Full Notification

With winter weather approaching, and we start spending more time indoors, COVID-19 remains a threat in our community as confirmed by the CDC’s designation, for a third consecutive week, that the County has a high community spread.  The best defense is the new updated COVID-19 booster that, with expanded eligibility for younger children, is easily available in our community.  As detailed below, the next few weeks are full of crafts fairs, farmer’s markets, recycling events, and hazardous material and unneeded prescription disposal events, organized hikes, and other outdoor activities.    
 
COVID-19 Weekly Update
 
Albany County DOH’s COVID-19 Dashboard reported no COVID-19 related deaths over the past week and that the County’s pandemic death total remained at 583.  The number of hospitalized persons decreased by 12 to now 42 patients.  The County’s seven-day average of positive cases over the past week remained unchanged at 10.3%.   
 
For the third consecutive week, Albany County has a “high” rate of community spread of COVID-19 under CDC’s latest weekly data.  Twelve counties in the State (an increase from nine last week) are also at a high rate.  The CDC recommends wearing a facemask in indoor settings and on public transportation in counties with a high infection rate.  Please remember that wearing facemasks in indoor public settings in Town facilities is strongly encouraged.  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 2.89% to 2.08% and that the percentage at the medium level decreased from 20.41% to 18.7%.  The percentage of counties at the low community level increased from 76.7% to 79.75%
 
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 20.1 to 20.3 cases.  The State’s seven-day average also increased from 19.5 to 20.5 positive cases.  The hospitalization rate increased in the State from 13.6 to 14.68 patients per 100,000.  State DOH reported that there were 211 COVID-19 related deaths last week in the State and that 74,675 residents have died since the start of the pandemic.
 
The CDC’s recent data shows that two Omicron variants, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, are rapidly spreading and now account for 11.4% of positive cases in the United States, and 19.6% in the combined New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands region.  The new data suggests that rather than a single variant that was dominant at times over the past two years, there may be an influx of rapidly changing variants this winter.  The best defense is the updated COVID-19 booster, which is readily 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. 
 
Last evening, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that children ages 5 and older may now receive the updated COVID-19 booster shots. State DOH Health updated its guidance this week after the FDA amended its emergency use authorization and the CDC updated its clinical guidance, which collectively will allow more children to boost safely their immunity against COVID-19.  State DOH recommends that persons 5 years and older should receive the new booster dose at least two months after completing their initial vaccine series or following their last booster or additional vaccine dose.  Eligible children 5 years and older can receive the Pfizer bivalent booster and children 6 years and older can receive Moderna's bivalent booster.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. 
 
Peter G. Barber
Town Supervisor