Columbia County Board of Supervisors

Chairman’s Press Release

July 15, 2022

COVID-19 CASES HOLDING STEADY

COVID-19 cases

COVID-19 cases for the week ending today held steady with last week, reported Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb.

Total cases last week were 87, with 90 reported through noon today. Ten people are in the hospital, with one person in the ICU.

As of Monday, per the CDC, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases remained in the low risk category.

On Thursday, the CDC-reported current average of new daily cases per 100,000 of population stood at 17.7. The positive test rate is 10.6 percent.

Monkeypox

County DOH reported its first call from an individual requesting to be tested for Monkeypox this week.

“We’ve certainly been anticipating getting this request,” said DOH Director Jack Mabb.

“The department is not actually testing at this time but is referring folks that wish to be tested to Columbia Memorial Hospital. The hospital reports this individual is the third person requesting testing — the first two were negative for Monkeypox.

Nationally, the number of Monkeypox cases has exploded in recent days, with over 1500 cases reported in 42 states.

New York cases were over 250 at last report, nearly all of them in New York City.”

Powassan

Of more immediacy, Director Mabb said, the pending Powassan case reported last week has been confirmed as a positive.

“Residents need to stay vigilant. Our county is either first or second in the state when it comes to Lyme disease and the ticks that give you Lyme can also carry powassan to Lyme.

The difference is that to transmit Lyme the tick needs to be on a person for up to 24 hours, but with Powassan it can be as little as 15 minutes,” said Director Mabb, who added that Powassan is very rare.

As of the end of June the county has had 489 reported cases of Lyme for the year, yet only this one reported case of Powassan..

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, July 9, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,289 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 4,123. Fourth shots (boosters) of Moderna or Pfizer now number 653. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 65.

Pediatric first shots number 624, with 576 second shots and 21 boosters.

The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 45,591 have received at least one dose, or 76.1 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 issued a reminder that the DOH continues to offer vaccine clinics at Columbia-Greene Community College on Thursdays from 3-5:30 p.m. throughout the month of July.

Pre-registration for second boosters for individuals aged 50-plus is encouraged and can be done through the website (https://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com) or links posted to the DOH Facebook page.

Individuals who do not have internet access can make an appointment for second boosters by calling the health department at 518-828- 3358 extension 1306. Other doses are available on a walk-in basis

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 Office.