Chairman’s press release

COUNTY SLOWS TO ‘SUBSTANTIAL RISK’ COVID

19 cases As of Thursday, per the CDC, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases has dropped to the substantial risk category, down from the high category. The current average of new daily cases per 100,000 of population stands at 10.2, compared to 14.6 per day last week. The positive test rate remains at 2.7 percent.

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

Looking ahead

“Our numbers of new daily cases have been down in the single digits all week – that’s a real clear sign that the spread of the virus has slowed down considerably,” Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said today. “The big thing this week has been the lifting of the mask mandate in schools. It’s a giant step towards a new normal and we’ll see how that goes.”

County vaccination and infection rates

As of Monday, February 28, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,278 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,555. The vaccine administered is Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. Note: J&J – a one dose vaccine – is added as a first shot.

Third shots of Moderna or Pfizer now number 3,823. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 58.

Pediatric first shots number 583, with 568 second shots.

The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website:

41,128 have completed the vaccine series. 45,227 have received at least one dose, or 75.5 percent of the county’s 59,916 population. 83.5 percent of the county’s over-18 population has received at least one shot.

In the community

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, our office has strived to support the volunteer fire departments throughout the county,” said Columbia County Fire Coordinator George Keeler.

“Some initiatives included a group purchase of adapters for all fire departments self-contained breathing apparatus to fit an N95 mask, to work around the mask shortages early in the pandemic. We purchased and distributed PPE and sanitizer for fire departments and first responder agencies. We also purchased hand held machines to sanitize equipment as needed.”

“Working with the Columbia County Department of Health and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control,” Keeler said, “we developed safety plans that allowed us to continue training programs at the training facility throughout the past two years. We conducted a weekly manpower survey so we could help any departments that were having manpower issues due to sick or quarantined members.”

Meanwhile, the Fire Coordinator’s office continues to distribute PPE and sanitizer to any departments requesting such supplies, and anything needed to safely and efficiently continue to respond to their community’s needs.

Student testing, home testing and affirmation reports

Due to low response, the county DOH has discontinued the school COVID testing PODs. The DOH will continue 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 The Columbia County Department of Health is offering first, second, and third doses of COVID-19 vaccines as well as boosters for those aged 16 and above at Columbia-Greene Community College every Thursday in March from 3-5:30 p.m. The DOH will offer a pediatric (ages 5-11) Pfizer clinic at this clinic. Those who are receiving boosters or subsequent doses of vaccine should bring their vaccine record card. Future clinics will be held on a walk-in basis – registration links will no longer be posted. Further information is posted on the county DOH website at columbiacountynyhealth.com.

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