Albany County officials raise caution with uptick in cases
ALBANY, N.Y. » Albany County officials confirmed a new death attributed to COVID-19 and an uptick in coronavirus cases Friday. The five-day average for new daily positives increased to 14.8.
Albany County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen discussed her concern on the recent uptick in cases,
“We are starting to see a little bit of an uptick in cases. I know throughout the summer we have been very carefully monitoring, and there was a concern that there would be a second surge of COVID in the fall,” Whalen said.
“I don’t know yet whether what we’re seeing is constituting a surge, but it is constituting a caution,” Whalen added.
During the Friday morning press conference, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy announced the death of a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions. That marks 135 deaths in the county attributed to COVID-19 since tracking began back in March.
“Unfortunately, after just shy of three weeks, I have to report another Albany County resident losing his life to the coronavirus. My condolences go out to his family and all the other families who have lost loved ones throughout the pandemic,” McCoy stated.
McCoy also confirmed 28 new positive cases, bringing the total active cases in the county to
98. Additionally, there are 967 residents under mandatory quarantine.
Encompassed within the new cases are 10 connected to the University at Albany, 17 with close contact with positive cases, one is a healthcare worker, two reported out-of-state travel and eight did not have a clear source of transmission.
“While the University at Albany has gotten a lot of attention after the recent outbreak, we seem to have turned a corner, as the percentages of students that make up our daily totals are on the decline. It went from over 84% back on September 18, to 61% a week later, to just over 13% yesterday. However, this doesn’t change the fact that we still had 28 positive cases today and we need to continue to wear masks, socially distance, and get tested,” McCoy explained.
There was also one new hospitalization since Thursday, while the number of county residents currently hospitalized due to the virus dropped to four from five Thursday. The hospitalization rate remained at 0.16%, and there is now one patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Whalen also reminded people that the virus is still out there and remains a very real public health threat.
“It’s important for people to know that COVID is still out there. There is still transmission in Albany County, and people are still at risk,” Whalen said.
“So that behaviors that we have advocated for since the beginning of the outbreak, including social distancing, wearing masks, washing your hands, remain very important,” Whalen continued regarding taking steps to mitigate [the] spread of coronavirus.
Additionally, Whalen urged people to avoid large crowds and gatherings if at all possible.
“In addition to those guidance’s, it’s also important for people to consider whether they need to be out and about,” Whalen said.
“I would urge you to give this consideration on a day to day basis in terms of what you need to do for yourself and your family and try to avoid situations where there are large crowds and when you cannot avoid those situations to make sure you are wearing the appropriate equipment and really being careful with hand hygiene,” Whalen added.
Whalen also reminded residents on the importance of obtaining their flu shots.
“We’re very concerned about the incidence of flu at a time when we have so much concern for COVID,” Whalen remarked.
“There are some symptoms overlaps, and the flu shot is the best thing you can do to protect yourself from getting the flu,” Whalen added.