Canaan 9

Chatham 15

Claverack 8

Clermont 4

Copake 17

Germantown 8

Ghent 16

Greenport 13

Hillsdale 8

Hudson 32

Kinderhook 37

Livingston 8

New Lebanon 4

Stockport 1

Stuyvesant 9

Livingston Hills 2

Pine Haven 37

Barnwell 127

 

Columbia County Update

FROM: Chairman Matt Murell

GATHERING LIMITS CLARIFIED

On Friday, Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell said that under Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order, gatherings of ten or fewer individuals are permitted for Memorial Day observances and religious gatherings provided social distancing and cleaning measures are practiced.

The portion of the Executive Order addressing gathering limits reads as follows:

“Executive Order 202.10 (as later extended by Executive Order 202.18 and Executive Order 202.29) which prohibited all non-essential gatherings of any size for any reason, is hereby modified to permit a gathering of ten or fewer individuals for any religious service or ceremony, or for the purposes of any Memorial Day service or commemoration, provided that social distancing protocols and cleaning and disinfection protocols required by the Department of Health are adhered to, and provided further, that any drive-in or remote religious service may continue in excess of the ten person limit so long as there is no in-person contact between participants. Vehicle caravans are permitted.”

COLUMBIA COMEBACK MEETING SET

The next meeting of Columbia Comeback is planned for Tuesday, May 26, at 1 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and can be accessed at https://columbiacomeback.com

Columbia Comeback was established by Chairman Murell as a resource for local businesses as they work to safely and successfully reopen under state guidelines.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION PLANNED FOR NEXT WEEK On Tuesday, May 26th, from 10am until the food is gone, local food pantries and Catholic Charities will distribute food, fresh fruit, vegetables, and other items at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham. Organizers ask that no one arrive until 10 a.m. to prevent large crowds. Those in vehicles are asked to remain in them, while pedestrians are reminded to practice social distancing. “Adhering to these instructions will allow us to distribute food in a timely fashion,” said organizers.

THREE UPCOMING TESTING CLINICS – CORRECTION FOR CHATHAM LOCATION **NOTE:

Day and time correction for Chatham testing clinic** Recently, the Columbia County Department of Health announced a pair of coronavirus testing clinics set for the John L. Edwards Elementary School in Hudson, the first on Wednesday, May 27th, and the second on Tuesday, Matt B. Murell Chairman Kelly S. Baccaro Clerk Ronald L. Knott Deputy Chairman James J. Guzzi Deputy Chairman June 2nd. Times are 10am to 12 noon. On Sunday, it added a third clinic, set for Sunday, June 7th, 10am to 1pm, at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham. Signup instructions and further instructions regarding the John L. Edwards clinics can be found on the Health Department’s webpage on the Columbia County website, or by calling 518-828-3358.

Reminders……. AVAILABLE SERVICES

Family Assistance Network: As part of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Columbia County Emergency Management has asked leaders in the human services and spiritual areas of our community for help, Director of Emergency Management David W. Harrison, Jr., said Saturday. The individuals were asked to form a Family Assistance Network to provide information to assist county residents who may be dealing with someone close to them who passed away as a result of the COVID-19 virus. Information on where someone can reach out for help is posted on various websites, including the Columbia County website and Emergency Management Facebook page. Hotline for Elderly and Vulnerable: Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett has established a hotline for the elderly and vulnerable in our county, including those with medical conditions or are disabled, who would welcome a deputy checking on their well-being on a daily basis. The number for the hotline is 518-828-0601, extension 1400.

SELF-ISOLATION

Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell continues to urge anyone migrating from outside Columbia County to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival. “Everyone should consider they are a carrier of the coronavirus,” said Murell.

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 should 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. If no one answers, leave a message and someone will return the call.

Food: Donations should be directed to the county Office for the Aging (518-828-4258) and local food pantries.

Masks: Those interested in donating masks should contact Austerlitz Town Supervisor and county Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Rob Lagonia at [email protected]. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s five or 100, we need every one,” said Lagonia, who recommends that those wishing to help out with mask donations consult CDC guidelines at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diycloth-face-coverings.html Currently, Ocean State Job Lot stores are offering free fabric for use in the construction of masks in a “Mask Fabric For Free” campaign. Visit any Ocean State location for the fabric, which is said to be of a high-quality cotton/polyester blend available in two sizes. Further information is available on the Ocean State Job Lot website. Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts is offering free mask kits. Those seeking to acquire a kit are advised to order online for curbside pickup. The Greenport store telephone number is 518-828-2621. Current store hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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/home/coronavirus-covid-19 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. The county will issue a daily press release on the coronavirus situation every afternoon at 4. 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.