Dear Gallatin Residents,

Friday, January 7, 2022 Columbia County Board of Supervisor’s Chairman press release

 INFECTION RATE REMAINS HIGH SIX DAYS INTO NEW YEAR

On Wednesday, the Columbia County Department of Health recorded 106 new cases of COVID-19 infection, with 172 on Thursday, and 154 as of midday today.

Currently, 18 county residents are hospitalized and three individuals are on ventilators in the ICU. The recent death of a 70-year-old vaccinated male with comorbidities brings to 118 the total number of residents that have died as a result of the virus since the beginning of the pandemic. Three of the 118 were vaccinated.

County DOH Director Mabb reported that his department administered 252 booster shots in Thursday’s clinic.

All 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.

DOH TO CEASE CONTACT TRACING

As of Monday, January 10, the Columbia County Department of Health will dramatically cut back on the amount of contact tracing it is doing with COVID-19 cases. This comes as a recommendation from the NYS Health Department as a result of the dramatic spike in positive cases. Those who have newly tested positive will continue to be contacted by county DOH. “Contact tracing is the most time consuming part of the work we do during our case investigations,” said DOH Director Jack Mabb, “and people have become increasingly unwilling to tell us their family, work and social contacts. It rendered the time spent tracing unproductive. Concentrating on contacting the positives is the most productive thing we can do. The department will still be doing contact tracing when there is a positive case in a congregate setting such as a nursing home.”

COVID-19 TEST KITS DISTRIBUTION

Earlier this week, Columbia County received 2,687 COVID-19 test kits from New York State. The test kits have been distributed according to population to all municipalities within the county. Town and village leaders will  determine the final distribution procedure. Residents are advised to contact their town or village hall for further information.

COUNTY VACCINATION RATE

As of Saturday, January 1, the Columbia County Department of Health had administered 11,255 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses now number 9,532. The vaccine administered is Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. Note: J&J – a one dose vaccine – is added as a first shot. Third shots of Moderna or Pfizer now number 3,092. Johnson & Johnson boosters number 36. Pediatric first shots number 571, with 500 second shots. The total number of Columbia County residents by all vaccine providers, as shown on the NYS COVID-19 vaccine tracker website: 40,125 have completed the vaccine series. 44,365 have received at least one dose, or 74.0 percent of the county’s 59,916 population. 82.4 percent of the county’s over-18 population has received at least one shot.

UPCOMING COUNTY DOH VACCINATION CLINICS

The Columbia County Department of Health is offering first, second, and third doses of COVID-19 vaccines as well as boosters for those aged 16 and above at Columbia-Greene Community College every Thursday this month from 3-6 p.m., and every Friday from 1-3 p.m. Links to register for the boosters are available on the DOH website. Those seeking first, second, and third shots are advised to contact the county Health Department at 518-828- 3358 to schedule their appointment at the college. The DOH is offering a pediatric (ages 5-11) Pfizer clinic every Wednesday in January from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. by appointment only at 325 Columbia Street. Further information and registration links are posted on the county DOH website at columbiacountynyhealth.com

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.

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.