As of midday today, the Columbia County Department of Health had recorded 109 new cases of COVID-19 infection, with 130 on Thursday and 249 on Wednesday. The 249 cases represented an all-time daily high for the county since the beginning of the pandemic.

There are currently 22 county residents hospitalized with the virus, and no one is in the ICU. Overall, 124 individuals have died as a result of the virus – two of those were vaccinated.

Director Mabb noted that last January, the county tallied a total of 1,467 new cases. As of today, this month there have been 1,787 new cases. County DOH statistics show that 62 percent of those infected have been vaccinated, with most experiencing mild to no symptoms.

“Once again, this shows the effectiveness of the vaccines,” said Director Mabb.

As of Monday, January 24, county DOH will begin 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.

County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell said today he had learned from New York State officials that the number of new positive cases of the virus have reached a plateau, which it is expected to remain on for the next 7-10 days before case numbers begin to sharply diminish.

Vaccination boosters are available through the county DOH for those 12 and above. Further information and registration links are posted on the county DOH website at columbiacountynyhealth.com

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.

All vaccination opportunities are posted on the county DOH website at columbiacountynyhealth.com

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.

As of Friday, January 7, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,261 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,532. 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 3,490. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 41. Pediatric first shots number 573, with 504 second shots.

The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 40,306 have completed the vaccine series. 44,534 have received at least one dose, or 74.3 percent of the county’s 59,916 population. 82.6 percent of the county’s over-18 population has received at least one shot.

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 this month from 3-6 p.m., and every Friday from 1-3 p.m.

Links to register for the boosters are available on the DOH website. Those seeking first, second, and third shots are advised to contact the county Health Department at 518-828- 3358 to schedule their appointment at the college.

The DOH is offering a pediatric (ages 5-11) Pfizer clinic every Wednesday in January from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. by appointment only at 325 Columbia Street.

Further information and registration links are posted on the county DOH website at columbiacountynyhealth.com

On Tuesdays between the hours of 1 to 3:30 p.m., the Columbia County Department of Health offers COVID-19 vaccinations at its 325 Columbia Street, Hudson location. Every third Tuesday of the month, the immunization clinic runs from 1-5:30 p.m. An appointment is required – call the Health Department at: 518-828-3358

Columbia County Seniors and/or homebound residents in need of assistance getting themselves registered for the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to contact the county call center Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The telephone number is 518-697-5560.

The Columbia County call center dedicated to helping those requiring assistance with vaccine registration is active Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The dedicated telephone number is 518-697-5560.

Those seeking testing are advised to contact the site for insurance eligibility and testing hours.

New York State DOH, 888-364-3065.

CMH Copake Rapid Care, call for appointment, 518-329-3902.

CMH Valatie Rapid Care, call for appointment, 518-758-4300. WellNow Urgent Care, Hudson, 518-267-3496.

CVS-Valatie, call for appointment, 518-758-2200.

Pine Plains Pharmacy, online preregistration required, 518-398-5588. CareMount Medical Urgent Care, Rhinebeck 844-484-6564

CVS-Red Hook, call for appointment, 845-758-9612.

Community Care Physicians, Latham, 518-863-3600.

Whitney Young, Albany, 518-465-4771.

Priority 1 Urgent Care, Guilderland, 518-867-8040.

Rite Aid-Colonie, 518-240-1456.

Central Med Urgent Care, Albany, 518- 240-1456.

Walgreens Rapid Testing, 518-426-2976.

EmUrgentCare, Albany, Saugerties, West Coxsackie, Guilderland, 518-264-9000 for all locations.

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.

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.

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 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 Tuesday, 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 Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Health, and the Emergency Management Office.