Friday, July 29, 2022

Chairman’s press release

COVID-19 CASES RISE SLIGHTLY

COVID-19 cases

“COVID-19 cases, which have been trending down in the last few weeks, surged back this week, rising to 110 as of this morning,” said Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb.

There are currently 13 hospitalized county residents, with one in the ICU. There was also another death this week, the county’s 150th of the pandemic, added Director Mabb.

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 16.7. The positive test rate is 13.4 percent.

The New York State Department of Health, in conjunction with the county DOH, will be conducting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the upcoming Columbia County Fair in Chatham. They will be set up behind the grandstand on Saturday, September 3, and Sunday, September 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All COVID-19 vaccines will be offered.

The county DOH continues to offer a vaccine clinic at Columbia-Greene Community College on Thursdays from 3- 5:30 p.m.

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

Monkeypox

Columbia County is one of three counties in the capital region to report a positive monkeypox case and as a result are one of four counties to receive monkeypox vaccine,” said county DOH Director Jack Mabb. As a result, the county has received 40 doses, based on the contacts the one positive has identified and additional contacts anticipated from a second pending case.

“We have been instructed by the state that these vaccines are to be used for contacts with positive cases,” said Director Mabb. “We have not received enough vaccines to open up the remaining doses to those who identify as being in the at-risk category.”

Director Mabb added that county DOH is referring individuals in that category to the Saratoga Health Department, which has received almost 1,000 doses in recent weeks.

County vaccination and infection rates

As of Saturday, July 23, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,290 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 678. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 65.

Pediatric first shots number 643, with 579 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:

45,732 have received at least one dose, or 76.3 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 August. 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 Office.