Full Notification

In a press release, Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy reported today that there were 72 new positive cases yesterday and that the County’s COVID-19 pandemic total is now at 61,596 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases decreased from 76 to 71.8 cases. 
 
County DOH reported that there were four COVID-19 hospitalizations overnight and that the number of hospitalized County residents decreased by five to now 47 patients. There are now five patients in the ICU, a decrease of two.  The County’s pandemic death toll remained at 526.  The County Executive added:  “Our numbers are getting better and that is encouraging.  We have the lowest number of hospitalizations since December 6^th and I fortunately have not had to report any COVID-19 related deaths in three days.  Let’s hope we continue along this path.”
 
State DOH reported that the County’s rate for one vaccine dose is 80.9% of the County’s total population and 89.5% of the adult population, and the County’s rate for full-vaccination is 73.5% for the total population.  The State’s rate for one dose is 88.5% for the total population and 95.0% of adults, and the State’s rate for full-vaccination is 75.1% for the total population. 
 
The State’s COVID-19 website reported that yesterday’s results for 186,104 tests Statewide were 4,847 or 2.6% positive, with the seven-day average remaining at 4.5%.  The Capital Region had 8,739 tests of which 265 or 3.0% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 4.2%.  The County had 2,026 tests of which 59 or 2.9% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 4.0%.

Governor Hochul announced today that the State’s positive rate for tests was 2.60%.  Other COVID-19 data included new hospitalizations (2,879, -189), new admissions (339), ICU patients (490, -7), intubations (288, -2), and deaths (42). 

The Governor also announced major investments by the State to improve access to acute mental health care and hospital psychiatric beds and provide support and services for people with serious mental illness.  The new annual investments including $27.5 million to increase funding for inpatient psychiatric beds; $9 million to recruit psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners; and $12.5 million for 500 additional supportive housing beds for people experiencing homelessness.
 
Starting on Tuesday, February 22, the wearing of facemasks will be strongly recommended, but not required, in indoor public spaces in Town facilities.  In taking this action, the Town’s COVID-19 response team noted that the CDC has announced plans to modify its facemask guidance by shifting from its singular reliance upon a community’s positive cases to more “relevant” consideration of hospitalizations, hospital cases, and vaccination rates.  All such numbers in our community are substantially down from highs in early January, and are trending lower.  The lack of a State facemask mandate made it difficult to enforce a facemask requirement when most businesses are not requiring masks.
 
The COVID response team also determined that meetings of boards and committees should continue in a virtual format as long as the State of Emergency is in effect.  The most current end date is March 16.
 
I hope that you have an enjoyable and relaxing President’s Day holiday weekend.
 
Thank you for staying safe and calm.
 
Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor