Columbia County Department of Health Update

As of 3 PM on June 2, 2020:

– Columbia County has had 34 residents that have passed away from COVID-19.
-Columbia County has received a total of 4,959 PCR test results with 392 confirmed positive cases.
-There are 116 active cases of COVID-19 in Columbia County.
-There are 44 additional residents on mandatory quarantine and 12 residents on precautionary quarantine.
-243 of the 392 cases have recovered from COVID-19
– 17 of the positive cases are hospitalized, 1 of those hospitalized are in the ICU
– We’ve received 1,280 antibody results, of which 130 were positive.

Press Release from Governor Cuomo

GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES CAPITAL REGION CLEARED BY INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS TO BEGIN PHASE TWO OF REOPENING TOMORROW

  “Our team of international experts has reviewed the numbers and data for the Capital Region and confirmed that it’s safe to proceed with phase two of reopening beginning tomorrow, June 3rd.

“As more businesses begin to reopen in this next phase, residents should remain responsible and diligent and continue to follow all social distancing and other public health guidelines to help prevent an increase in the spread of the virus.“

New York Forward guidance for Phase 2 reopening can be found here.

Columbia County Update

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FROM:

Chairman Matt Murell

COUNTY PLANS FOR REOPENING

Next Monday, June 8th, Columbia County employees will begin returning to work at 50% staffing, per New York State guidelines, said County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell on Tuesday. The following week, on Monday, June 15th, all county buildings will again be open to the public.

Until that time, the previously indicated departments will remain open to the public. “We will bring staff back slowly starting next week as we all work through the initial part of the process,” said Chairman Murell. “There will obviously be somewhat of a learning curve for everyone as we reopen.

” “We will also be taking all the necessary safety precautions to do the best we possibly can to ensure the safety of everyone. For example: employees’ temperatures will be taken, as will that of anyone from the public, when entering a building. (an exception being if someone can attest to their temperature – the standard is 100.4 degrees or below). Employees and the public will be required to wear a mask, and there will be plenty of hand sanitizer available,” Chairman Murell said.

In addition, cleaning of all work and public spaces will be performed frequently throughout the course of the day. PHASE 2 BEGINS WEDNESDAY “As of today, Phase 2 of the New York Forward four-phase business reopening plan is on track for Wednesday, June 3rd, in the Capital Region,” said Chairman Murell on Tuesday. He pointed out that state-issued guidance for businesses included in Phase 2 is now available on the New York Forward website (https://forward.ny.gov). According to the New York Forward site, businesses allowed to begin the process of reopening are offices; real estate; essential and Phase 2 in-store retail; vehicle sales, leases, and rentals; retail rental, repair, and cleaning; commercial building management; and hair salons and barbershops.