Albany County confirms second COVID-19 fatality
ALBANY, N.Y. » A second COVID-19-related death in Albany County was confirmed by Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, Wednesday morning.
“With great sadness, I have to let everyone know that a female in her sixties, passed away yesterday and my heart goes out to the family and my condolences to the family,” McCoy said of the woman who also had multiple underlying health issues.
McCoy, alongside Albany County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen, also detailed the totals of people testing positive for the virus and those in quarantine.
According to McCoy, Albany County has 228 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. In addition, there are 439 people under mandatory quarantine and 241 people under precautionary quarantine.
“As we see the death toll rise not only across the country but right here in Albany County, it is critical that we do everything we can to protect the health and safety of our residents. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones,” McCoy said.
“It bears repeating: Everyone in the community can play a part in potentially saving a life. Everyone shoulders part of the responsibility to self-isolate and to practice social distancing and good hand hygiene,” McCoy added of taking proper precautions.
McCoy also outlined steps the county is taking to help aid the homeless population.
“During these unprecedented times, we’re also looking to bolster protections for our homeless population. County-contracted shelters that provide food and connect the homeless with important medical, mental health and counseling services have become overcrowded,” McCoy remarked.
“We’re investing even more in motels and motels, ramping up cleanings in shelters and will soon begin taking temperatures of clients,” McCoy added.
From those facilities to hospitals, Whalen detailed the current capacity in the county.
“Currently our hospitals have availability, and we are monitoring that on a daily basis. We’ll see how that is going forward,” Whalen said, before Albany Medical Center later confirmed it is admitting COVID-19 patients from New York City.
“We know that the patients that have been admitted to the hospitals, some of them have had severe courses and that is in keeping with what we’re seeing nationally. We still know that 80% of that contract COVID-19 have a mild course of illness. This is perhaps one of the greatest dangers because those that have [a] very mild illness can spread it without knowing that they’re spreading it,” Whalen continued.
“So please consider the individual responsibility, particularly if you’re a young, healthy person that has mild symptoms, to stay home and stay isolated from those that you may infect,” Whalen reiterated on the importance of staying home to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Albany Medical Center also received 3-D printed face shields produced by faculty and students from the University at Albany, Tuesday. To that end, Whalen spoke to the effectiveness of masks and need to get them to medical personnel.
“Wearing a surgical mask is a good source of source control. If you have COVID-19 and you are wearing a surgical mask, and this is not the N95 masks that healthcare workers utilize, you are less likely to infect someone near you but they are not fully protected and you are not fully protected,” Whalen remarked.
“Full protection does need an additional face shield. Does a mask protect better than nothing at all? The answer is yes,” Whalen continued.
“But as everyone is aware we are looking at supplies and realize that it is most important to allocate these resources to those that are on the front lines dealing with sick patients every single day,” Whalen added.