Full Notification

Albany County’s COVID-19 Dashboard reported today that there were 63 new positive cases overnight in the County, which raised the County’s COVID-19 cumulative pandemic total to 73,700 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases decreased from 63 to 62.2 cases.  The number of County residents in the hospital overnight with COVID-19 increased by three to now 31 patients, with three patients in the ICU.  The County’s pandemic death toll remained at 566 residents. 
 
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 93,581 tests Statewide were 5,279 or 5.3% positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 5.4%.  The Capital Region had 2,879 tests of which 191 or 8.5% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 6.9%.  The County had 629 tests of which 45 or 7.7% were positive, with the seven-day average decreasing to 7.4%. 
 
In a press release today, Governor Hochul reported the State’s positive rate for tests yesterday (5.29%), and the current numbers for COVID-19 hospitalizations (1,907, -31), new hospital admissions (322), ICU patients (207, +9), intubations (74, +1), and 7 deaths.
 
The FDA’s Advisory Committee unanimously recommended emergency authorizations for Moderna’s two-dose vaccine for children 6 months through 5 years old and Pfizer’s three-dose vaccine for children 6 months through 4 years old.  It would be the first approved vaccines for children in this age group.  The committee stated that clinical trial data showed that both vaccines met criteria for safety and effectiveness. The pediatric vaccines appear significantly less effective against symptomatic infection than the adult vaccines when they were introduced two years ago.  The committee attributes the decline to the Omicron variant’s ability to evade the vaccines’ defenses against infection better than the original version of the virus. The FDA is expected to approve the recommendations early next week, followed by the CDC’s final signoff at the end of next week.
 
The Governor applauded the FDA’s action, and noted that the State was already making preparations to boost vaccination rates among children under the age of five.  Vaccine providers across the State have placed preliminary orders for 39,000 dosages, with State DOH working to ensure that providers will be able to request additional doses and launch a media campaign to encourage vaccinations this summer.
 
On this Saturday from 10am to 3pm, the Guilderland Garden Club is hosting a garage sale at the historic Mynderse-Frederick House in Guilderland Center.  The event includes tours of the beautiful gardens, and a bake sale and plant sale for the Club’s student scholarship.  Club members, some of whom are Master Gardeners, will be available to answer your garden questions.  
 
Thank you for staying safe and calm.    
 
Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor