Full Notification

With leaves beginning to fall, the Highway Department’s street vacuuming will soon begin next week.  Please help the Highway crews by not leaving leaf piles on the paved surface and keeping storm drains clear of debris.  It is more than a two-month effort, and given our unpredictable late fall weather, there could be an occasional delay.  More details, including the street vacuuming schedule, are below.  

COVID-19 Weekly Update

Albany County DOH’s COVID-19 Dashboard reported one new COVID-19 related deaths over the past week and that the County’s pandemic death total remained at 583.  The number of hospitalized persons increased by one patient to now 31 patients.  The County’s seven-day average of positive cases over the past week decreased from 10.6% to 10.3%.    

For the first time in three months, CDC’s data shows that Albany County has a “high” rate of community COVID-19 spread.  Eight other counties, including nearby Columbia, Fulton, Montgomery, and Rensselaer Counties, are also at a high rate.  At this “high” rate of community spread, the CDC recommends wearing a face mask in indoor settings and on public transportation.  While not mandated, face masks remain strongly encouraged in indoor public settings in Town facilities.  Please note that CDC updates its data on community spread on Thursday evenings.

The CDC reports that the percentage of the nation’s counties with a high community level decreased from 7.0% to 3.32% and that the percentage at the medium level decreased from 31.2% to 22.89%. The percentage of counties at the low community level increased from 61.7% to 73.79%.

State DOH’s method for assessing COVID-19 spread in a community uses a seven-day average of positive cases per 100,000 residents.  Albany County’s number increased over the past week from 19.4 to 20.8 cases.  The State’s seven-day average also decreased from 22.2 to 21.1 positive cases.  The hospitalization rate increased in the State from 11.64 to 12.11 patients per 100,000.  State DOH reported that there were 169 COVID-19 related deaths last week in the State and that 74,356 residents have died since the start of the pandemic.

A reminder that updated COVID-19 boosters are available at local pharmacies, clinics, and physician offices.  You can check on the availability of updated boosters by entering your zip code at vaccines.gov, texting your zip code to 438829, or calling 1-800-232-0233.

Please click here to read the full version of the weekly newsletter.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor