Columbia County

Board of Supervisors

Chairman’s Press Release

Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said today that the county’s COVID-19 infection rate “had dropped for a short period, but now it’s crept back up to 4.85 percent. Our positivity rate has been stubbornly high for some time, as it is in all of the Capital Region.” County DOH recorded 12 cases last Wednesday, 17 on Thursday, 16 Friday, nine on Saturday, 17 for Sunday-Monday, and 11 as of midday today. There are three hospitalized individuals, with two in the ICU.

In the six county school districts, 148 students and staff have tested positive with the virus since the beginning of the school year. 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.

The Columbia County Department of Health has scheduled three Moderna booster clinics at Columbia-Greene Community College on Thursday and Friday this week. Thursday’s clinic will run from 4-7 p.m., and on Friday clinics will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Walk-ins will not be accepted for the booster clinics. Further information is available, and pre-registration is required, at the county DOH website at https://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com/news/new-covid-19- vaccine-information/

The Columbia County Department of Health announced today the first in-county case of West Nile virus this year has been confirmed in a Canaan-area resident. “It’s late in the season, but it’s something to be aware of,” said county DOH Director Jack Mabb. “West Nile ordinarily runs from summer into fall.”

The West Nile virus is commonly conveyed through a mosquito bite, Director Mabb said. The virus can cause fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. On rare occasions a bite from an infected mosquito can also cause serious illness and death. Those aged 50 years and older are at the highest risk for serious complications, including neurological disease. “If you are exhibiting symptoms of the West Nile virus, it is recommended that you consult your doctor immediately,” said Director Mabb. Further information on the West Nile virus is available at https://www.cdc.gov/westnile

As of Friday, October 15, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,196 first doses of the As of Monday, October 25, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,202 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,500. 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 200.

The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 37,677 have completed the vaccine series. 41,311 have received at least one dose, or 68.9 percent of the county’s 59,916 population.78.8 percent of the county’s over-18 population has received at least one shot.

Every Tuesday and Thursday during the hours of 1 to 3:30 p.m., the Columbia County Department of Health offers COVID-19 vaccinations at its 325 Columbia Street, Hudson location. Every third Tuesday of the month, the immunization clinic runs from 1-6 p.m.

On Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m., the county DOH will offer vaccinations (weather permitting) at the Waterfront Wednesdays family friendly public programming on the Hudson waterfront.

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.

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.

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 844-484-6564

CVS-Red Hook, call for appointment, 845-758-9612.

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.

LabCorp currently offers an at-home COVID-19 test at https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/at-home-test-kits/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.

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.

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, 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.