Full Notification

In a press release today, Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy reported that that there were 43 new positive cases overnight in the County, which raised the County’s COVID-19 cumulative pandemic total to 73,637 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases decreased from 64.8 to 63 cases.  The number of County residents in the hospital overnight with COVID-19 remained at 28 patients, with three patients in the ICU.  The County’s pandemic death toll remained at 566 residents.  The County Executive stated that the County resident who passed away since his last update on Friday was a man in his 70’s.
 
The County Executive added:
 
It’s never easy to have to report any new COVID-related deaths, and my thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones who lost someone.  As we continue to see our infection rates fall, I’m hopeful that we will see fewer hospitalizations and fewer county residents losing their lives to the virus in the weeks ahead. 
 
The number of individuals hospitalized with the virus has dropped from 41 to 28 in just the last week, which is good news.  I was also happy to see that the CDC’s designation for community levels of COVID-19 in Albany County was downgraded from high to medium risk recently, joining some of the others in the Capital Region and around the state. If more people get vaccinated and get their booster shots, we can build on this progress.
 
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 92.2% of the adult population, and the County’s rate for full-vaccination was 74.6% of the total population, and for boosters was 63.9% of the eligible population.  The State’s rate for one dose was 90.8% for the total population and 95.0% of adults, and the State’s rate for full-vaccination was 77.6% for the total population, and for boosters was 55.5% of the eligible population.
 
The State’s COVID-19 website reported that yesterday’s results for 56,310 tests Statewide were 3,890 or 6.7% positive, with the seven-day average remaining at 5.5%.  The Capital Region had 1,545 tests of which 114 or 8.5% were positive, with the seven-day average remaining at 7.1%.  The County had 408 tests of which 36 or 10.3% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 7.6%. 
 
In a press release today, Governor Hochul reported the State’s positive rate for tests yesterday (6.69%), and the current numbers for COVID-19 hospitalizations (1,938, -15), new hospital admissions (256), ICU patients (198, -6), intubations (73, +5), and 38 deaths.
 
The Governor signed Executive Order No. 11.7 which continued, through July 14, the State’s pandemic state of emergency as set forth in Executive Order 11, and also continued the suspensions and modifications of laws contained in Executive Orders 11, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, and 11.6.  I have not yet re-read these Orders or compared them with the flurry of laws signed into law during the recent budget session, but I think that this Order continues pandemic related relief measures, including the option of local public bodies to forego the Open Meetings Law and hold virtual public meetings.   
 
I thank the community for its wonderful response to last Friday’s blood drive in memory of Richard W. O. Beebe, a beloved paramedic, friend, and mentor for hundreds of fellow medics and EMTs.  The Red Cross reported that the 30 units collected would meet the treatment needs for 90 patients. 
 
On this upcoming Saturday from 11am to 2pm at DiCaprio Park, the Guilderland Police Department is hosting the first scheduled event to celebrate its founding in 1972.  This family event will have a bounce house, gaming truck, food vendors and more activities in the park.  Please take the time to meet in a casual setting the dedicated officers who protect our community and join them in celebrating the department’s half-century of public service. 
 
Thank you for staying safe and calm.    
 
Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor