Full Notification

In a press release today, Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy reported that there were 80 new positive cases overnight in the County, which raised the County’s COVID-19 cumulative pandemic total to 63,257 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases increased from 49.8 to 56.1 cases.  The number of County residents in the hospital due to COVID-19 symptoms increased by one to now a dozen patients, with one patient remaining in the ICU.  The County’s pandemic death toll remained at 538.  The County Executive added:
 
I’m happy that I can report no new COVID deaths in Albany County since the last update on our pandemic response and the number of people in the hospital with the virus remains stable, despite the continued uptick in daily infections.  As the new Omicron subvariant drives up infection rates across the state, it’s critical that more people get vaccinated and get their booster shots.
 
State DOH reported that the County’s rate for one vaccine dose as of yesterday was 81.5% of the County’s total population and 89.8% of the adult population, and the County’s rate for full-vaccination was 74.3% of the total population, and for boosters was 64.4% of the eligible population.  The State’s rate for one dose was 89.6% for the total population and 95.0% of adults, and the State’s rate for full-vaccination was 76.2% for the total population, and for boosters was 56.1% of the eligible population.  
 
The State’s COVID-19 website reported that yesterday’s results for 126,029 tests Statewide were 3,882 or 3.1% positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 2.7%.  The Capital Region had 5,141 tests of which 226 or 4.4% were positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 3.7%.  The County had 1,034 tests of which 60 or 5.8% were positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 4.4%.  
 
Governor Hochul announced today that the State’s positive rate for tests was 3.08%.    Other COVID-19 data included hospitalizations (833, +8), new admissions (152), ICU patients (127, -7), intubations (53, -3), and deaths (12).  The Governor stated that she was ending daily COVID-19 updates on weekends.   
 
New York City announced this afternoon that it would keep its mask mandate in place for children under 5 years of age.  The City had earlier said that the mandate would end on Monday if infection rates did not increase.  The mandate was continued because preschoolers are not eligible to receive vaccinations and an increase in infection rates caused by new Omicron subvariant, BA.2.  The number of daily cases in the City has increased from 500 in early March to 1,350 today.
 
The CDC announced that, as of May 23, it would end an emergency public health order that had mostly barred immigration at land borders since the start of the more than two-year pandemic.  The CDC noted improvements in fighting the spread of COVID-19, including that 97.1% of Americans reside in a county with a “low” community level. 
 
The winter prohibition on overnight parking on Town streets ended today.  I hope that I’m not jinxing things by reminding residents that if there is any adverse weather, like ice or snow, please do not park vehicles overnight to allow for safe cleanup by Highway crews.  With winter cleanup now in full swing with drier and warmer weather, Highway trucks are circulating, like they do year round, to pick up bags, brush, and debris.  Please check out the helpful guidelines for timing, placement, and preparing of brush and bags for pickup.
 
I hope that you have an enjoyable and relaxing weekend.

Thank you for staying safe and calm.

Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor