Upstate COVID -19 rates spiking
1 in 10 testing positive in 12 counties; Surge worse in rural areas with low vaccine rates
The disparity between COVID -19 spread in rural upstate and in New York City continues to widen.
On Saturday, 12 counties reported seven-day averages of positive tests greater than 10 percent — while most of New York City’s boroughs continue to see positive test rates of less than 2 percent, according to data posted by the state.
Infection is growing across upstate, as some regions saw positive results rise more than 1 percent each week. Western New York reported 6.14 percent of tests coming back positive the weekend of Nov. 7. This past weekend, it is at 9.5 percent. The Finger Lakes region saw a similar jump, with positive tests increasing from 6.26 percent to 8.6 percent in two weeks.
The Times Union is using the average of seven days worth of positive tests, as it eliminates the possibility of unusual daily spikes that might not represent trends.
Only one rural county two weeks ago had a seven-day percent positive test average of more than 10 percent: Allegany County in western New York. On Sunday, 12 counties had more than 10 percent of tests coming back positive, including Washington County, which had the highest rate at 13.5 percent.
The Washington County health department posted on its Facebook page Saturday about its high infection rates, asking people to “consider vaccination, wear a mask in public settings or when spending time around others, stay home and get tested if you’re not feeling well.”
While Washington County’s vaccination rate is below the statewide rate of more than 73 percent of the total population receiving at least one dose, it is much higher than other rural counties experiencing rising COVID -19 infections. A little more than 62 percent of Washington County residents have received at least one shot. Allegany County has one of the state’s lowest rates — with 45 percent of people getting at least one vaccine dose.
“Many of our recent cases are originating from inside workplaces (employee to employee transmission), full household/ family spread and at events held indoors in close quarters,” Washington County said.
The information Washington County posted also conveyed the
crush of cases contact tracers in the rural county bordering the North Country is facing.
“THANK YOU for your understanding and patience as our Public Health team continues to work 7 days a week and many hours a day to process and investigate these cases,” the post read.
Warren County, which borders Washington County and has a positive test rate of 10.1 percent, said in a release Sunday that people should consider getting rapid COVID-19 home tests before gathering with family for Thanksgiving.
“Presume you will be exposed to COVID-19 when going into a crowded public setting, and please take precautions accordingly,” Warren County said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul warned at an event last Tuesday in Buffalo that if COVID -19 rates continue to rise, she will support whatever increased protocols local health officials recommend.
“Last thing I want to do is have to talk about more protocols,” Hochul said. “So I’m giving everybody a chance. I’m getting the word out, saying this is reaching a situation that is untenable. The numbers are far too high.”
Hochul has encouraged continued vaccination and boosters for anyone who feels at risk.
“We have the answers. We have to get people vaccinated and get people the boosters,” she said. “And I want our local health departments to know, and our local county executives that I have their backs when they need to take steps to move forward and have more protocols in place as they do in some other parts of the state.”
How the increasing cases will be reflected in seriousness of disease, as vaccine and boosters continue to be administered, is not clear. Trends in hospitalizations and deaths are typically at least a few weeks behind increasing infection rates.
In early September, hospitalizations in New York were higher than they are now, 12.08 per 100,000 people, as compared with 10.66 per 100,000 reported on Friday, according to state data.
However, COVID -19 hospitalizations have been on the rise over the last few weeks in New York. On Oct. 30, a little less than 10 per 100,000 were hospitalized as a result of the virus.
Albany County on Sunday announced its sixth straight day with a COVID -19-related death, a woman in her 90s. New daily positive tests there are also in the triple digits. Albany County’s rate of positive tests — while much lower than other counties — has been slowly climbing. It is 5.2 percent.
“With the holiday season under way, I am afraid we will continue to see this and a greater spike in new infections,” Albany County Executive Dan Mccoy said.
“Do the right thing to protect your family, friends and the community by getting your shot or your booster and get a COVID test before heading to a holiday gathering to make sure you are doing everything you can in the battle against the virus.”