Friday September 23, 2022

Chairman’s press release

COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS HIT YEARLY LOW

COVID-19 cases

COVID-related hospitalizations have hit their lowest level in the county this year, Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said today. Four individuals are currently in area hospitals, with three of the four seriously ill enough to be in the ICU. One person is on a ventilator.

COVID-19 new positive cases, which hit their highest weekly totals this summer with last week’s 152, have dropped back slightly to 129. Director Mabb added that the recent outbreak at The Grand Rehabilitation & Nursing/Barnwell facility in Valatie is still partially fueling the jump in new cases. As of this morning, 47 residents had tested positive, in addition to 13 staff.

“I think it’s reasonable to say at this point that the higher-than-expected positive cases we’ve had over the summer months will continue on into the fall and likely increase with all of us moving inside more,” added Director Mabb. “I just hope this downward trend in hospitalizations continues. Perhaps this is confirmation of what we have been told by the CDC and others that the variants we’re seeing now may be more contagious but less virulent.”

County DOH reported that 57 individuals came to A.B. Shaw fire department on Thursday for COVID-19 booster vaccines. Director Mabb called this a good number, since the county currently can offer only the Pfizer bivalent vaccine. The department was able to order Moderna vaccines this week, after the company had experienced a backlog in vaccines in recent weeks.

As of Monday, per the CDC, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases remained in the low risk category. On Thursday, the CDC-reported current average of new daily cases per 100,000 of population stood at 17.4. The positive test rate is 14.7 percent.

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

Upcoming Jynneos monkeypox clinic

The department’s next Jynneos monkeypox vaccine clinic will be held on Thursday, September 29 (dose two; 4:30-7 p.m., C-GCC PAC building).

Drive-thru flu clinic  Saturday, September 24.  New Lebanon Town Hall, 10 a.m. to noon.

Upcoming DOH COVID-19 vaccination clinics

The Columbia County Department of Health will offer COVID-19 vaccine clinics at the A.B. Shaw Fire Department in Claverack on Thursdays from 3-5:30 p.m. throughout the month of September. All vaccines are available on a walk-in basis. For additional information, contact the county DOH at 518-828-3358.

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.

County vaccination rates

As of Saturday, September 17, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,292 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,571. 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 4,132. Fourth shots (boosters) of Moderna or Pfizer now number 715. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 65. Pfizer bivalent boosters stand at 68, and 141 of Moderna. Pediatric first shots number 680, with 643 second shots and 35 boosters. The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 45,960 have received at least one dose, or 76.7 percent of the county’s 59,916 population.

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.