‘NOTHING TO FEAR’
McLaughlin stresses to not be fearful as Rensselaer County reaches 27 cases
RENSSELAER COUNTY, N.Y. » “Nothing to fear, we are going to work our way through this and we’re all going to be OK.”
That was one of the messages from Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin Sunday afternoon after announcing seven new coronavirus cases within the county, which now brings the county to 27 total cases.
There are five new cases in Troy, including a 27-year- old male, a 28-year- old male, a 30-year- old male and a 27-yearold female, all from the East Side, and a 73-year- old male in Lansingburgh.
There is also a new case in
Brunswick involving a 65-yearold male and a new case in East Greenbush involving a 75-yearold male.
On Tuesday afternoon, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin announced the county’s first positive case, a 35-year-old man from Troy, who works at the Troy Prep School.
Officials announced Wednesday that the county had more confirmed cases. They said a 25-year- old woman from Troy, a student at Albany Medical College, along with a 70-yearold from East Greenbush and a 26-year- old and 30-year- old from Brunswick have all tested positive.
Rensselaer County Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas said the two individuals from Brunswick traveled to Miami on March 4 and returned March 10
and that they began feeling symptoms on March 9.
On Thursday, the health department confirmed a 72-year- old woman from Hoosick Falls tested positive.
Officials said the cases include a 60-year- old man from Troy, a 67-year- old man from Troy, a 25-year
old man from Brunswick, a 50-year- old female from Schaghticoke, and a 97-year- old female from East Greenbush.
Two new cases initially announced Friday morning, include a 64-year- old man from East Greenbush and a 61-year-old man from Schodack.
The seven subsequently announced early Friday evening included two in North Greenbush — a 58-year-old female and a 29-year- old
female; two in Poestenkill — a 63-year- old male and 60-year- old female; two in Troy — a 58-year-old female and 47-year-old female; and a 94-year- old male in East Greenbush.
One individual from the county still remains hospitalized.
“It’s still a significantly low number, but obviously that number is changing daily,” McLaughlin said. “The big thing is to stay home as much as you
possibly can.” Although McLaughlin noted that people are not being forced to stay home.
“Please, just treat everybody as if they are a potential carrier of this,” Rensselaer County Director of Operations Rich Crist said.
The county said they will continue to provide updates to the community every day on Facebook live.
“Facebook right now for us is the best way to get the information out as quick as
we can,” Rensselaer County Bureau of Central Services Jim Gordon said.
Health Depar tment Contacts: For those needing to reach the Rensselaer County Health Department, please use the following numbers:
Monday through Friday, general number, 518-2702655 for all non- COVID-19 calls
For COVID-19 information calls, the hotline is 518-270- 0450 from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
For COVID-19 results, call 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, 518-270-2659
After hours, 5 p.m. to 9 a.m., the on- call public health number is 518-8574660
While it is unknown when the outbreak will calm down, McLaughlin is optimistic that it will sooner rather than later.
“Hopefully this peaks, and we get back to normal,” McLaughlin said.