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In a press release today, Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy reported that there were 52 new positive cases overnight in the County, which raised the County’s COVID-19 cumulative pandemic total to 63,443 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases increased from 53.2 to 58.1 cases.  The number of County residents in the hospital due to COVID-19 symptoms remained at 13 patients, with one patient remaining in the ICU.  The County’s pandemic death toll remained at 538. 
 
The County Executive added:
 
Albany County’s average percent positive rate has now been trending upward for just short of three weeks now.  And while the highly contagious Omicron sub variant continues to drive up infection rates here and across New York, now is not the time to panic.  Now is the time to get vaccinated, to get your children vaccinated, to get your booster shot and to encourage others to do the same.  
 
The vaccine is the best way to prevent serious illnesses and tragedies, especially for those with underlying health conditions and weakened immune systems.  It’s important that we continue to move forward with a level of peace of mind, but also that we stay vigilant, which is why the county continues to distribute at-home COVID test kits throughout the community to ensure people can get tested if they’re feeling sick.
 
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 65.0% 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 76.3% for the total population, and for boosters was 56.4% of the eligible population.  
 
The State’s COVID-19 website reported that yesterday’s results for 57,034 tests Statewide were 2,611 or 4.8% positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 2.8%.  The Capital Region had 2,012 tests of which 124 or 5.5% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 3.7%.  The County had 501 tests of which 45 or 7.0% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 4.2%.  
 
In her update today, Governor Hochul reported the State’s COVID-19 data, including yesterday’s positive rate for tests (4.77%), hospitalizations (885, +49), new COVID-19 hospital admissions (139), ICU patients (114, -6), intubations (46, -2), and deaths (10).  
 
The Governor also announced significant changes in how test percentages are calculated.  She added:
 
Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results.  As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results.  Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests.  Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.
 
In a statement, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stated that Medicare will start paying pharmacies and health care providers to provide up to eight at-home tests a month “for the duration of the Covid-19 public health emergency.”  There are about 60 million Americans enrolled in Medicare.  The statement provides that this new benefit includes people enrolled in Medicare Part B, including a Medicare Advantage plan.  

 As noted last week, the Guilderland Public Library has two virtual seminars on the evening of Monday, April 11.  From 6:30pm to 7:45pm, the Library is hosting a roundtable discussion, led by Professor Kristin Bidoshi at Union College’s Department of Russian and Eastern Studies, about the Russia and Ukraine situation.  Here’s a link to register online for the Zoom discussion.  At 7:30pm, there is online book conversation about “The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times.” I had mistakenly stated that the book’s authors Dr. Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams would participate.  That was inaccurate.  You can pick-up a copy of Book of Hope at the Library or curbside pick-up by emailing [email protected] or calling (518) 456-2400 ext. 3.  Here’s a link to register for the book discussion online.

A good measure of the COVID-19 infection rate in our community is the number of ambulance transports of a resident with a confirmed case.  For the month of March, the EMS ambulances had three transports, one each from a single-family residence, UAlbany dorm, and nursing home, with transports on March 8, 26, and 28.  For February, there were also three positive transports, all from single-family residences.  Both months are marked decreases from 10 transports in January and nine in December.  The total pandemic transports by EMS ambulances to area hospitals is now 323 residents. 
 
Thank you for staying safe and calm.
                                 
Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor