January 29, 2021

Chairman’s press release

‘IT’S NOT SLOWING DOWN’

With 54 new positive cases of COVID-19 as of midday Friday, and 56 new cases on Thursday, Columbia County has passed 3,000 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, said Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb on Friday. “It’s not slowing down,” he said.

There are 32 individuals hospitalized, and five in the ICU, including three on ventilators. Two additional deaths at the Ghent Rehabilitation facility brings the county total to 70. Ghent Rehabilitation also reports 87 residents and 40 staff members are infected with the virus.

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.

CLOSED VACCINE PODS “I think it’s important for people to understand that closed vaccine PODs target a specific group,” said Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb on Friday. “We are restricted by the New York State Department of Health to administer vaccines only to those in the 1B category. I can only vaccinate other groups such as seniors when I get a specific allocation for that group.”

Director Mabb’s comments come on the heels of Thursday’s announcement that the county DOH will conduct closed vaccine PODs until its vaccine allotment increases. Current DOH plans for its next two PODs are to target grocery story workers and teachers, he said. “We will work in conjunction with grocery store managers and school administers to determine who is eligible for those PODs,” added Director Mabb.

FINANCIAL DONATIONS

Columbia County has received $150 in new monetary donations in the fight against the coronavirus, county Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell said Friday. The donations: $50 by Kathleen Fowler Volney of Valatie, and $100 from Bill and Dara Schneider of East Chatham. The Schneider’s donation was made in honor of the small business owners of Columbia County. Prior donations from the public have amounted to $46,272.  “We are thankful for these donations,” said Chairman Murell. “This extended public health crisis is also a huge financial drain, and the public support is extremely helpful in combating the virus.”

COUNTY DOH SAYS ‘NO’ TO HIGH-RISK SPORTS

Based on the high positivity rate of COVID-19 in Columbia County, county Department of Health Director Jack Mabb today notified the six school districts within the county that high-risk high school sports not resume under current conditions.

“My decision is a qualified ‘no’ to the resumption of high-risk sports,” said Director Mabb, who said the county needs to see a drop in the seven-day rolling average positivity rate of 4% or below. Columbia County is above 7% as of Friday, placing it as the highest among Capital Region counties. Director Mabb pointed out that 4% is the rate Governor Cuomo had initially designated as a yellow marker zone – Columbia County spent much of the fall below 3%.

Recognizing that as the positivity rate has begun to drop from the highs of the post-holiday period, it nonetheless remains of significant concern as the county DOH considers loosening any restrictions that could contribute to the further spread of the virus. This advisory has been developed in consultation with other public health directors and commissioners from throughout the region.

“While I realize this is a tough decision to make as many of our high school athletes are itching to return to the court or field, it’s clearly necessary for the overall health of the community in the face of the ongoing pandemic,” said Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell. “As soon as the numbers show that it’s safe to proceed with the high-risk sports, I have no doubt that public health officials will clear the way for them to proceed.”

The county Department of Health is also looking closely at two other critical components. They include hospital capacity, which must remain above 15%, and other emerging factors that might impact Covid control or mitigation. “Of concern here is the spread of the highly contagious strain that has been found in the United Kingdom, as well as any other emerging variants of the virus,” said Director Mabb.

At the same time Director Mabb issued his advisory to the six county school districts, he outlined a series of steps for the districts to take as they plan for the day when high-risk sports – particularly those played indoors – – may resume. “I know how important sports and other extracurricular activities are to students, but keeping them safe and in school must take precedence over all other considerations,” said Director Mabb.

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.

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. Pine Plains Pharmacy: 2965 Church Street, Pine Plains, 518-398-5588. Monday-Saturday by appointment only.

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/covid19-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.