LATEST CONCERN
Albany County monitoring rise in hospitalization rate
ALBANY, N.Y. » Albany County Executive Dan McCoy confirmed 10 new positive cases of COVID-19 during a Tuesday morning press conference.
According to McCoy, included within the new cases were two people with close contact to positive cases, four out of state travelers, and four did not have a clear source of infection.
McCoy detailed additional numbers pertaining to the pandemic in the county.
Since data began being recorded in March, Albany County has seen 2,531 confirmed cases. People under mandatory quarantine has decreased to 409. The fiveday average for new daily positives has dropped to 8.4 from 9.4.
Currently, there are 46 active cases. Thus far, 9,701 people have completed quarantine. Of those who completed quarantine, 2,485 of them had tested positive and recovered.
McCoy also voiced his concern on the rising hospitalization rate in the county.
“That’s the one thing under the control room that we watch every day is the hospitalization rates. As you know, the last couple of weeks we were down, we were down below five, and then we’d go up to seven, back and forth. Again,
"If you get a flu shot today, it takes you about twoweeks to develop antibodies and be protected. So it is not too early to get your flu shot." — Dr. Elizabeth Whalen, Albany County Department of Health Commissioner
that’s the one that we’re tracking to see how the virus is affecting people now versus almost six months ago,” McCoy noted.
Those hospitalized rose to 12 Tuesday with two patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the hospitalization rate bumping up to 0.47%.
McCoy also touched on how they’re monitoring the potential impact of schools reopening has on the community during the pandemic.
“As colleges reopen and with some children to be brought back into classrooms in the Capital Region, we must continue to monitor the severity in which the virus is affecting residents and our hospital data,” McCoy explained.
“Another important thing to watch is the total of residents who have ever been hospitalized. That number has gone up from 297 on August 14 to 316 [ Tuesday],” McCoy added.
Albany County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen continued to advocate for people to get tested for the virus.
“We are in an area where testing is readily available. We do continue to advocate testing for individuals that certainly anyonewho’s symptomatic and if you have minor symptoms and if you are in that age demographic that we discussed, 20-29, if you are concerned about contact or if you just are concerned about your status, please get tested,” Whalen said.
“We do have widespread availability, and we are still testing asymptomatic individuals and still recommending that practice throughout New York State but especially Albany County where we do have availability,” Whalen explained.
As of Aug. 30, 107,692 Albany County residents had been tested for COVID-19, with 2,770 testing positive. The 20 to 29-year age group continues to lead in the number of total positive cases, which has now grown to 532. That an increase of 19 since a week ago. People in their 50’s have had a total of 391 positive cases, up 12. Those in the 30 to 39 age range saw an increase of eight positive cases in the last week.
While the 12203 zip code continues to have the highest concentration of positive cases since the outbreak began, that growth has been slowing. Since August 18, the number of positives has only grown by nine.
Whalen also encouraged people to get their flu shots.
“The other thing that I think is going to be important to stress going forward is getting flu shots,” Whalen said.
“We know that the flu season starts in October and peaks in February. If you get a flu shot today, it takes you about two weeks to develop antibodies and be protected. So it is not too early to get your flu shot,” Whalen added.
Whalen also noted that she expects the county health department to get their batch of flu shots sometime next week and that people can begin obtaining their flu shots at most retailers or health clinics.