Chairman’s press release
JUNE NUMBERS DOWN 50% FROM MAY
As of Wednesday, per the CDC, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases remains in the low risk category. Also as of Wednesday, the CDC-reported current average of new daily cases per 100,000 of population stood at 11.1. The positive test rate is 5.4 percent.
“June ended with half the positive COVID-19 cases of May, even as the numbers climbed the last two weeks of the month. May saw 893 cases with June dropping to 422,” Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said today.
“It is good to see the numbers cut in half this month, but that’s tempered by the persistent rise in case numbers these past two weeks,” said Director Mabb. “The last week of the month saw 106 positive cases, up from 98 the week before. The department is reporting two additional Covid-related deaths today – one was a resident of an area nursing home in her 60s, and the other a gentleman in his 80s who had been a patient of Albany Medical Center Hospital. These deaths bring to 148 the county residents who have died while positive for Covid. There are nine people in area hospitals who are positive for Covid, with two in the ICU.”
In addition, said Director Mabb, “The department is reporting it vaccinated 39 at its Thursday clinic at Columbia- Greene Community College, with the vast majority being children under 5. The clinics will continue on Thursdays for the remainder of the summer.”
Although New York State has lifted the mandate for mask wearing while inside 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
County vaccination and infection rates
As of Saturday, June 25, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,288 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,568. The vaccine administered is Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. Note: J&J – a one dose vaccine – is added as a first shot.
Third shots (boosters) of Moderna or Pfizer now number 4,116. Fourth shots (boosters) of Moderna or Pfizer now number 630. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 65.

Pediatric first shots number 588, with 576 second shots and 19 boosters.
The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website:
45,549 have received at least one dose, or 76 percent of the county’s 59,916 population.
Student testing, home testing and affirmation reports
The DOH continues 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
Director Mabb has issued a reminder that the county DOH continues to offer vaccine clinics at Columbia-Greene Community College on Thursdays from 3-5:30 p.m. throughout the month of July. All vaccines are available on a walk-in basis. For additional information, contact the county DOH at 518-828-3358.
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