Columbia County Board of Health Update

As of 3 PM on April 25, 2020:

– Columbia County has had 13 community members that have passed away from COVID-19
-149 positive cases of COVID-19
-74 of the 149 cases have recovered from COVID-19
– 13 of the positive cases are hospitalized, 3 of those hospitalized are in the ICU
-We have received 1,129 test results completed for Columbia County residents
-145 residents are under mandatory quarantine and 25 under precautionary quarantine

Columbia County Update

DISTRIBUTION OF CLOTH MASKS TO PUBLIC UNDERWAY

On Saturday, Columbia County Emergency Management Director David W. Harrison, Jr., said that “emergency management personnel, working with sheriff’s deputies, sheriff’s corrections officers, and Sheriff David Bartlett, divided and delivered just over 21,500 cloth masks received from New York State to each town and the City of Hudson over the past few days. As of Friday, all the masks have been delivered to the municipalities.”

The towns with villages within will coordinate with the village mayors for masks. Each municipality will determine how, when and where to distribute the masks while considering guidance provided by New York State.

“While many in the public are anxious to receive their mask, I’d ask county residents to please understand that NYS required the Emergency Management Office to develop and submit a plan, pick up the masks from Albany, divide and deliver them to the municipalities countywide with almost zero notice. Some municipalities are still working on how, when and where they will distribute the masks to the general public and may not have posted the information yet,” Harrison said.

Harrison asked that those with access to cloth masks from another source to please refrain from taking any of these masks. “The number of cloth masks received represents only about a third of the county’s population, but it’s at least a start and we are happy to have them,” he added.

EXECUTIVE ORDER TO CLOSE SUMMER CAMPS SOUGHT

Following consultation with the Columbia County Health Department and the County Attorney’s office, county officials have concluded that summer camps with children and counselors cannot properly maintain social distancing. With that in mind, county Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell said Saturday that the county will request authority from the state DOH to issue an Executive Order closing the camps. This order would be renewed every five days until it is determined safe to open the camps.

If permission is not granted for this Order, Murell said the county DOH would issue a strong recommendation for summer camps to not operate during the COVID-19 crisis. Matt B. Murell Chairman Kelly S. Baccaro Clerk Ronald L. Knott Deputy Chairman James J. Guzzi Deputy Chairman

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.

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.

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/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. Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts is offering free mask kits. Those seeking to acquire a kit are advised to order online for curbside pickup. The Greenport store telephone number is 518-828-2621. Current store hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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/coronavirus-covid-19 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. 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.