Chairman’s press release

COUNTY DOH TO DISCONTINUE A.B. SHAW VAX CLINICS

COVID-19 cases

As of this morning, reported DOH Director Victoria McGahan, the Columbia County Department of Health has recorded 96 new cases. Last week at this time there were 76 new cases. The slight bump can be attributed to some reporting facilities doing a “data dump” of results covering the past few weeks, she said.

There are currently 14 hospitalized county residents, with two in the ICU, one of whom is vaccinated. No one is on a ventilator.

Friday, February 17, will be the last day to order free COVID-19 tests from the federal government.

Going forward, she added, many private insurers will continue to cover free test kits. Director McGahan noted that following the Thursday, February 23 vaccination clinic at the A.B. Shaw Fire Department, the regular Thursday clinics that have been regularly held at that location will cease. Vaccinations will continue to be available at county DOH by appointment at 518-828-3358.

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 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, February 11, 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 457, and 829 of Moderna.

Pediatric first shots number 704, with 677 second shots and 87 boosters.

The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 42,385 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.

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.