Full Notification

After setting a “record high low” temperature of 48 degrees yesterday, our weather will soon reverse course and return to winter conditions.  Almost on cue, the Highway Department’s schedule of vacuuming leaves ended yesterday.  The trucks are now being refitted for snow and ice for the next several months.  At the local level, COVID-19 has mostly leveled off, with low community spread and no COVID-19 ambulance transports, but there is mounting evidence, at the national level, that increased indoor holiday gatherings and colder weather is resulting in more COVID-19 hospitalizations.
 
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 600 deaths.  The number of hospitalized persons increased by nine patients to now 25 patients, with three patients in the ICU. 

For the first time since starting its new method for gauging COVID-19’s spread in February, CDC’s weekly community spread data shows that Albany County has a “low” rate of COVID-19 spread.  At this low level, the CDC recommends facemasks if you have tested positive, have COVID-19 symptoms, or were exposed to someone with COVID-19.  It also recommends facemasks on public transportation.  Low community spread rates exist in nearby counties and are at a medium rate in the rest of the State except for New York City (but not Manhattan) and Long Island with a high rate.  Other welcome news is that Town ambulances made no transports of residents with COVID-19 in November. 

The CDC reports that the percentage of the nation’s counties with a high community level increased from 3.7% to 5.66% and that the percentage at the medium level increased from 18.37% to 24.85%.  The percentage of counties at the low community level decreased from 77.94% to 69.45%.

State DOH’s data for measuring COVID-19’s community spread shows that Albany County’s seven-day average of positive cases per 100,000 residents increased over the past week from 9.6 to 12.7 cases.  The State’s seven-day average per 100,000 increased from 20.9 to 27.8 positive cases.  The hospitalization rate has increased in the State over the past month from 14.33 to 17.76 patients per 100,000.  State DOH reported that there were 150 COVID-19 related deaths in the State last week, and that 75,986 residents have died since the start of the pandemic.
 
State DOH noted that annual flu vaccinations are lagging and is urging residents to be vaccinated.  State DOH has confirmed flu cases are widespread, with far greater numbers than last year.  You can find a flu shot provider here. 

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