STATE OF EMERGENCY
Albany and Rensselaer counties make the formal declaration; Albany County announces fifth positive case
ALBANY, N.Y. » Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy declared a State of Emergency, while saying there are five confirmed positive cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Saturday.
Officials did not confirm details related to the new case, besides stating that the individual is in a local hospital.
Additionally, McCoy added there are 75 individuals under mandatory quarantine and 47 individuals under precautionary quarantine.
On Thursday, county officials announced that a Guilderland woman in her 30s and an off-campus University At Albany student from the city of Albany had tested positive.
On Friday, McCoy said the two new cases live in the same home as the woman from Guilderland, including one of the individuals testing positive now being a middle school student from Farnsworth Middle School.
The two new cases are directly related to the individual who tested positive on Thursday in Guilderland. Officials said they had already been quarantined at home, remain there and are recovering.
He also announced a new partnership aimed at preventing price gouging and fraud. McCoy was joined by Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, Albany County District Attorney David Soares and United Way of the Greater Capital Region President and CEO Pe
ter Gannon.
Amid reports throughout New York State of price gouging of basic necessities and fraudulent products sold as “cures” for COVID-19, United Way’s 2-1-1 hotline will be used to report and track any such instances.
“While we try to tamp down on the panic that exists throughout our communities, those who attempt to exploit that fear as we confront the spread of COVID-19 need to be held accountable,” McCoy said. “With this new partnership, we’re making it clear that fraud and price gouging won’t be tolerated.
“Additionally, while the State of Emergency is in effect, we will be able to quickly move funds and resources where necessary to protect county residents.”
“Thank you to County Executive McCoy for his leadership as our community contends with the implications of COVID-19,” Gannon said. “We are strongest when we come together, and today’s announcement sends a clear message that the health of county residents are priority number one, and we cannot allow anyone to try and take advantage and capitalize off of this crisis.”
Albany County officials also spoke about consumer scams and price gouging in stores and online.
“We’re worried about the concern of people trying to instill fear in others,” Apple said.
“In times like these we often see the best of humanity displayed by friends and neighbors helping each other,” Soares added. “Unfortunately, we also see fraudsters seeking to exploit consumers’ concerns during times of uncertainty for their own financial benefit. We urge consumers to beware of scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic and report any suspected price gouging on items.
“Anyone who has observed a significant price increase in necessary consumer food and health items, as well as medical supplies and services, should dial 2-1-1. I am thankful for the incredible leadership at our state and local level in meeting this crisis head-on.”
Apple wanted to get the word out that the Albany County Correctional Facility canceled all visitation and stated how the jail is completely locked down now, however, the video visitation is free.
“We will go by normal visiting hours, but the [video] visitation is completely free,” Apple stated.
Although as of Saturday afternoon, there are still no reported cases in Rensselaer County, County Executive Steve McLaughlin also declared a State of Emergency for the county.
“The State of Emergency will give large institutions, including schools, more flexibility to respond to the coronavirus,” McLaughlin said in a statement on Saturday. “Rensselaer County currently does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19. The State of Emergency for county helps prepare a quick response, ability for extended closures and emergency allocations.”
Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced on Saturday the first reported New York death in the coronavirus pandemic, an 82-year-old woman who had advanced emphysema in New York City.
Cuomo said that more than 500 New Yorkers have been diagnosed so far with COVID-19.
Cuomo said he believes thousands of New Yorkers — perhaps tens of thousands — already have the disease. The true number of people with the virus in the state is unknown because testing is still being done across the U.S. on a very limited basis.
“It has already spread much more than you know,” Cuomo said on a conference call with reporters. “The infection rate will be massive.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.