Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Chairman’s press release

COVID-19 INFECTIONS ‘PERSIST’

As of midday Tuesday, the Columbia County Department of Health had recorded seven new positive cases of COVID-19. There were eight cases combined for Sunday and Monday, and 15 cases Saturday. There are currently three county residents hospitalized as a result of the virus. County DOH Director Jack Mabb said that the virus “continues to persist” in Columbia County. Looking ahead, Director Mabb said the DOH “has realized that the days of conducting large-scale PODS are numbered. We’ll be moving out into the community to deliver shots.” On Friday, the county DOH will hold a Johnson & Johnson vaccine POD for those 18 and up at Columbia-Greene Community College from 10-12 a.m. Walk-ins will be accepted at this clinic, although registration is available on the DOH website. Also, the DOH plans to offer vaccinations at its 325 Columbia Street location on Tuesday afternoons. Additional details will be forthcoming. Vaccination opportunities are posted on the county DOH website at columbiacountynyhealth.com

ADVISORY: Please note that the numbers distributed in Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell’s coronavirus press releases are morning results provided to the county Department of Health via the state reporting system. Updated numbers are issued again by the state in the afternoon, ordinarily past the time this press release is distributed. Consequently, there may be discrepancies in the numbers that appear here versus the final daily numbers shown on the DOH website and elsewhere.

COUNTY VACCINATION RATE

As of Monday, May 10, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 10,139 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 8,197. The vaccine administered is Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. Note: J&J – a one dose vaccine — is added as a first shot. The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 25,813 have completed the vaccine series. 31,001 have received at least one dose, or 51.7 percent of the county’s 59,916 population. 61.7 percent of the county’s over-18 population has received at least one shot.

REOPENING TIMELINE

According to information compiled by Columbia Comeback (columbiacomeback.com): As of today, hair salons, barber shops, and other personal care services expand to 75 percent capacity. Over the past two weeks, movie theater capacity was increased to 33 percent, and the capacity for museums, aquariums, zoos, and botanical gardens was increased to 50 percent.

Graduation ceremonies, depending on event size and location, will be allowed with limited capacity. Also, catered events can resume at residences above the state’s residential gathering limit of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, provided the events are staffed by a professional licensed caterer, permitted by the respective locality or municipality, and strictly adhere to health and safety guidelines, including social and event gathering limits, masks, and social distancing. Guidance for dancing among attendees at catered events will be aligned with neighboring states, replacing fixed dance zones for each table with social distancing and masks.

Looking ahead, beginning Saturday, May 15, casinos and gaming facilities can increase capacity from 25 percent to 50 percent, offices can increase capacity from 50 percent to 75 percent, and gyms and fitness centers outside of New York City can increase capacity from 33 percent to 50 percent.

Beginning Monday, May 17, the 12 a.m. curfew for outdoor dining areas will be removed. Also, the 1 a.m. curfew will be removed for catered events where attendees have provided proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test result. On Wednesday, May 19, large scale arenas and event venue capacity will increase to 25 percent, and large-scale outdoor event venues can increase spectator capacity from 20 percent to 33 percent. Beginning Monday, May 31, the 12 a.m. curfew for indoor dining areas will be removed, and the 1 a.m. curfew for all catered events will be removed.

SENIORS & HOMEBOUND RESIDENTS – DO YOU NEED VACCINATION REGISTRATION HELP?

Columbia County Seniors and/or homebound residents in need of assistance getting themselves registered for the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to contact the county call center Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The telephone number is 518-697-5560.

COUNTY VACCINATION INFORMATION PHONE LINE

The Columbia County call center dedicated to helping those requiring assistance with vaccine registration is active Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The dedicated telephone number is 518-697-5560.

CORONAVIRUS TESTING SITES (as of 1-8-2021)

New York Testing Sites by appointment only at 888-364-3065 visit http://www.covid19screening.health.ny.gov/; WellNow Urgent Care, 446 Fairview Avenue, Hudson. 518-267- 3496. May be out-of-pocket costs; Columbia County Department of Health, 518-828-3358. Check www.columbiacountynyhealth.com for scheduled walk-up and drive-thru clinics; Greene County Department of Health, by appointment only on Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m., 518-719-3600.. Also, Community Care Physicians, Latham. 518-863-3600. 12-7 p.m.; Priority 1 Urgent Care, Guilderland, 518- 867-8040; Whitney Young, Albany, 518-465-4771; Rite Aid, Colonie, 518-267-3496; CareMount Medical Urgent Care, Rhinebeck, 844-484-6564; CVS-Valatie, 518- 758-2200; CVS-Red Hook, 845-758-9612. Also, Central Med Urgent Care, 1662 Central Avenue, Albany, 518-240-1456, bills insurance; Walgreens Rapid Testing, 41 Holland Avenue, Albany, 518-426, 2976. EmUrgentCare locations offer COVID-19 tests for patients without symptoms at the following locations: 98 Wolf Rd., Albany; 11835 US-9W, West Coxsackie; 2976 US-9W, Saugerties; 5 New Karner Rd., Guilderland. The telephone number for all locations is 518-264-9000. Check for out-of-pocket costs. Price Chopper test locations with testing hours from 7-9 a.m. on Tuesdays: Chatham, Clifton Park, Latham, Troy, Wilton. Other Price Chopper locations and times: Ft. Edward, Tuesday, 7-10 a.m.; Glenmont, Wednesday, 7-10 a.m.; Johnstown, Tuesday, 7-11 a.m.; and Schenectady, Wednesday, 12-2 p.m. Pine Plains Pharmacy: 2965 Church Street, Pine Plains, 518-398-5588. Monday-Saturday by appointment only.

AT-HOME COVID-19 TEST AVAILABLE

LabCorp currently offers an at-home COVID-19 test at https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/at-home-test-kits/covid19-test-home-collection-kit. This test does not detect antibodies or immunity. It is designed to determine active infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. After completing a short eligibility survey, choose a billing option, which can be through personal insurance, the use of federal funds to cover the cost of this test on your behalf if you’re uninsured, or with a credit card. The test kit will arrive via FedEx. After collecting and returning your sample, the average time to deliver results is onetwo days from when your sample is received at the lab, according to LabCorp.

DONATION INFORMATION

Monetary: Monetary donations intended for the purchase of coronavirus testing kits and much-needed equipment for emergency responders, medical personnel, and others on the front lines of the coronavirus fight are advised to send a check in care of Columbia County, with coronavirus noted in the memo field. The check can be sent to the Columbia County Controller’s Office, 401 State Street, Hudson, NY 12534. All money received is being placed in a dedicated account. PPE: Those wishing to make donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as N95 masks, face shields, and gowns, are advised to contact the Emergency Management Office at 518-828-1212. Food: Donations should be directed to the county Office for the Aging (518-828-4258) and local food pantries. Masks: Those wishing to donate cloth masks to the county stockpile may contact the county Emergency Management office at 518-828-1212 or [email protected]. Or Supervisor Rob Lagonia at [email protected]

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, the county 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.