On Tuesday, July 7, there were at least three symptomatic passengers on Delta flight 4815, a direct flight from Atlanta, GA, to Albany, NY, said Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell on Friday. “If you were on this flight, please quarantine and get tested as soon as possible, we are concerned for these passengers and those with whom they may have come into contact with.” said Chairman Murell.

Friday, Columbia County Health Department Director Jack Mabb announced future COVID-19 testing clinics for August on Mondays 3, 17, 24, and 31. The testing will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the sidewalk in front of the John L. Edwards Primary School in Hudson. For the remainder of July, clinics set for the same hours and place will be held on Tuesdays, July 21 and 28. The DOH will be limiting the walkup clinics to 50 tests each. It is recommended anyone who would like to be tested get to the clinic as early as possible to ensure they secure one of the 50 tests. Pre-registration will not be necessary for the walkup clinics

Sunday, July 12, 9 a.m. to 12 noon: 325 Columbia St., Hudson. Pre-registration is required at https://forms.gle/93TB4ibcWFamZsUPA Sunday, August 12, 9 a.m. to 12 noon: Ichabod Crane High School, Valatie. Pre-registration is required at https://forms.gle/mngpRnfnPnVjpZee7 A form of photo identification will be required, and a mask is required for entry. These tests will be nasopharyngeal swabs, which are most useful to detect the virus in actively sick people. These are not antibody tests. The kits used at these testing sites are part of those purchased with the help of private donations to Columbia County. After leaving the test site, symptomatic residents should go directly home for mandatory quarantine until results are shared with them. Essential workers should plan on quarantining outside of work and being extremely cautious around those they come into contact with. It may take up to five days to receive the test results. Everyone who gets tested at the site will receive their results once they are processed by Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany.

Despite the warnings against the drinking of hand sanitizer issued by public health officials, the county Health Department has made note of instances where this has occurred. On Friday, the following warning was reiterated: Sales of alcoholic beverages are heavily taxed for revenue and public health policy purposes, therefore, in order to avoid paying beverage taxes on alcohol that is not meant to be consumed, the alcohol must be “denatured,” or treated with added chemicals to make it unpalatable. Ethanol in hand sanitizers has additives to make it badtasting, foul-smelling, or nauseating to discourage recreational consumption. Some of these chemicals are poisonous. They include: isopropyl alcohol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, benzene, and acetaldehyde. In addition, some brands of hand sanitizer made in Mexico contain methanol rather than ethanol. Methanol is a poison. Therefore, hand sanitizer should never be ingested.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 12 noon, any municipal or private agency/organization that would like free NYS hand sanitizer can come to the Public Safety Facility (PSF) parking lot at 85 Industrial Tract, Hudson, where they will receive up to two cases (eight gallons) of hand sanitizer per week based upon the size and need of the organization. Small spray bottles of hand sanitizer will also be available.

As of Friday, 1,135 one-gallon bottles and 3,768 two-ounce spray bottles had been distributed locally. “I would like to remind everyone that the hand sanitizer, which is provided to us by the state, can only be handed out to Columbia County businesses, non-profits, and municipal/governmental agencies,” said county Emergency Management Director Harrison.

Those coming to the PSF for hand sanitizer should enter the north entrance (NYS DOT side) of the PSF parking area, and drive to the white “Sheriff’s” utility trailer in front of the building. Emergency Management and Sheriff’s Department staff will dispense the hand sanitizer at that point. Information on where someone can reach out for help is posted on various websites, including the Columbia County website and Emergency Management Facebook page.

Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett has established a hotline for the elderly and vulnerable in our county, including those with medical conditions or are disabled, who would welcome a deputy checking on their well-being on a daily basis. The number for the hotline is 518-828-0601, extension 1400.

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. The county will issue a press release on the coronavirus situation Monday, Wednesday & Fridays. 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.