Full Notification

Albany County’s COVID-19 Dashboard reported that there were 71 new positive cases overnight in the County, which raised the County’s COVID-19 cumulative pandemic total to 74,579 positive cases.  The County’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases increased from 62.6 cases to 63.2.  The number of County residents in the hospital overnight with COVID-19 decreased by two to now 25 patients, with four patients in the ICU.  The County’s cumulative pandemic death toll remained at 569.
 
In a press release today, Governor Kathy Hochul reported the State’s positive rate for tests yesterday (8.88%), and the current numbers for COVID-19 hospitalizations (1,990, -57), new hospital admissions (334), ICU patients (192, +6), intubations (77, +4), and 15 deaths.   
 
The State’s COVID-19 website reported that yesterday’s results for 74,439 tests Statewide were 6,737 or 7.8% positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 5.9%.  The Capital Region had 3,125 tests of which 227 or 7.3% were positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 7.4%.  The County had 677 tests of which 57 or 8.4% were positive, with the seven-day average increasing to 9.5%.
 
The Governor also announced her signing of ten laws to regulate firearms including banning the sale of semiautomatic rifles to anyone under 21 years by requiring a license; prohibiting the purchase of body armor by anyone not engaged in an eligible profession; strengthening the Red Flag Law by expanding the list of people who can file for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) and requiring law enforcement to file ERPOs under a very specified set of circumstances; making the threatening of mass harm a crime; microstamping new semiautomatic handguns; enhancing information shared among state, local and federal agencies when guns are used in crimes and strengthening requirements for gun dealers related to record-keeping and safeguarding their inventory; closing the "other gun" loophole by revising and widening the definition of a firearm; eliminating the grandfathering of large capacity feeding devices; and requiring social media platforms to provide a mechanism for users to report hateful conduct.
 
Today’s update is the last of the consecutive daily COVID-19 updates that began back on March 10, 2020, when I wrote an update after receiving an early morning call about the first positive case in our community.  Since then, there have been 845 emailed daily updates. While there is still a declared global pandemic, updates every day are no longer needed, as there are very high local vaccination rates, continuing low community levels of transmission, robust treatment options, and a successful transition towards managing the virus.  
                                                  
Starting next week, we will issue weekly Supervisor updates that will include relevant COVID-19 news and announcements, upcoming calendared events, and information about community events and resources.  We are aiming for newsletters on Thursday afternoons, as part of the Town’s efforts to promote transparency, and encourage your full participation in happenings in Town. 
         
Thank you for staying safe and calm.    
 
Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor