Columbia County Dept of Health Update

As of 3 PM on April 22, 2020:

-Unfortunately we have had another death. Columbia County has now had 13 community members that have passed away from COVID-19
-131 positive cases of COVID-19
-56 of the 131 cases have recovered from COVID-19
– 9 of the positive cases are hospitalized, 3 of those are in the ICU
-We have received 988 test results completed for Columbia County residents
-129 residents are under mandatory quarantine and 12 under precautionary quarantine

COUNTY ANTICIPATES RECEIPT OF CLOTH MASKS FOR PUBLIC

As of Wednesday, Columbia County Director of Emergency Management David W. Harrison, Jr., said his office expects the receipt of 21,500 cloth masks from New York State as part of its Cloth Mask Distribution Plan.

“That’s the number we’ve been told to expect,” Harrison said. “Although unfortunately that number represents only about a third of the county’s population, it’s at least a start. We do request that those with access to their own cloth masks to please refrain from taking any of these masks.”

Following the NYS guidelines for distribution, the Columbia County plan centers around the reasoning that town supervisors and mayors know their areas best, and therefore are appropriately suited to determine where and how the cloth masks should be given out within their jurisdictions, he added.

Based on the population of each town and the City of Hudson, the plan provides masks to each municipality, with more masks going to areas with higher numbers of residents, which for our county are also the areas with a concentration of restaurants, retail stores, and foot and vehicle traffic, among other factors.

Additional information will be forthcoming as the number of masks is verified and plans are further refined.

STATEWIDE COVID-19 STATISTICS

As of Wednesday morning, said Director Harrison, Jr., New York State reported that 649,325 tests for COVID-19 had been administered statewide. Of that number, 251,690 yielded a positive result.

There are currently 16,076 individuals hospitalized, with 1,308 of those newly hospitalized. At this time, 14,828 have died from the virus.

INFORMATION FOR DONATIONS MONETARY: 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. Matt B. Murell Chairman Kelly S. Baccaro Clerk Ronald L. Knott Deputy Chairman James J. Guzzi Deputy Chairman

MASKS: 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/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diycloth-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.

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.

REMINDER OF SERVICES AVAILABLE

Family Assistance Network: 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 and Emergency Management Facebook page. 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.