Columbia County

Board of Supervisors

 Chairman’s Press Release

NEW COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO RISE

COVID-19 cases

As of Thursday, per the CDC, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases remains in the high risk category. Also as of Thursday, the CDC-reported current average of new daily cases per 100,000 of population stood at 45.9. The positive test rate is 16.2 percent.

The number of positive cases in Columbia County rose once again this week, hitting a seven-day total that exceeds the positives for the entire month of March, Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb reported today. The week ending today saw 230 positive cases, with March totaling just 208. May’s total cases through 20 days is 690, exceeding the county’s second highest month, February, in which there were 533 cases.

“There’s no doubt that Covid is rumbling through our community but our nurses are also hearing from people they call who are positive that they tested, in part, because of the rising numbers of positives here and across the country,” said Director Mabb. “So people who may have thought the sniffles or sore throat they had were allergies for a couple of months are quicker to test for Covid. This ‘heightened awareness’ is having an upward effect on our numbers.”

The good news, said Director Mabb, is that while hospitalizations remain relatively high at 18 individuals, there is but one individual in the ICU today. Director Mabb also reports that interest in the fourth booster remains high, with 62 people getting boosted at the department’s POD at Columbia-Greene Community College on Thursday.

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, May 14, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,284 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,561. 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 4,021. Fourth shots (boosters) of Moderna or Pfizer now number 444. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 64. Pediatric first shots number 587, with 573 second shots.

The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 45,576 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 May. 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.