Full Notification

 It is a very busy time of year here, with significant construction improvements wrapping up, including a new roundabout, sidewalks to schools, playground and park enhancements, and other projects just starting including a renovated GPAC, new EMS station, splash pad, new dog park.  The Town’s comprehensive plan update process has begun with the committee’s first meeting in early November.  COVID-19 unfortunately remains a serious health threat, with the first COVID-19 related deaths in the County in months and a continuing high rate of community spread.   More details are below.
   
COVID-19 Weekly Update
 
Albany County DOH’s COVID-19 Dashboard reported six COVID-19 related deaths over the past week after having recorded no deaths since late September.  The County’s pandemic death total increased to 589.  The number of hospitalized persons decreased by five patients to 37 patients.  The County’s seven-day average of positive cases over the past week dropped from 10.3% to 8.9%
 
For the past month, the CDC has designated Albany County as a community with a “high” rate of COVID-19 spread.  Ten of the State’s 62 counties in the State (a decrease from twelve last week) have a high community rate, including Rensselaer County and eight counties in the North Country.  There are only 46 counties in the nation at the high rate.  The CDC recommends wearing a facemask in indoor settings and on public transportation in counties with a high infection rate.  The wearing of 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 2.08% to 1.43% and that the percentage at the medium level decreased from 18.7% to 17.55%.  The percentage of counties at the low community level increased from 79.75% to 81.02%.
 
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 decreased over the past week from 20.3 to 16.8 cases.  The State’s seven-day average also decreased from 20.5 to 19.1 positive cases.  The hospitalization rate decreased in the State from 14.68 to 14.61 patients per 100,000.  State DOH reported that there were 181 COVID-19 related deaths last week in the State and that 74,856 residents have died since the start of the pandemic.
 
The CDC’s data shows that two Omicron variants, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, are still rapidly spreading and now account for 16.6% of the nation’s positive cases (an increase from 11.4% last week) and 28.4% (an increase from 19.6%) of the region that includes New York.  The latest data is further evidence of the spread of rapidly evolving variants. 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. 
 
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the State is accepting applications from small businesses that completed the pre-screening process and were certified for the COVID-19 Capital Costs Tax Credit Program. The eligible costs include, but are not limited to, supplies to protect against COVID-19 transmission; costs for expanding, or defining space to accommodate social distancing; HVAC equipment; expenses to increase outdoor activity and outdoor expansions.  To learn more about the program’s eligibility requirements and qualifying expenses, visit here.   

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