Friday, April 22, 2022

Chairman’s press release

COVID-19 cases

As of Thursday, per the CDC, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases remains in the low risk category.

Also as of Thursday, the CDC-reported current average of new daily cases per 100,000 of population stood at 13.3. The positive test rate is 7.1 percent.

Although New York State has lifted the mandate for mask wearing while inside a business, local health care officials continue to encourage the wearing of masks while indoors, particularly for those with health problems.

Additional information on daily COVID-19 cases and more can be found on the Columbia County Department of Health’s website at https://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com

From the DOH Director

For the fifth week in a row Columbia County has seen a small but significant increase in COVID-19 positive cases. As of noon today there have been 134 positive cases for the week, up from last week’s 112.

“If we go back to the beginning of this five-week period we had 42 cases the third week of March. So the jump is pretty significant over that time,” said Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb. He added that despite the increase, he remains optimistic that warmer weather will bring a drop off in cases. The number of hospitalizations stands at five, up a little from last week but nowhere near the numbers seen in past surges.

“With over 90 percent of county residents over the age of 18 having had at least one vaccine, I think you can say that vaccines are doing the job of keeping people from getting seriously ill or ending up in the hospital,” says Mabb.

The DOH will continue to offer vaccines at Columbia Greene Community College on Thursdays from 3p.m. to 5:30p.m. First and second doses as well as first and second boosters are available, as are pediatric Pfizer vaccines for eligible children. A link for easy signup is on the department’s website, but walk-ins are also welcome.

County vaccination and infection rates

As of Friday, April 22, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,281 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,558. The vaccine administered is Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. Note: J&J – a one dose vaccine – is added as a first shot.

Third shots (boosters) of Moderna or Pfizer now number 3,982. Fourth shots (boosters) of Moderna or Pfizer now number 172. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 63.

Pediatric first shots number 584, with 571 second shots.

The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website:

45,474 have received at least one dose, or 75.9 percent of the county’s 59,916 population.

In the community

Twin County Recovery Services provides an array of substance use disorder services throughout Columbia and Greene counties. Services include school-based prevention education as well as substance use disorder residential treatment, outpatient treatment, and harm reduction programs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an unprecedented increase in opioid overdose mortality. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, treatment, prevention, and harm reduction strategies appeared to be succeeding. The rapid increase in opioid-related overdose deaths leveled out in 2018 and 2019, only to jump nearly 30 percent in 2020. The pandemic worsened an overdose crisis already at record levels. There were 4,965 recorded overdose deaths in New York in 2020, which is the highest number the state has ever experienced.

The Covid shutdown created new obstacles to substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services. Simultaneously, Covid-related fear and isolation lead to increased alcohol and drug use. When Twin County Recovery Service were needed most by our community it became difficult for the community to access our services.

Twin County Recovery Services staff and community partners quickly adapted and found new ways to provide its necessary services. School-based prevention education was delivered virtually whenever possible. We relied heavily on telepractice to provide outpatient treatment, medication assisted treatment, and other harm reduction strategies. Covid protocols in place, Twin County’s mobile unit Greener Pathways was still present in communities throughout both counties. The movement of residential clients was restricted statewide. Twin County Recovery Service implemented strict Covid health and safety protocols in each residential treatment program to keep staff and residential clients in a safe therapeutic environment.

One very positive outcome of the Covid pandemic is the expansion of telepractice to deliver substance use disorder treatment service. This is particularly true in the most rural regions of Columbia and Greene counties, where transportation remains an obstacle to care.

For more information go to https://www.twincountyrecoveryservices.org/

Submitted by Keith Stack, administrator, Twin County Recovery Services, Inc.

Student testing, home testing and affirmation reports

Due to low response, the county DOH has discontinued the school COVID testing PODs. The DOH will continue to provide testing for students and staff of Columbia County schools who need a negative test to return to school. This will be by appointment only at the DOH Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:45- 3:30 p.m. Parents may contact (518) 828-3358 X1251 to schedule these appointments when needed. This testing will still only be for staff/students of Columbia County schools who need a negative COVID test to return to school.

Also available on the county DOH website is information on filing home testing reports as well as affirmation letters of quarantine and/or isolation that may be required by employers.

Upcoming DOH vaccination clinics

The Columbia County Department of Health is offering first, second, and third doses of COVID-19 vaccines as well as boosters for those aged 16 and above at Columbia-Greene Community College every Thursday in April from 3- 5:30 p.m. The DOH will offer a pediatric (ages 5-11) Pfizer clinic at this clinic. Those who are receiving boosters or subsequent doses of vaccine should bring their vaccine record card. Future clinics will be held on a walk-in basis – registration links will no longer be posted. Further information is posted on the county DOH website at columbiacountynyhealth.com.

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 or their Facebook page @: https://www.facebook.com/Columbia-County-Department-of-Health-469399129790791. The state’s coronavirus website, with up-to-the-minute information, can be located at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home. Every Friday afternoon, Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell will issue a press release on the coronavirus situation. 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.