January 27, 2020

Chairman’s press release

COUNTY INFECTION RATE OVER SEVEN PERCENT

On Wednesday, Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said as of midday there were 43 new cases of COVID-19 in the county, with 23 recorded on Tuesday. There are 32 individuals hospitalized, and two in the ICU. With one death reported overnight, there have now been 68 deaths from the virus in Columbia County.

There are 32 residents and four staff members of The Grand of Barnwell positive with the virus, with 26 residents and 17 staff at Livingston Hills, and 69 residents and 25 staff at the Ghent Rehabilitation facility.

“These numbers are directly related to the community spread,” said county Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell. “People from the community are spreading it in nursing homes. It has to come from someplace to get in there.”

The 14-day incident rate for the virus at this time is 7.8%, making Columbia County the highest in the Capital Region. Albany County is currently at 7.5%. The Capital Region currently has the lowest percentage, at 18%, of available hospital and ICU beds in the state.

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.

DOH RECEIVING SECOND SHOT SUPPLY

The Columbia County Department of Health has begun receiving a supply of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and will begin its administration beginning this Saturday, said county DOH Director Jack Mabb on Wednesday.

PHARMACIES TO PROVIDE VACCINE

As pharmacies begin to develop their 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.

WHAT IS IN THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

“Per the CDC,” said Columbia County DOH Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Chuck Kaiser on Monday, “the two current vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are considered messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. They take a genetically modified part of the SARS CoV-2 RNA and use it as a messenger to instruct our cells to make a harmless piece of what is called the ‘spike protein.’ This mimics the spike protein that is found on the surface of the actual SARS Cov-2 virus.”

“The CDC advises that after the protein piece is made, the cell breaks down the instructions and gets rid of them,” he said. “It then displays the protein piece on its surface. Our immune system recognizes that the protein doesn’t belong there and begins building an immune response, including the making of antibodies. So, if the body becomes infected with the real SARS CoV-2 virus, it has an army ready to destroy it.”

“Because the vaccine is made from a piece of the virus it in no way can give people COVID-19,” added county DOH Director Jack Mabb.

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.

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.