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In a press release, Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy reported today that there were 85 new positive cases yesterday and that the County’s COVID-19 pandemic total is now at 61,677 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases increased from 71.8 to 72.1 cases. 
 
County DOH reported that there were two COVID-19 hospitalizations overnight and that the number of hospitalized County residents decreased by nine to now 38 patients.  There are still five patients in the ICU.  The County’s pandemic death toll remained at 526.  The County Executive added:  “Our hospitalization number continue to show improvement with fewer people admitted with the virus and the lowest number of hospitalizations since just before Thanksgiving.” 
 
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 177,826 tests Statewide were 3,050 or 1.7% positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 2.4%.  The Capital Region had 6,720 tests of which 307 or 4.6% were positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 4.3%.  The County had 2,123 tests of which 74 or 3.5% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 3.9%.

Governor Hochul announced today that the State’s positive rate for tests was 1.72%.  Other COVID-19 data included new hospitalizations (2,745, -131), new admissions (325), ICU patients (460, -30), intubations (258, -30), and deaths (39).  As of today, according to the CDC, there have been 68,628 COVID-19 related deaths in the State since the start of the pandemic.

The CDC’s metric for whether facemasks should be worn indoors continues to show that Albany County has a “high rate” of infection with a seven-day average of 140.75 positive cases per 100,000 residents.  The nation’s infection rate (218.2) and the State’s rate (126) are still at “high” infection rates.  Maine (1,889.6) again has the highest infection rate.  New York again has the fourth lowest infection rate after Ohio (115.6), Nebraska (100.3) and Maryland (90.6).  Except for Maryland, all states and 95% of the nation’s counties have “high” rates of infection. 

The COVID-19 weekly data from the Capital District’s hospitals showed declining numbers over the past week for ICU patients (-20%), intubated patients (-8%), and deaths (-51%).   Unvaccinated persons, even though they represent about 10% of the County’s adult population, continue to account for the majority of ICU patients 53% (19 of 36); intubated patients 67% (8 of 12); and deaths 59% (10 of 17).   In contrast, there are no reported deaths of a boosted person.   

I hope that you are enjoying a relaxing President’s Day holiday weekend.
 
Thank you for staying safe and calm.
 
Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor