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In a press release, Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy reported today that there were 21 new positive cases yesterday and that the County’s COVID-19 pandemic total is now at 62,038 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases decreased from 40.5 to 38.2 cases.
 
County DOH reported that there were two COVID-19 hospitalizations overnight and that the number of hospitalized County residents increased by four to now 28 patients.  There are now four patients in the ICU, an increase of one.  The County’s pandemic death toll remained at 528. 
 
State DOH reported that the County’s rate for one vaccine dose as of yesterday was 81.1% of the County’s total population and 89.6% of the adult population, and the County’s rate for full-vaccination was 73.7% for the total population.  The State’s rate for one dose was 89.0% for the total population and 95.0% of adults, and the State’s rate for full-vaccination was 75.5% for the total population.
 
The State’s COVID-19 website reported that yesterday’s results for 66,574 tests Statewide were 1,284 or 1.9% positive, with the seven-day average remaining at 1.9%.  The Capital Region had 2,495 tests of which 92 or 3.7% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 3.3%.  The County had 666 tests of which 30 or 4.5% were positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 2.8%.

Governor Hochul announced today that the State’s positive rate for tests was 1.93%.  Other COVID-19 data included new hospitalizations (1,858, -16), new admissions (181), ICU patients (323, -13), intubations (176, -11), and deaths (34). 

Unable to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with its players, Major League Baseball, in “a letter to baseball fans,” announced the cancellation of the first two series of the 2022 regular season (including the NY Mets’ opening series on March 31).   For some reason, very wealthy players and even more wealthy owners could not figure how to share an immensely large sum of money.  For the first time since the 1994-1995 work stoppage, this upcoming season (if played) will not likely be a full 162-game season and its records will have an asterisk. 

I am pleased to report that the Town Board has authorized the issuance of proposals for the construction of new substation for the EMS Department’s ambulances.  It will be the third substation and the first new EMS building in decades.  The new substation will be located at the Town-owned Western Turnpike Golf Course, on an empty lot to the right of the “T” intersection, a short distance from the entrance.  The ambulances will have direct ingress/egress on both Route 20 and Route 146, and the substation’s central location will enable dispatched ambulances to quickly reach residential and business locations. 

With the start of the Town’s ambulance service in July 2019, all ambulances were upgraded to Advanced Life Support by having a highly trained paramedic who can treat patients in critical condition with a cardiac monitor/defibrillator, IV fluids, medications, advanced airway, and other care before and during transport to the hospitals. 

From the early days of the pandemic, the EMS Department has been a Statewide leader for its effort to protect our community, including innovative means for disinfecting and rapidly returning ambulances to service after transporting COVID-19 positive patients.  It also received special DOH licenses for administering vaccines in our community and in-house testing for Town staff.   State DOH has recognized the Town EMS as the "New York State EMS Agency of the Year." 
Thank you for staying safe and calm.
 
Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor