HUDSON—Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb reported experiencing a disturbing lack of mask-wearing and social distancing on a weekend visit to Lake George.
“I believe what I observed tells me a second wave of the coronavirus is inevitable. The streets were just as crowded as they were last year and I would estimate only 10% of those walking by us were wearing masks. At times my wife and I were the only people on the street wearing masks and we also heard derogatory remarks from those mask-less people walking by,” Director Mabb said in the June 22 Covid-19 update press release issued by the Columbia County Board of Supervisors
Mr. Mabb had high praise for shop and restaurant owners, who required masks before entering, adding he did see some unhappy people turned away because they didn’t have one.
“I don’t understand how people expect to beat back this virus without taking the proper steps. This is a health crisis and nothing else,” said Director Mabb.
Columbia County has been able to keep its Covid-19 infection rate relatively low through measures taken by its residents.
“When you look at what is happening in states that have neglected to take the appropriate steps to stop the spread of the virus, you’re seeing major spikes in infection rates. We can’t expect the virus to stop itself. I would only hope that Columbia County residents continue to practice diligence in mask-wearing, handwashing, and social distancing,” he said in the release.
Get tested
Upcoming dates on the Columbia County Department of Health’s Mobile Testing Clinic Schedule are: Walk-up clinics—June 30 and July 7, 21 and 28, 9 to 11 a.m., on the sidewalk in front of John L. Edwards, 360 State Street, Hudson.
Pre-registration is not necessary for walk-up clinics.
Drive-through testing clinics: July 12, 9 a.m. to noon, 325 Columbia Street, Hudson and Sunday, August 9, 9 a.m. to noon, Ichabod Crane High School, 2910 U.S. Route 9, Valatie. Pre-registration required for drive-through clinics at https://forms.gle/93TB4ibcWFamZsUPA. Be sure to bring a form of photo identification to all clinics. Masks are required. Walk-up clinics are limited to 50 tests each. Anyone who wants to be tested should get to the clinic as early as possible to ensure a test will be available. The drive-through clinics have the capacity to accommodate 100 tests.
These tests will be nasopharyngeal swabs which are most useful to detect the virus in actively sick people. The kits used at these testing sites are part of those purchased with the help of private donations to Columbia County.
Symptoms most typical of cases of Covid-19 include: fever, cough, trouble breathing, loss of taste or smell and/or any symptoms consistent with the Centers for Disease Control guidelines. The health department recommends anyone feeling these symptoms be tested for Covid-19.
After leaving the test site, symptomatic residents should go directly home for mandatory quarantine until results are shared with them. Essential workers should plan on quarantining outside of work and being extremely cautious around those they come into contact with. It may take a few days to receive the test results. Everyone who gets tested at the site will receive their results once they are processed by Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany. Law enforcement will be onsite along with EMS services.
