Virus update
Two UK virus cases found, with 54 more statewide
Two cases of U.K. variant of virus in Albany County.
Two people in Albany County have tested positive for the more transmissible U.K. variant of the coronavirus, County Executive Dan Mccoy said Saturday.
The county health department didn’t have any further information Saturday morning but would be investigating further, Mccoy said.
“We will report updates regarding these new variant cases,” he said. “We do know this strain is more easily spread so we remind everyone to wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, cough and sneeze into your elbow, practice social distancing and do not gather with groups of people who don’t live with you.”
Statewide, there were 54 new cases of the variant, and of those 46 were in New York City, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office said in Saturday's update. The total number of variant cases is now 136, with 15 in the greater Capital Region area — seven in Saratoga County, six in Warren County and the two new cases in Albany County.
The variant, known as B.1.1.7., was first confirmed to be in the U.S. at the end of December, and it was found to be in the Capital Region in January when a Saratoga Springs jewelry store was tied to the first known case of the variant in New York state. U.K. scientists have recently said the variant is 30 to 70 percent more deadly in a study completed last week.
Mccoy also reported that there were 73 new cases of coronavirus overnight in Albany County and no new deaths.
Of those new cases, 19 had close contact with an infected individual and seven are health care workers or residents of a congregate setting. Contact tracers couldn’t determine the source of infection for 47 people. There were five new hospitalizations overnight, bringing the total to 66. The number of patients in the intensive care unit has dropped from 11 on Friday to 8 on Saturday.
Statewide, COVID-19 killed 97 people. Other state indicators: Friday's positivity rate was 3.06 percent, the lowest since Nov. 23. Hospitalizations dropped below 6,000 for the first time since Dec. 14. The
seven-day average positivity rate has declined for 43 straight days, Cuomo's office said.
Mass vaccination site
A mass vaccination site targeting underserved communities is scheduled to open March 3 in Albany’s Washington Avenue Armory, Cuomo said last week. Eligible residents who live in areas with low vaccination rates can begin scheduling an appointment at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Cuomo said. After one week, appointments will be made available to all residents.
“While COVID-19 has had a damaging impact on the nation, large, poor communities and communities of color have been particularly devastated by this virus, with Black and Latino people dying at a higher rate than white people,” Cuomo’s office said in a statement. “Since the beginning of the vaccine distribution process, another concerning trend has emerged — hesitancy toward the vaccine, especially in the
Black community. With a large number of the essential workers coming from communities of color, these New Yorkers face an increased risk of contracting the virus simply due to the nature of their work. This has made it all the more important to not only continue working to instill confidence in the vaccine, but to also break down access barriers and ensure it is available directly within these communities.”
Residents can call 1-833-6974829 to schedule an appointment.