Columbia County Board of Supervisors 4/6/20 Update

COLUMBIA COUNTY PREPARES TEST KIT ORDER

 Following extensive research into commercially available coronavirus test kits, Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said Monday that suppliers have been identified and an order for the test kits is being prepared.

“Picking out the legitimate suppliers and choosing the test kits that not only meet our needs, but that can be handled by a Capital District-area laboratory, was an intensive process,” said Mabb. “We are confident we have arrived at several good choices. It’s good to know we’ll have the kits on hand relatively soon.”

Added county Emergency Management Director David W. Harrison, Jr., “This is good news. I appreciate the fact that the county is moving ahead with the purchase of test kits. This will greatly enhance our ability to measure the impact of the virus as it moves through the county.”

OVERDOSE SPIKE

 Also, the county Department of Health has announced a recent spike in the number of overdoses in Columbia County.  If you or a loved one is in active addiction, you are encouraged to take the following precautions:

• If you must use, use safely or seek help for your addiction.
• Have access to NARCAN. (If you need a supply of NARCAN please call Greener Pathways at 518-82-7437).
• Let a friend or loved one know where you are.
• If someone you know experiences an overdose, call 911 immediately. You can be protected by the Good Samaritan Law.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption to the normal operating procedures of health and human services agencies. Unfortunately, the necessity for overdose prevention and response has not abated during the pandemic. Please be aware that the substance use community faces increased risk as support services shutter or slow down operations, hospitals face severely increased caseloads, and people who use drugs are asked to maintain socially distance from their support or safety groups.

Help is available by calling Greener Pathways at 518-822-7437 or Columbia County Pathways To Recovery at 877-467-3365.  In an emergency, call 911.  Minutes matter in an overdose and you can save a life.

COUNTY FINANCES

 On Monday, Chairman Murell said he had established a committee designed to analyze the new state budget and its potential impact on the county budget.

The committee is composed of Deputy Chairman Ron Knott, Deputy Chairman and Finance Committee Chairman James Guzzi, Treasurer PJ Keeler, Controller Ron Caponera, Director of Human Resources Michaele Williams-Riordan, and Murell, who also serves as the county’s budget officer.

“We need to try to get a solid picture of where we are headed at this unprecedented time. The committee intends to meet with the full Board of Supervisors within the next week or two,” Murell added.

DONATIONS

 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.

Nitrile gloves are considered suitable for medical use, while other types of gloves must explicitly state they are for medical use. Food donations should be directed to the county Office for the Aging 518-828-4258 and local pantries.

“I would like to thank those who have contributed to date, and those who plan to contribute going forward. We appreciate these efforts at this extraordinarily difficult time,” said county Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell.

 HOTLINE FOR ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE

 Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett has established a new 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.

“Leave a message and someone will return your call,” said Bartlett. “A time frame, morning or afternoon, will be established for when you would like the deputy to come to your residence. When the deputy comes by, he or she will knock on the door, then retreat to a safe distance and wait for someone to signal that all is well inside.”

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.

“This is a critical component of our fight against the virus. We understand that people are coming here to escape the disease, but everyone should consider they are a carrier of the coronavirus,” said Murell.

The state’s coronavirus website, with up-to-the-minute information, can be located at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home.

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 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 Columbia County Board of Supervisors, Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Health, and the Emergency Management Office.