Columbia County Chairman’s press release

COUNTY CURRENTLY AT 4.5 PERCENT VIRUS RATE

“There really hasn’t been an abatement in our COVID-19 infection rate,” said Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb today, noting that the current county rate is 4.5 percent. “Counties around us, with the exception of Greene County at 6.5 percent, have a similar rate.”

County DOH recorded five cases on Saturday, 22 for Sunday-Monday, and 14 as of midday today. There are six hospitalized individuals, with two in the ICU.

In the six county school districts, 133 individuals have tested positive with the virus since the beginning of the school year.

Given the recent media attention Moderna and J&J booster shots are getting of late, Director Mabb said it’s not surprising that the department is getting calls from people interested in boosters.

“We think the Moderna,” he said, “which was the vaccine we gave out the most for much of the winter months and into the spring, will be one that people will want to get. We have a POD scheduled that we can put in place the moment Moderna is approved.”

PFIZER THIRD SHOT POD THIS FRIDAY

The Columbia County Department of Health is holding a booster POD for Pfizer vaccine recipients on Friday, October 22, at Columbia-Greene Community College from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Note that this POD is only for individuals who received the full series of Pfizer vaccine and are at least six months out from their second dose. You will need to bring a photo ID along with your COVID-19 vaccination record card with you to the booster clinic. Walkups will be accepted but pre-registration is requested on the county DOH website.

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 Friday, October 15, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,196 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,498. The vaccine administered is Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. Note: J&J – a one dose vaccine – is added as a first shot. Third shots (Moderna/Pfizer) administered now number 135. The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 37,462 have completed the vaccine series. 41,107 have received at least one dose, or 68.6 percent of the county’s 59,916 population.78.5 percent of the county’s over-18 population has received at least one shot.

COVID-19 TESTING SITES (as of 8-2-2021)

Those seeking testing are advised to contact the site for insurance eligibility and testing hours. New York State DOH, 888-364-3065. CMH Copake Rapid Care, call for appointment, 518-329-3902. CMH Valatie Rapid Care, call for appointment, 518-758-4300. WellNow Urgent Care, Hudson, 518-267-3496. CVS-Valatie, call for appointment, 518-758-2200. Pine Plains Pharmacy, online preregistration required, 518-398-5588. CareMount Medical Urgent Care, Rhinebeck. CVS-Red Hook, call for appointment, 845-758-9612. Also, Community Care Physicians, Latham, 518-863-3600. Whitney Young, Albany, 518-465-4771. Priority 1 Urgent Care, Guilderland, 518-867-8040. Rite Aid-Colonie, 518-240-1456. Central Med Urgent Care, Albany, 518- 240-1456. Walgreens Rapid Testing, 518-426-2976. EmUrgentCare, Albany, Saugerties, West Coxsackie, Guilderland, 518-264-9000 for all locations.

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.

AT-HOME COVID-19 TEST AVAILABLE

LabCorp currently offers an at-home COVID-19 test at https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/at-home-testkits/covid-19-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 one-two 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.

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 Tuesday and 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.