Friday, August 5, 2022

Chairman’s press release

COVID-19 CASES TAKE SLIGHT DIP

COVID-19 cases

The Columbia County Department of Health reports 82 COVID-19 cases this week, with 27 on Monday, 13 Tuesday, 21 Wednesday, 13 on Thursday, and eight as of noon today.

There are currently six hospitalized county residents, none in the ICU. There were a total of three deaths related to the virus in July, and one to date in August, for a total of 152 since the beginning of the pandemic.

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 23.3. The positive test rate is 15.5 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.

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

On Thursday, August 4, the county Department of Health held a monkeypox vaccination clinic at Columbia-Greene Community College at which 30 individuals were vaccinated.

Last week, noted county DOH Director Jack Mabb, Columbia County is one of three counties in the capital region to report a positive monkeypox case and as a result are one of four counties to receive monkeypox vaccine.” The county has received 40 doses, based on the contacts the one positive has identified and additional contacts anticipated from a second pending case.

“We have been instructed by the state that these vaccines are to be used for contacts with positive cases,” said Director Mabb. “We have not received enough vaccines to open up the remaining doses to those who identify as being in the at-risk category.”

County vaccination and infection rates

As of Saturday, July 30, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,291 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,568. 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 4,129. Fourth shots (boosters) of Moderna or Pfizer now number 690. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 65.

Pediatric first shots number 648, with 595 second shots and 24 boosters.

The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 45,732 have received at least one dose, or 76.3 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