Monday, February 1, 2021
Columbia County Board of Supervisors
Chairman’s press release
POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES TAKE A DOWNTURN
On Monday, Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said there 37 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Sunday, and another 16 as of midday Monday. There are currently 32 individuals hospitalized with the virus. One community death brings that total to 71. In total, 1,468 new cases were recorded in the month of January.
The Ghent Rehabilitation & Nursing Center reports 83 residents and 39 staff members are infected with the virus at this time.
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.
LOCAL DOH RECEIVES SCANT NURSING HOME INFO
It’s a frustrating situation for the county Department of Health in its effort to understand the COVID-19 picture within local nursing homes, said DOH Director Jack Mabb on Monday.
“We are very concerned about the most vulnerable as we struggle to get information from New York State on what is happening in nursing homes,” said Director Mabb. “We’re frequently the last to know. And we as a local health department have no authority to conduct a visit to nursing homes. Much of what goes on in the nursing homes in terms of vaccinations and the spread is unknown to our department.”
New York State does not notify the county DOH when it goes in to assess a nursing home’s coronavirus situation, then it does not share the information it gleans from a visit, said Director Mabb. “On at least one occasion, I learned from a reporter about a state visit to one of the local homes.”
Director Mabb noted that it’s a vicious circle when it comes to nursing homes: “When a large number of staff is infected and a lot of people are out of work, staffing levels decline and that contributes to a decline in care. Nursing homes can be very much undermanned. I’m sure that we could improve the quality of care within nursing homes were we granted more local control.”
PHARMACIES TO PROVIDE VACCINE
As pharmacies begin to develop vaccination plans, those in Columbia County that have signed up with New York State to be providers are:

Hannaford in Valatie and Hudson; Price Chopper in Chatham; ShopRite, Hudson; Walgreens in Hudson and Chatham; and the Hudson Walmart.

COUNTY VACCINATION INFORMATION PHONE LINE
The Columbia County Department of Health has a dedicated telephone number for those with questions: 518- 697-5560. The line is active Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This phone line provides general info about vaccine availability in Columbia County. It does not determine eligibility for the vaccine. To check on vaccination distribution procedures and other vaccine-related information, residents may to consult the New York State Department website at https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov
The Columbia County Department of Health does not have the authority to define vaccination categories.
CORONAVIRUS TESTING SITES (as of 1-8-2021)
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, by appointment only on Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m., 518-719-3600..
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; CVS-Valatie, 518- 758-2200; CVS-Red Hook, 845-758-9612.
Also, Central Med Urgent Care, 1662 Central Avenue, Albany, 518-240-1456, bills insurance; Walgreens Rapid Testing, 41 Holland Avenue, Albany, 518-426, 2976.
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. Other Price Chopper locations and times: Ft. Edward, Tuesday, 7-10 a.m.; Glenmont, Wednesday, 7-10 a.m.; Johnstown, Tuesday, 7-11 a.m.; and Schenectady, Wednesday, 12-2 p.m.
Pine Plains Pharmacy: 2965 Church Street, Pine Plains, 518-398-5588. Monday-Saturday by appointment only.
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/covid- 19-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.
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.