Full Notification

Albany County’s COVID-19 dashboard reported that there were 143 new positive cases overnight in the County, which raised the County’s COVID-19 cumulative pandemic total to 64,557 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases increased from 105.1 to 112.4 cases.  The number of County residents in the hospital due to COVID-19 symptoms increased by five to now 34 patients, with three  patients in the ICU.  The County’s pandemic death toll remained at 541. 
 
State DOH reported that the County’s rate for one vaccine dose as of yesterday was 81.6% of the County’s total population and 89.8% of the adult population, and the County’s rate for full-vaccination was 74.4% of the total population, and for boosters was 68.4% of the eligible population.  The State’s rate for one dose was 89.9% for the total population and 95.0% of adults, and the State’s rate for full-vaccination was 76.6% for the total population, and for boosters was 58.3% of the eligible population.  
 
The State’s COVID-19 website reported that yesterday’s results for 143,488 tests Statewide were 6,889 or 4.8% positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 4.8%.  The Capital Region had 4,169 tests of which 353 or 8.4% were positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 7.6%.  The County had 1,093 tests of which 108 or 9.7% were positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 8.7%.

The State’s COVID-19 dashboard reported the State’s positive rate for tests yesterday (4.80%), hospitalizations (1,247, +31), new COVID-19 hospital admissions (265), ICU patients (150, +3), intubations (63, 0), and deaths (10).

State DOH’s latest data continues to show that a full vaccination dose is highly effective in preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations.   As of April 11, there have been 1,252,487 laboratory-confirmed breakthrough cases among fully-vaccinated people in the State, which corresponds to 9.4% of the population of fully-vaccinated people 12-years or older.  There have been 44,334 hospitalizations with COVID-19 among fully-vaccinated people in the State, which corresponds to 0.33% of the population of fully-vaccinated people 12-years or older.  Other State data compared rates of COVID-19 hospitalization between fully-vaccinated and unvaccinated people, and found that fully-vaccinated New Yorkers had between an 87.0% and 95.9% lower chance of being hospitalized with COVID-19, compared to unvaccinated New Yorkers.

State DOH announced the emergence of two new Omicron subvariants ( BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1) which are sub-lineages of BA.2 and account for 80.6% of COVID-19 infections in the State.  State DOH noted that the subvariants are rapidly spreading in Central New York. At this time, there is no evidence of increased disease severity caused by these subvariants, though State DOH is closely monitoring for any changes.  State DOH Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett added:

We are alerting the public to two Omicron subvariants, newly emerged and rapidly spreading in upstate New York, so New Yorkers can act swiftly.  While these subvariants are new, the tools to combat them are not.  These tools will work if we each use them: get fully vaccinated and boosted, test following exposure, symptoms, or travel, consider wearing a mask in public indoor spaces, and consult with your healthcare provider about treatment if you test positive.  I thank the Department's scientists for leading this effort and those contributing to this work throughout New York and around the world.
 
The CDC’s map of community level infection rate as of Thursday shows that Albany County has a “medium” level of infection after having been at a “low” level for more than a month.  The CDC’s recommendation at the “medium” level is:
 
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Get tested if you have symptoms. Wear a mask if you have symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19. Wear a mask on public transportation. You may choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect yourself and others. If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider wearing a mask indoors in public and taking additional precautions.
 
Of the nation’s counties, 3,035 counties are “low,” 175 counties are “medium,” and 14 counties are “high,” of which 10 are in New York State. 
 
Today is National Librarian Day, a day to recognize the importance of local libraries as places of learning and enrichments, and the essential role of librarians and staff in fulfilling this mission.  Please take the time to express your appreciation to the staff at our community’s libraries and exploring what they have to offer both in-person and online at the Guilderland Public Library and Altamont Free Library.
 
Thank you for staying safe and calm.
                           
Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor