Thursday, January 26, 2023

Chairman’s press release

SLIGHT COVID-19 BUMP; FLU CONTINUES DECLINE

COVID-19 cases In a slight bump from this time last week, this morning the Columbia County Department of Health reported 88 new cases of COVID-19 this week. Last week concluded with a total of 96 new cases. CDC data currently indicates that Columbia County is again in the low (green) category.

There have been 364 new cases of the virus so far in January, with 16 currently hospitalized and two in the ICU. Two deaths resulting from COVID-19 were recorded by the DOH last week, bringing to 172 the total virus-related deaths of county residents since the beginning of the pandemic.

“Since the state shut down the CommCare system,” used to better comprehensively record new COVID-19 cases, “it’s become more difficult to track all new cases,” said DOH Director Victoria McGahan.

New cases of the flu seem to be continuing to decline, she added. “Although this doesn’t include shots administered in such places as doctors’ offices or at pharmacies, I know as far as we’re concerned, we’ve done more flu shots than we have in the past three years. The flu is at a typical level seen at this time of year.”

Upcoming DOH COVID-19 vaccination clinics

The Columbia County Department of Health will offer COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinics at the A.B. Shaw Fire Department in Claverack on Thursdays (not on Thanksgiving) from 3-5:30 p.m. throughout the month of February. All vaccines are available on a walk-in basis. For additional information, contact the county DOH at 518- 828-3358.

County vaccination rates

As of Saturday, January 21, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,300 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,576. The vaccine administered is Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. Note: J&J – a single-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 715. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 65. Pfizer bivalent boosters stand at 456, and 822 of Moderna.

Pediatric first shots number 703, with 671 second shots and 80 boosters.  The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 42,371 people with primary series, or 70.7 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 require 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.

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 Thursday 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.