Albany County officials discuss reopening
ALBANY, N.Y. » The Capital Region officially entered Phase 1 of the state’s regional reopen plan on Wednesday. Albany County Executive Dan McCoy spoke to what the first step means for the county.
“It still a great day here because we hit Phase 1. We’re 70 days into this and tomorrow will be 71 and believe it or not we’re hitting week 11 on Friday. So, it’s been a long 10 weeks,” McCoy said regarding hitting the metrics milestone.
As far as how the county will attempt to enforce protocols alongside additional phases of the reopen, McCoy didn’t have a concrete plan but placed the onus on employees and patrons.
“We’re relying on the employees and we’re relying on the patrons that go to these restaurants or are going to go out shopping when we get to that point,” McCoy said.
“One, to make sure people are wearing their masks, make sure that they sign the pledge. Can we go after them if they don’t sign it? No, but we’ll sure as heck let you know on our metrics the companies that didn’t sign it versus the companies that are trying to do the right thing,” McCoy added.
During the briefing, Capital Region Chamber President and CEO Mark Eagan announced that the Al Tech Loan Fund, administered by his organization through the Albany Business Development Corporation since 1994, has been invited by the Department of Commerce to apply for a specific program within the federal CARES Act for COVID-19 related loans.
“It’s been a long road for everyone. Obviously, we start with the issue of public health, but it’s not just people’s lives, but it’s their livelihoods and today is a real big day, we’re so thrilled to have Phase 1,” Eagan said.
“Our small to midsize companies really their number one issue is cash flow,” Eagan noted regarding a major concern of local businesses during the crisis.
“I’m happy to report with the county executive’s blessing we’re going to be making a recommendation to the Albany County Business Development Corp board tomorrow to submit an application,” Eagan added on the loan program.
By applying as a region as opposed to Albany County alone, the chances of being awarded the full $10 million in funding for each applicant is greatly improved. The counties included in the application would be Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady.
In addition to the reopening details, McCoy also provided an update on the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases in the county.
McCoy confirmed the deaths of two women overnight, one in her 80s and the other over 100, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 72 in the county.
McCoy noted that at the Shaker Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 190 employees have been tested; 183 were negative and nine were positive. There are 19 residents who have tested positive within the facility and 10 who are in hospitals. As of Wednesday morning, 33 residents have recovered from the virus.
In total Albany County has 1,552 positive cases, up 71 from Tuesday. There are 847 people under mandatory quarantine up 83 from the day prior, and five people under precautionary.
Additionally, 3,943 people have completed quarantine with 1,026 of them having tested positive and recovered.
The county hospitalization rate stands at 1.73% with 27 people hospitalized and one in the ICU.