Full Notification

Based on Albany County DOH’s COVID-19 dashboard, as of today, that were 27 new positive cases since yesterday, and that the County’s COVID-19 cumulative pandemic total has reached 62,426 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases decreased from 36 to now 34.2 cases.  County DOH noted that 11 County residents are in the hospital because of COVID-19.  The County reported three deaths overnight and that the County’s pandemic death toll is now at 536.  
 
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 73.9% 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 75.8% for the total population. 

There has been unfortunately very little upward movement in these percentages over the past two months.  That said, the State and County’s vaccinations rates are near the top in CDC’s report on the nation’s vaccination status.   I thank fellow residents for getting fully vaccinated to protect yourself, family members, co-workers, friends, at-risk members of our community, and young children not yet eligible for vaccinations.    

The State’s COVID-19 website reported that yesterday’s results for 130,990 tests Statewide were 1,799 or 1.4% positive, with the seven-day average remaining at 1.4%.  The Capital Region had 4,897 tests of which 111 or 2.2% were positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 2.4%.  The County had 1,302 tests of which 22 or 1.7% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 2.2%.

Governor Hochul announced today that the State’s positive rate for tests was 1.37%, and that the State’s daily infection rate has been below 2% for 16 consecutive days.   Other COVID-19 data included new hospitalizations (1,165, -80), new admissions (135), ICU patients (189, -10), intubations (117, -5), and deaths (18).

If you still remember a time before the arrival of smartphones when photos and other remembrances were kept in paper form, you might find of interest an upcoming online presentation by the Guilderland Historical Society.  On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 at 7:30pm, you can take a short break from your celebrations, and join Marietta Carr, a librarian and archivist at the Schenectady County Historical Society, who will provide a helpful presentation on methods for preserving, storing, and organizing for photos, letters, diaries, and other important family documents.  Here is a link to the Society’s webpage on upcoming programs, including a special online presentation on April 21 about the rich history of the recently recognized Country Club Highlands Historic District in McKownville. 

Please remember that daylight saving time starts tonight at 2am, and you might want to move your clocks ahead by one hour before you fall asleep tonight.  It is also a good time to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  It feels like it’s very early this year, particularly with an ongoing winter storm.  Contrary to what you (and I) might have thought, since 2007, daylight saving time lasts for nearly, but not exactly, eight months, and not one-half of the year as it was before 2007.  And don’t forget that, at least according to the calendar, spring arrives here at 11:33am on Sunday, March 20.

I hope that, despite the winter storm, you are enjoying a relaxing weekend. 

Thank you for staying safe and calm.

Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor