Friday, August 19, 2022

Chairman’s press release

‘NUMBERS STEADY BUT SIGNIFICANT’

COVID-19 cases

“Positive COVID-19 cases remain elevated,” said Director Mabb. Through this morning, this week the county has performed case investigations on 101 positive individuals. Last week there were 90 positives. “These remain pretty significant numbers considering how many people are testing using home tests that don’t get reported.”

As of Monday, per the CDC, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases remained in the low risk category. On Thursday, the CDC-reported current average of new daily cases per 100,000 of population stood at 20.3. The positive test rate is 13.1 percent.

The New York State Department of Health, in conjunction with the county DOH, will be conducting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the upcoming Columbia County Fair in Chatham. They will be set up behind the grandstand on Saturday, September 3, and Sunday, September 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All COVID-19 vaccines will be offered.

County DOH officials note that the CDC has released updated streamlined COVID-19 guidance, which can be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov

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

Monkeypox

“The County Health Department will be receiving more than 70 doses of the Jynneos monkeypox vaccination next week after a successful clinic at Columbia-Greene Community College, where 35 doses were dispensed last week,” reported Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb this morning. He said the county has recorded three cases of monkeypox in the last two weeks, and has worked with the infected individuals to learn of anyone in their circle who may benefit from the vaccine.

“We’re in a good location for individuals who are looking for the vaccine. Now they won’t have to travel all the way to Saratoga,” added Director Mabb. Many of the individuals who received their vaccine at the first monkeypox clinic traveled up from New York City.

County DOH is planning a monkeypox vaccine clinic on Thursday, August 25, from 10 a.m. to noon at ColumbiaGreene Community College. Links to sign up will be posted today on the county DOH website.

County vaccination and infection rates

As of today, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,291 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,569. 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 4,132. Fourth shots (boosters) of Moderna or Pfizer now number 707. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 65.

Pediatric first shots number 661, with 627 second shots and 27 boosters.

The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 45,850 have received at least one dose, or 76.5 percent of the county’s 59,916 population.

Student testing, home testing and affirmation reports

The DOH continues 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 Director Mabb has issued a reminder that the county DOH continues to offer vaccine clinics at Columbia-Greene Community College on Thursdays from 3-5:30 p.m. throughout the month of August. All vaccines are available on a walk-in basis. For additional information, contact the county DOH at 518-828-3358.

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.