Full Notification

In a press release, Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy reported today that there were 320 new positive cases yesterday and that the County’s COVID-19 pandemic total is 58,146 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases decreased from 440.5 to 415.4 cases. 
 
The County reported that there were 11 new COVID-19 hospitalizations overnight and that the number of hospitalized County residents is 105 patients, a decrease of 13.  There are still 16 patients in the ICU.  The County reported the death of man in his 60’s that raised the County’s pandemic death toll to 499. The County Executive added:
 
Sadly I have to report the latest Albany County resident losing their life to COVID complications – a man in his 60’s.  My thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones.  This pandemic has taken too many from us too soon over the last nearly two years, and that’s why we continue to work towards increasing our vaccination and booster shot rates and getting at-home test kits out into the community.
 
While any death is tragic news, we continue to see signs of progress with a declining infection rate in the county as well as a significant drop in the total number of residents currently in the hospital with the virus, which is now at its lowest level since January 7.  I encourage everyone to continue doing the right things by wearing masks in public, practicing social distancing, and staying home and getting tested if their feeling sick. 
 
State DOH reported that the County’s rate for one vaccine dose is 80.2% of the County’s total population and 88.8% of the adult population, and the County’s rate for full-vaccination is 72.67for the total population.  The State’s rate for one vaccine dose is 87.1% of the total population and 95.0% of adults, and the State’s rate for full-vaccination is 73.7% for the total population. 
 
The State’s COVID-19 website reported that yesterday’s results for 229,992 tests Statewide were 16,519 or 7.2% positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 9.1%.  The Capital Region had 8,653 tests of which 978 or 11.3% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 12.2%.  The County had 2,848 tests of which 262 or 9.2% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 11.2%.
 
Governor Hochul announced today that the State’s positive rate for tests was 7.18%.  Other COVID-19 data included new hospitalizations (9,335, -519), new admissions (1,073), ICU patients (1,355, -78), intubations (796, -9), and deaths (158).
 
In a report, the CDC confirmed that the incubation period (time between exposure and symptoms) is one day shorter for the Omicron variant than the Delta variant, and two days shorter than the initial virus.  For Omicron, the average incubation period is three days. The brief incubation period could be a factor in the variant’s high transmission rate.

The CDC added 15 new countries to its list of Level 4 (COVID-19 Very High) countries where travel is discouraged because of infection rates that “even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants.”   The list includes more than 100 countries. The new Level 4 includes several cold-weather destinations including the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, and Saint Barthelemy, and far-flung countries including Colombia, Peru, Fiji, Kuwait, Mongolia, Niger, Romania and Tunisia.  There are 13 countries at Level 1 (COVID-19 Low) including China, Indonesia, and Pakistan. 

At the same time, many nations are lifting travel restrictions for fully vaccinated persons.  England and Scotland are lifting pre-flight testing requirements for vaccinated international passengers starting February 11.  Unvaccinated persons must still submit a negative test before flying, and now must pre-pay for a scheduled PCR test on arrival.  The European Union said that starting February 1, fully vaccinated travelers and persons who recently recovered from COVID-19 may travel without restrictions among its member countries but unvaccinated persons must have a negative test result and undergo quarantine and additional testing.

The Federal government is continuing to promote the ordering of free at-home COVID-19 test kits.  In addition to its online website (CovidTests.gov) and Post Office website for ordering four free at-home COVID tests, it has added a toll-free number (800-232-0233) for ordering the kits.  The call center is open every day from 8am to midnight.  There is also a dedicated number (888-677-1199) for disabled persons that is available weekdays from 9am to 8pm.  Several residents let me know that they had received test kits in today’s mail that were ordered online last Wednesday.
 
Thank you for staying safe and calm.
 
Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor