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In a press release, Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy reported today that there were 37 new positive cases yesterday and that the County’s COVID-19 pandemic total is now at 62,308 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases increased from 39.2 to now 41.5 cases.
 
County DOH reported that there were five COVID-19 hospitalization overnight and that the number of hospitalized County residents increased by four to now 24 patients.  There are now four patients in the ICU, an increase of two.  The County’s pandemic death toll remained at 531. 
 
State DOH reported that the County’s rate for one vaccine dose as of yesterday was 81.2% of the County’s total population and 89.7% of the adult population, and the County’s rate for full-vaccination was 73.8% for the total population.  The State’s rate for one dose was 89.2% for the total population and 95.0% of adults, and the State’s rate for full-vaccination was 75.7% for the total population.
 
The State’s COVID-19 website reported that yesterday’s results for 67,714 tests Statewide were 1,060 or 1.6% positive, with the seven-day average remaining at 1.5%.  The Capital Region had 2,112 tests of which 73 or 3.5% were positive, with the seven-day average remaining at 2.7%.  The County had 520 tests of which 19 or 3.7% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 2.5%.

Governor Hochul announced today that the State’s positive rate for tests was 1.57%, and that daily rate has been below 2% for 12 consecutive days.   Other COVID-19 data included new hospitalizations (1,507, -13), new admissions (125), ICU patients (251, -7), intubations (138, -1), and deaths (17). 

With spring’s arrival in a few weeks, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve will likely start scheduling prescribed fires that advance the Preserve’s mission to protect its fragile environment.  The use of fire may seem incongruous with preservation efforts but it serves a vital purpose.  To better explain the essential role that fire serves in conserving the rare inland barrens, the Preserve is offering several helpful seminars. 
  
On Thursday, March 17 at 2pm, the Preserve is hosting a science webinar, Legacy of Fire and Soil, which will explain how fire changes the chemical and microbial components of soil.  On Tuesday, April 19 at 11am and Saturday, April 30 at 11am, the Art of the Prescribed Fire is an escorted 0.9 hike to learn about the role of prescribed fires.  The hike will include an art activity set provided by the Albany Institute of History Art, which relates to the art by Leigh Li-Yun Wen.  The Institute of Art is hosting, with required reservation, an in-person seminar on Sunday, March 20 at 2pm that uses this artist’s work to explain how fire is used to manage habitat for rare and endangered species.

I thank Highway, Parks, Golf Course, and Town Hall staff for helping clear Town highways, parking lots, and parks early this morning of felled trees and branches.  It appears that several native trees were impacted but damage to property was thankfully minimal. 

Thank you for staying safe and calm.
 
Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor