Two more Albany County residents die of COVID -19

Officials: Most currently hospitalized residents unvaccinated

Two Albany County residents have died from COVID-19 complications, officials confirmed Tuesday.

One of the victims was in their 30s and the other was in their 70s, County Executive Dan Mccoy said. The county did not provide information about whether the individuals were vaccinated and has declined to provide that data in its daily reports, citing privacy concerns.

“While every resident that we lose is a tragedy, today is another unfortunate reminder that it’s not only older residents who are at risk of serious complications because of the coronavirus,” Mccoy said.

The deaths bring the overall death toll from coronavirus in Albany County to 419 since the pandemic began.

While the county hasn't been providing regular updates on the vaccination status of victims as their deaths are announced, it has been releasing that data for hospitalized and newly infected residents on a weekly basis.

Mccoy reported Tuesday that a majority of the 37 residents currently hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

Of those patients, 57 percent are unvaccinated, 38 percent are fully vaccinated and 5 percent are partially vaccinated, he said.

Additionally, an update on the vaccination status of county residents who were newly diagnosed with COVID-19 last week shows breakthrough cases are continuing to occur in vaccinated individuals.

Of 631 new cases recorded in the county between Oct. 10 and Oct. 16, nearly half — 49 percent — reported that they were fully vaccinated, 43 percent reported that they were unvaccinated and 8 percent declined to answer the question or had an unknown vaccination status, Mccoy said.

Vaccination status is selfreported and does not include information about when the person received their shots, he said.

Fifty-six new coronavirus cases were reported among county residents Tuesday. The county is currently averaging about 88 new cases a day.

Guilderland exposure

Two town of Guilderland employees who work at the town’s Senior Services Center have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said Tuesday.

Anyone who recently attended events at the center, located at 141 Bavarian Way, or services offered by the town’s Senior Services Department may have been exposed, town Supervisor Peter Barber said.

Those who may have been exposed are asked to watch for any COVID-19 symptoms and seek out testing.

The town’s EMS department is offering free testing to those who believe they may have been exposed.

To schedule a testing appointment, contact 518-4563600.