Wednesday, December 2, 2020

CHAIRMAN’S PRESS RELEASE

DOH DIRECTOR DECRIES WINTER WALK PLANS

“If I tell you I’m having a birthday party and I’m expecting 50 visitors, when in fact I’m expecting hundreds, does that make it okay? No,” said Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb on Wednesday in discussing Hudson’s Winter Walk plans for Saturday, December 5.

Under Governor Cuomo’s executive order, up to 50 persons may congregate under the current COVID-19 infectious rate in the Capital Region. The Hudson Opera House, the longtime promoter of Winter Walk, is advertising such events on December 5 as late night shopping, Sax O’Claus, Santa’s Village, and fireworks. Other events are scheduled through December 24.

“What is being outlined by the Opera House is essentially Winter Walk,” said Director Mabb, who noted he has attended many of them over the years. “This has an opportunity to be a significant COVID-19 spreader. Contact tracing would be impossible in this situation. I would really discourage this event from happening.”

Director Mabb added that Albany County is currently “over three percent and a day or so away from the yellow zone,” which calls for more stringent measures. “There are consequences. If we’re not careful, we will return to the days of shutting down gyms, hairdressers, indoor dining, and the like.”

CASES On Wednesday morning, Director Mabb reported 16 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the county, bringing the total to 1,015 since the beginning of the pandemic. There are currently 54 active cases, with 243 in mandatory quarantine. Fifteen are hospitalized, with one individual in the ICU.

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.

DOH SETS NEW LEBANON, CLAVERACK MOBILE CLINICS

The county Department of Health has scheduled a COVID-19 mobile testing clinic for Tuesday, December 8, in New Lebanon. The clinic will be conducted in Shatford Park, located adjacent to the New Lebanon Town Hall. Hours are 10 a.m. to 12 noon.  The following Tuesday, December 15, county DOH will hold a COVID-19 mobile testing 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

CORONAVIRUS TESTING SITES (as of 11-20-2020) New York Testing Site, University at Albany- By appointment only at 888-364-3065 or http://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.

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.