HUDSON—Thirty-seven Columbia County residents have died of the coronavirus as of June 19 at 3 p.m., according to Columbia County Department of Health figures for that date.
The Columbia County has 427 confirmed positive cases with 31 currently active cases of Covid-19.
Of the total 427 cases, 359 have recovered from the virus; 11 of the positive cases are hospitalized, none of those hospitalized are in the ICU.
The breakdown of the total 427 positive cases by municipality and nursing home follows: Ancram 4, The Grand at Barnwell 142, Canaan 9, Chatham 15, Claverack 19, Clermont 6, Copake 21, Craryville 1, Gallatin 3, Germantown 1, Ghent 21, Greenport 19, Hillsdale 11, Hudson 24, Kinderhook 25, Livingston Hills 2, Livingston 12, New Lebanon 8, Niverville 2, Pine Haven 43, Philmont 6, Stockport 4, Stuyvesant 12, Taghkanic 6, Valatie 11.
Learn more at https://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com/home/coronavirus-covid-19/
There’s an app for coronavirus
The Columbia County Department of Health (DOH) has released an innovative mobile app in response to the coronavirus epidemic, and to help improve the overall health of county residents, according to a press release from Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb.
Download the app free of charge from the Google Play/Android and Apple app stores.
After downloading the app onto a smartphone, the user can receive alerts/push notifications on emergency issues from the department of health, and stay tuned to important information on Covid-19, services, and programs.
App users can go to the Settings/Notifications feature to sign up for alerts from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The app also includes a Covid-19 feature, with CDC and local Columbia County testing and cases information.
News and press releases from the health department on a variety of health issues are featured in the app.
Under the Main Menu, read articles on Communicable Diseases and current Health Topics. Find important Opioid Resources from the Columbia-Greene Addiction Coalition.
Of high-level importance is the Program and Services feature, which describes the intervention services for children with special healthcare needs. Additional items are available in the app for Nursing and Clinical Services, injury prevention, and Maternal Child Health.
Read and share the latest social media posts from Columbia County Department of Health on Facebook.
To engage the greater community, anyone with the app can use the “Share our App” feature under Settings to share the app with family, friends, and neighbors.
Phase IV on track
Provided the metrics continue to allow for the four-phase state business reopening plan to proceed, Phase IV—arts, entertainment, recreation, education—should open July 1, according to the June 19 Covid-19 update press release from Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell. Guidelines for Phase IV businesses and organizations are available at https://columbiacomeback.com
“As we end our first week of opening county buildings to the public with 50% staffing, department heads report that the process has gone very well overall,” Chairman Murell said in the release. “Based on this, it appears we are getting closer and closer to returning to normal staffing levels.”
Testing Tuesdays at JLE
For the remaining Tuesdays in June, the Columbia County Department of Health will conduct testing clinics from 9 to 11 a.m. at the John L. Edwards Primary School, 360 State Street, Hudson. There is no need to exhibit symptoms and registration is not required.
Free hand sanitizer available for private businesses
During the Covid-19 crisis and as things begin to open up, Chairman Murell and Sheriff David Bartlett believe it’s important to ensure that the free hand sanitizer provided by New York State be made available to those private and non-profit companies and organizations, as well as municipalities, within Columbia County who need it. There is no need to submit a prior request—simply show up at the dates and times below.
Beginning Tuesday, June 23, and again on Thursday, June 25, between 9 a.m. and noon, any municipal or private agency/organization that would like free NYS hand sanitizer can come to the Public Safety Facility (PSF) parking lot at 85 Industrial Tract, Greenport, where they will receive up to two cases (eight gallons) of hand sanitizer per week based upon the size and need of the organization. Small spray bottles of hand sanitizer will also be available.
Thereafter, hand sanitizer will be handed out every week – for as long as NYS provides it—Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Those coming to the PSF for hand sanitizer should enter the north entrance (NYS DOT side) of the PSF parking area, and drive to the white Sheriff’s utility trailer in front of the building.
Emergency Management and Sheriff’s Department staff will dispense the hand sanitizer at that point.
Thanks for donation
“I would like to thank the HRBT Foundation for its recent donation of $10,000 toward the county’s efforts to combat the coronavirus. These funds were put to good use toward last week’s purchase of 1,000 testing kits that we expect to take delivery of within a couple weeks,” said Chairman Murell.