Feb 18, 2022
Chairman’s press release

                                                              NEW CASES CONTINUE DOWNWARD TREND
COVID-19 cases
As of Thursday, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases had dropped to the high category from very high
last week. The current average of new daily cases per 100,000 of population stands at 23, compared to 33 per day
last week. The positive test rate is 4.4 percent.

Although New York State has lifted the mandate for mask wearing while in a business, local health care officials
continue to encourage the wearing of masks while indoors, particularly for those with health problems, for at
least another month.

Additional information on daily COVID-19 cases and more can be found on the Columbia County Department of
Health’s website at https://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com

Looking ahead
“I’m loving the trend, watching the numbers go down,” Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb
said today. “I’m cautiously optimistic for the future. And the warm weather is right around the corner – that will
make a big difference, too.”

County vaccination and infection rates
As of Saturday, February 12, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,276 first doses of
the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,550. The vaccine administered is Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson
& Johnson. Note: J&J – a one dose vaccine – is added as a first shot.

Third shots of Moderna or Pfizer now number 3,770. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 53.

Pediatric first shots number 580, with 568 second shots.

The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine
tracker website:
40,993 have completed the vaccine series. 45,124 have received at least one dose, or 75.3 percent of the county’s
59,916 population. 83.4 percent of the county’s over-18 population has received at least one shot.

In the community

“The Chatham Area Silent Pantry, located in the basement of the Tracy Memorial in the Village of Chatham, is open to anyone in need of food anywhere in Columbia County. We are open 3 mornings a week and one evening,” said Debby Roth, pantry president. “Although the majority of our clients are from the Chatham area, people come to us from as far as New Lebanon, Stottville, and Hudson. Staff from the Mental Health Center bring their clients to pick up orders, and we deliver to various motels where homeless people have been placed. In addition, we deliver regularly to Chatham Manor. Since the pandemic began we have increased the number of deliveries to homebound people. We are currently renewing our efforts to let the community know that we are here to serve them.”

Since the pandemic, the pantry has needed to adapt due to our small space that is difficult to ventilate,” Roth said. “Previously people came into the basement of the Tracy Memorial and shopped, helping themselves to food, while a volunteer packed their groceries. Now the procedure is that our clients phone in ahead, with the option of customizing their orders. They then pick up their orders at the pantry.”

“Due to the generosity of our donors during the pandemic, the pantry has created a Fund for School Outreach for use by the Chatham Central School District. Social workers in the schools are able to access this fund for families with necessities other than food. We are excited to be able to do more for the community. To learn more go to http://www.chathamsilentpantry.org.”

Student testing, home testing and affirmation reports

Due to low response, the county DOH has discontinued the school COVID testing PODs. The DOH will continue to provide testing for students and staff of Columbia County schools who need 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.

Upcoming DOH vaccination clinics

The Columbia County Department of Health is offering first, second, and third doses of COVID-19 vaccines as well as boosters for those aged 16 and above at Columbia-Greene Community College every Thursday in February from 3-5:45 p.m. The DOH will offer a pediatric (ages 5-11) Pfizer clinic at this clinic. Those who are receiving boosters or subsequent doses of vaccine should bring their vaccine record card. Future clinics will be held on a walk-in basis – registration links will no longer be posted. Further information is posted on the county DOH website at columbiacountynyhealth.com.

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 Friday 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.