Columbia County Board of Supervisors

Friday, December 11, 2020

EMPLOYEE COVID-19 RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED

“It has come to the Health Department’s attention that individuals have received threats by employers and coworkers after reporting previously unreported cases of COVID-19 in their place of work,” Columbia County Health Department Director Jack Mabb said Friday. “The trend now is to see people resistant to Health Department COVID-19 involvement. That only helps to allow for the virus to spread.”

“Further, the state Department of Labor would look very unfavorably upon that sort of activity,” he added.

Specifically, according to the New York State Department of Labor under “Complaints Related to COVID-19 Regulations”: “Your employer may not threaten or retaliate against you for complaining that the business should not be operating or has failed to take adequate safety and health measures.”

The full Department of Labor language on COVID-19 in the workplace can be found at: https://labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/laborstandards/coronavirus-complaints.shtm

THINK COVID-19 FIRST

In several recent instances, an employee has reported for work with cold-type symptoms and was allowed to remain at work for the day. In all but one case, it was ultimately determined through testing that the employee was indeed infected with COVID-19.

“The message here is, if you have symptoms, think COVID-19 first,” said county Department of Health Director Jack Mabb. “It’s too easy to confuse the symptoms, and these days we can’t take that chance. Get yourself tested, and while awaiting the results remain in quarantine.”

COUNTY COVID-19 UPDATE

On Friday morning, county Department of Health Director Mabb reported 18 new cases on Thursday, and 10 on Friday. There are currently 94 active cases in the county, with 399 in mandatory quarantine. Thirteen individuals are hospitalized. ADVISORY: Please note that the numbers distributed in Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell’s coronavirus press releases are morning results provided to the county Department of Health via the state reporting system. Updated numbers are issued again by the state in the afternoon, ordinarily past the time this press release is distributed. Consequently, there may be discrepancies in the numbers that appear here versus the final daily numbers shown on the DOH website and elsewhere.

NEW FINANCIAL DONATIONS

Columbia County has recently received $850 in new monetary donations in the fight against the coronavirus, county Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell said Friday. The donations: $250 by Robert Kessler and Janet Lincoln of Hillsdale, $300 by Abdus Miah of Hudson, $200 by Alan Nisselson and Trudy Whitman of Hillsdale, and $100 by Frank Jause of Hudson. Prior donations from the public have amounted to $45,422. “Every penny helps in our work on this devastating virus,” said Chairman Murell. “The donations have helped make it possible for the county to expand its pandemic efforts. We thank those who have contributed.” In addition, county Emergency Management Director David W. Harrison, Jr., thanked all those who have donated PPE to the county. “Since the spring we have received donations from county residents of four or five masks to one or two hundred. We appreciate every one. We are stockpiling now and every little bit helps,” he said.

DOH SETS CLAVERACK MOBILE CLINICS

The county Department of Health has scheduled a COVID-19 mobile testing clinic for Tuesday, December 15, clinic at the A.B. Shaw Fire Company in Claverack. Hours are 9-11 a.m.

Preregistration is required for both clinics on the DOH website https://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com or its Facebook page.

A form of identification will be necessary. This clinic is open only to Columbia County residents. Preregistration is required for both clinics on the DOH website  or its Facebook page. A form of identification will be necessary. This clinic is open only to Columbia County residents. https://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com

AT-HOME COVID-19 TEST AVAILABLE

LabCorp currently offers an at-home COVID-19 test at https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/at-home-test-kits/covid19-test-home-collection-kit This test does not detect antibodies or immunity. It is designed to determine active infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. After completing a short eligibility survey, choose a billing option, which can be through personal insurance, the use of federal funds to cover the cost of this test on your behalf if you’re uninsured, or with a credit card. The test kit will arrive via FedEx. After collecting and returning your sample, the average time to deliver results is one-two days from when your sample is received at the lab, according to LabCorp.

CORONAVIRUS TESTING SITES

(as of 11-20-2020) New York Testing Site, University at Albany- By appointment only at 888-364-3065 or www.covid19screening.health.ny.gov; WellNow Urgent Care, 446 Fairview Avenue, Hudson. 518-267-3496. May be out-of-pocket costs;

Columbia County Department of Health, 518-828-3358. Check www.columbiacountynyhealth.com for scheduled walk-up and drive-thru clinics;

Greene County Department of Health, 518-719-3600, by appointment only on Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m.

Also, Community Care Physicians, Latham. 518-863-3600. 12-7 p.m.; Priority 1 Urgent Care, Guilderland, 518- 867-8040; Whitney Young, Albany, 518-465-4771; Rite Aid, Colonie, 518-267-3496; CareMount Medical Urgent Care, Rhinebeck, 844-484-6564; Rapid Testing, Albany. 518-240-1456, insurance is billed. EmUrgentCare locations offer COVID-19 tests for patients without symptoms at the following locations: 98 Wolf Rd., Albany; 11835 US-9W, West Coxsackie; 2976 US-9W, Saugerties; 5 New Karner Rd., Guilderland. The telephone number for all locations is 518-264-9000. Check for out-of-pocket costs. Price Chopper test locations with testing hours from 7-9 a.m. on Tuesdays: Chatham, Clifton Park, Latham, Troy, Wilton. Ft. Edward, Tuesday, 7-10 a.m.; Johnstown, Tuesday, 7-11 a.m.; and Schenectady, Wednesday, 12-2 p.m.

COUNTY DOH FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE

The flu vaccine will be offered by appointment only at the regularly scheduled immunization clinic every Tuesday from 1-3:30 p.m. at Columbia County Department of Health at 325 Columbia Street, Hudson. An evening immunization clinic is also available on the third Tuesday of each month from 4-6 p.m. All clinics are by appointment only. The flu vaccine is the best protection we have from the flu and its complication, and has become even more critical in the time of COVID-19. Talk to your doctor before getting the flu shot if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction to eggs or a previous flu shot, or have a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The DOH accepts the following insurance plans: Blue Shield of North East New York, CDPHP, Fidelis, Medicare Part B, MVP, Medicaid, and United Health Care. Other senior plans may be billed, including some Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. If you are uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for a lower fee or no fee for the flu vaccine. All others are expected to pay a fee of $42 for the flu vaccine, with the exact cash amount or checks accepted. Debit or credit cards are not accepted.

DONATION INFORMATION

Masks: Those wishing to donate cloth masks to the county stockpile may contact the county Emergency Management office at 518-828-1212 or [email protected]. Or Supervisor Rob Lagonia at [email protected] Monetary: Monetary donations intended for the purchase of coronavirus testing kits and much-needed equipment for emergency responders, medical personnel, and others on the front lines of the coronavirus fight are advised to send a check in care of Columbia County, with coronavirus noted in the memo field. The check can be sent to the Columbia County Controller’s Office, 401 State Street, Hudson, NY 12534. All money received is being placed in a dedicated account. PPE: 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. Food: Donations should be directed to the county Office for the Aging (518-828-4258) and local food pantries.

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 state’s coronavirus website, with up-to-the-minute information, can be located at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the county 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 Board of Supervisors, Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Health, and the Emergency Management Office.