Friday, February 25, 2022

Chairman’s press release

DAILY POSITIVE TEST RATE DOWN TO 2.7%

COVID-19 cases As of Thursday, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases continued in the high category, although the current average of new daily cases per 100,000 of population stands at 14.6, compared to 23 per day last week. The positive test rate is 2.7 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.

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

“We’ve had a couple days of new cases in the single digits, so the trend downward is continuing,” Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said today. “When I’m out and about, I see a lot of people still wearing masks even though they don’t have to. I commend them for that – it’s a good thing to do until the weather gets warmer.”

County vaccination and infection rates

As of Saturday, February 19, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,277 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,554. 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 3,817. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 57. 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:

41,086 have completed the vaccine series. 45,199 have received at least one dose, or 75.4 percent of the county’s 59,916 population. 83.5 percent of the county’s over-18 population has received at least one shot.

In the community

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Columbia Opportunities, Inc., (COI) has put the health and safety of its employees and customers first. Tina Sharpe, executive director, said,“We can’t accomplish anything without our employees and I’ve tried to keep that in the front of my mind when making some very difficult decisions.”

According to Executive Director Sharpe, “After a great deal of thought and with a Head Start vaccination mandate looming, COI implemented its own vaccine mandate for all employees in September 2021. By early December, 100 percent of all COI employees were fully vaccinated. “Thankfully, no one resigned in response to the mandate.”

Columbia Opportunities continues to provide its full range of services and programs for people of all ages with limited incomes. These services are available countywide, including emergency assistance and food pantry, COVID-19 Relief Funds, Family Literacy Program, Head Start, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Weatherization Program.

“We’ve had to change our approach, sometimes on a daily basis, but thanks to the dedication of our staff, we have delivered these essential services throughout most of the last two years,” said Executive Director Sharpe

COI continues to follow all of the CDC guidelines to deliver services safely in person or remotely. Columbia Opportunities has worked closely with the Columbia County Health Department to coordinate the agency COVID19 response and to promote the county vaccination clinics and services through its social media pages.

For more information, contact (518) 828-4611 or visit the COI website at columbiaopportunities.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 March from 3-5:30 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