the FAN include spiritual leaders
of religions and denominations and mental health professionals.
Emotional/Mental Health Support
Columbia County Department of Human Services/Mental Health Center:
Phone: 518-828-9446
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm
24/7 crisis line; Counseling services for children and adults offered remotely (telephone or video sessions); Care Coordination services for adults and children offered remotely; website resources
Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT) of the Mental Health Association of Columbia and Greene Counties, Inc.
Phone: 518-943-5555
Hours: 7 days/week 8am-10pm
Crisis counseling offered remotely; referrals to local services; wellness checks offered remotely
Spiritual Support
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Division
Phone: 518-828-1212
Hours: 24/7 (leave a message if necessary and someone will call back)
Comprehensive computerized directory of Columbia County worship sites and religious leaders.
Overcomes Ministries w/GOD Belongs in our County
Phone: 515-604-9094 Access Code: 425879573  Toll Free Prayer Line
Hours: Daily 7-9am; 5-9pm
Faith leaders from across the County will be available to provide support for anyone who wants to reach out. Group reflections, compassionate prayers, encouragement to go through this with verses that build courage and strength, referrals for 1:1 pastoral care; partnering with the Emergency Operation Center.
Logistical Support
Columbia County Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Phone: 518-828-1212
Hours:   24/7  (leave a message if necessary, and someone will call back)
Assistance obtaining information for a family member of someone who passed away during the COVID-19 crisis in Columbia County; assistance with contacting a local Funeral Home; assistance with contacting a County Coroner; assistance with determining the location of a deceased loved one; assistance with moving required documents that need signatures, between the person making arrangements for a deceased loved one and a local Funeral Home if no transportation is available.
Update from the Columbia County Health Department
As of 1 PM on April 19, 2020
-Columbia County has had 11 community members that have passed away from COVID-19
-118 positive cases of COVID-19
-53 of the 118 cases have recovered from COVID-19
– 10 of the positive cases are hospitalized, 3 of those are in the ICU
-We have received 882 test results completed for Columbia County residents
– 103 residents are under mandatory quarantine and 12 under precautionary quarantine
-There are 2 residents with suspected, not tested cases
Below you can find the breakdown of confirmed, positive cases of COVID-19 in Columbia County as of Friday, 4/17. We will be sharing this information each Friday afternoon.
By learning the towns of positive cases we don’t want anyone to feel a sense of false confidence that the virus is not in their community. In order to slow the spread, we need to stay vigilant on prevention measures no matter where the positive, confirmed cases reside.
Ancram- 4
Canaan- 1
Chatham- 4
Copake- 4
Livingston- 3
Germantown- 4
Ghent- 14
Hillsdale- 6
Hudson- 18
Greenport- 5
Kinderhook- 11
Claverack- 2
New Lebanon- 3
Stockport- 1
Clermont- 1
Pine Haven Residents- 26
Livingston Hills- 1
We still strongly recommend that everyone treat each and every person you see like they are COVID-19 positive by practicing social distancing, proper hand hygiene, avoid touching your face and common surfaces, and most importantly STAY HOME until absolutely necessary to leave. By learning the towns’ positive cases we don’t want anyone to feel a sense of false confidence that the virus is not in their community. In order to slow the spread, we need to stay vigilant on these prevention measures no matter where the positive, confirmed cases reside.
Social distancing continues to be a priority for the community’s health. Prevent the spread by staying home, staying 6ft away from everyone, and understanding that commonly touched items ARE a possible means for the virus to transmit from person-to-person. Do not touch your face, sanitize these surfaces frequently and STAY HOME to protect those who cannot.
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