SPIKE IN NUMBERS
Six confirmed COVID-19 cases in Rensselaer County
RENSSELAERCOUNTY, N.Y. » The Rensselaer County Health Department has received notification of a sixth confirmed case of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the county.
The person with the sixth confirmed case is a 72-year- old woman from Hoosick Falls.
On Tuesday afternoon, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin announced the county’s first positive case, a 35-year-old man from Troy, who works at the Troy Prep School.
Officials announced Wednesday that the county had more confirmed cases. They said a 25-year- old woman from Troy, a student at Albany Medical
College, along with a 70-yearold from East Greenbush and a 26-year- old and 30-year- old from Brunswick have all tested positive.
Rensselaer County Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas said the two individuals from Brunswick traveled to Miami on March 4 and returned March 10 and that they began feeling symptoms on March 9.
“The nurses are still working on the contact list for this new case,” Wachunas said.
McLaughlin noted that all confirmed cases are quarantined at their homes with none ever being hospitalized. McLaughlin said all of the individuals seem to be doing well.
Officials said 110 people are currently self- quarantined,
which includes people associated with confirmed cases or awaiting test results.
“We have a number of tests out there that we are waiting for results, we expect a spike in numbers,” McLaughlin said.
The Rensselaer County Public Health Department announced a new hotline number, which is (518) 270
0450.
“We’re looking at tests almost every hour,” Wachunas said.
“Every day we work on this topic to look at this and make sure that people are safe in Rensselaer County,” Wachunas said. “We’ve been very busy.”
County officials said they are 100 percent certain that the man who died at the City Center in Troy earlier this year did not pass away from COVID-19.
Rensselaer County Sheriff Pat Russo said he had
a two-hour meeting with the county department of health for procedures at the county jail, while stating that there is limited access to the building.
“It’s our duty to keep not only our staff but also our inmates safe,” Russo said.
“We do have to keep government functioning,” McLaughlin.
County officials are also urging people to practice social distancing and not have crowds of more than 10 people.
“If you’re sick, please stay
home,” Wachunas said.
“Do not gather because right now we’re trying to slow down this virus,” Wachunas added.
The Department of Health has visited over 600 facilities to go over sanitation and guidelines.
The county has looked into facilities if the hospitals do get overcrowded.
“We’re in ongoing discussions with Russell Sage College to see if they could give us a dormitory, and we’re also working with RPI and TRIP,” Wachunas said. “We
want to make sure that we have enough resources.”
The county Department of Health has visited over 600 facilities to go over sanitation and guidelines.
“We’re all in it together and will get through it together,” McLaughlin said. “Be careful, not fearful.”
Meanwhi le, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy announced Thurs
day afternoon that there are now 52 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Albany County, with 11 new cases being reported since yesterday.
Additionally, there are now 297 people under mandatory quarantine and 443 people under precautionary quarantine in Albany County.