County confirms 10 positive cases
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. » Officials confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that 10 Saratoga County residents have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Six of the positive tests are in Clifton Park. In addition, there are 73 individuals in mandatory quarantine and 43 others in precautionary quarantine.
Saratoga County Director of the Department of Public Health Catherine Duncan noted that after 3 p.m. she heard the county may have two additional positive cases besides the 10 confirmed.
Skidmore College reported a positive test for one of its employee, however, officials later confirmed this individual lives outside of Saratoga County, so that positive test would be recorded in the employee’s home county.
Duncan said they contact all of the people that had contact with anyone who tested positive so that those people are also put into quarantine for 14-days.
“At the present time, we have a large number in Clifton Park,” she said during a Tuesday afternoon conference call with reporters.
Duncan said a woman in her 50s is hospitalized. Duncan is unsure of that woman’s condition. She said the other nine individuals are quarantined at home.
According to Duncan, the county has two cases that are teenagers and the rest of the cases are adults ranging from 40s to 50s.
The Shenendehowa Central School District announced on the school’s website that an Acadia Middle School student and a private school student that rides a Shenendehowa School
Saratoga County Director of the Department of Public Health Catherine Duncan
bus both have a confirmed case of COVID-19. Officials confirmed the two individuals were among the confirmed cases.
On Sunday, March 15, it was announced on the school’s website that a Shenendehowa staff member who works at Tesago Elementary School tested positive.
On Tuesday, Duncan stressed how people should use social distancing.
Saratoga County Commissioner of the Office of Emergency Services Carl Zeilman said the county has been preparing for a situation like this since last year.
“We have been working in concert with our partners from public health, Saratoga County Sheriff’s, mental health since mid to late 2019 [when] we really started the discussion on coronavirus,” Zeilman said.
“The question was always what if, what if, what if, and I think with that preplanning, testing our plans, reviewing our plans, talking to each other, not only internally from the county government, but expanding this to some of our regional partners,” Zeilman added. “That has put us in a position where we are able to respond to the needs of our residents and to try to mitigate this public health issue that we’re facing today of COVID-19.”
Tuesday’s announcement came a day after a State of Emergency was declared in the county, when there were four confirmed cases.
“With that State of Emergency, we have opened up an emergency operations center that has been operating for the past few days here in Ballston Spa,” Zeilman said.
Zeilman noted that state officials also have an operation set up at the Spa National Park that focuses mainly on testing.
“I can’t do this without all of the help that I’ve been getting from all of the Saratoga
County departments,” Duncan said. “We have a new hotline number: (518) 885-2276.”
Duncan noted how Saratoga Hospital has drivethru testing available, however, she said they are only taking in people who have doctors’ orders.
“It’s important to call ahead to the health care provider and let them know what your symptoms are so that they can be prepared for when you come to them,” Duncan said.
The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors was also expected to have a meeting Tuesday night to allocate up to $1 million to help with staffing, supply costs, and other necessary expenses to handle the situation.
Saratoga County Administrator Spencer Hellwig noted how the board of supervisors is expected to shut down its monthly legislative meetings.
“The plan is going to be to essentially shut all of that down until further notice,” Hellwig said.
Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo spoke about how his department is handling the pandemic.
“I’m adding resources to assist our public health department,” Zurlo said. “Whatever they need, we’ll have people to assist them throughout this process.”
“I’ve activated my Special Needs Registry,” Zurlo added. “That registry is comprised of elderly people that live throughout the county that typically can’t get out on a daily basis to get their needs.”
Zurlo said there are over 80 people on that registry and patrols started to meet up with them on Monday and are checking on them every other day.”
Zurlo also shared a message that he wanted residents to hear.
“People just need to be calm and vigilant,” Zurlo said. “We need to work together as a community and we’ll get through this.”
Duncan said the county’s health department is open this week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.