February 4, 2022
Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman’s press release

COUNTY INFECTION RATE DROPPING

Covid 19 Cases
As of Thursday, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases had dropped into the very high category, with a current average of 69 new daily cases per 100,000 of population. The positive test rate is 15.6 percent.
On Thursday, the Columbia County Department of Health recorded four deaths among county residents as a result of the virus. All were residents of nursing facilities – three at Ghent Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and one at Livingston Hills. County DOH Director Jack Mabb noted that two of these deaths occurred in the latter days of January, and two others this past week. “If someone dies within a nursing home, the DOH doesn’t necessarily get notified, so we may find out other ways and it could take a few days,” he said.
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
County DOH Director Jack Mabb said today that “it’s clear our numbers are headed down. I think it’s a real thing. However, while we’re all still locked inside our numbers won’t bottom out right away. I think the daily cases will remain in the 30-40 per day range through the end February.”
Test kits on the way
Columbia County Emergency Management has received an additional delivery of at-home test kits from New York State. On Monday, the agency intends to begin delivery of 3,600 kits to municipalities for distribution to residents.
County vaccination and infection rates
As of Saturday, January 29, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,275 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,539. 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 3,708. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 52. Pediatric first shots number 577, with 561 second shots.

The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website:
40,700 have completed the vaccine series. 44,976 have received at least one dose, or 75.1 percent of the county’s 59,916 population. 83.2 percent of the county’s over-18 population has received at least one shot.
In the community
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers for the Salvation Army of Hudson’s food pantry and soup kitchen numbers have increased dramatically, said Director Darcy Connor.
“I am very proud to say that we never had to close our doors during this entire pandemic,” said Connor. “We have continued to serve free lunches five days a week. We also have a food pantry at 40 South 3rd St. in Hudson, open Mondays and Fridays 8-10 a.m., and a mobile food pantry that goes to underserved folks in the county. We typically serve between 70-100 meals per day, and serve about 88 families per week with our food pantries.”
“It is important to note that the Salvation Army Service Center relies on volunteers to do all we do. There are two paid positions here and the rest of the 18 people who work here weekly are volunteers. Our community has jumped in to help us at the time we needed them the most. We have volunteer cooks, volunteer drivers, and lots of volunteers who do a little of everything. It is just the most amazing place to work — the energy here is so great. Everyone who is here is here because they want to help the community.”
Student testing, home testing and affirmation reports
The Columbia County Department of Health has begun holding weekly testing times for students who need a negative test to return to school. County DOH will be at A.B. Shaw Fire Company in Claverack on Mondays and Thursdays from 9-11 a.m., and at the Chatham Firehouse on Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. Any student of a county school may visit at any of these times and locations.
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