Caution urged during holiday
Officials: Virus tests alone are not foolproof ahead of Thanksgiving
ALBANY, N.Y. » Albany County officials are cautioning against large indoor gatherings on Thanksgiving. Albany County Executive Dan McCoy and Albany County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen voiced those concerns and the potential resulting fallout, during a Tuesday morning press briefing.
Whalen noted those getting tested ahead of the holiday should know that even taking that measure is not foolproof in ensuring everyone is negative for COVID-19.
“I have heard from people saying well, I’ll just get at test before and knowthat I’m negative and it’s going to be safe to be with my family,” Whalen said.
“And I just want to set the record straight on that, that unless you have done a combination of testing and quarantine, you cannot be assured you are safe,” Whalen noted.
Whalen went on to explain why testing alone is not a panacea.
“If someone is exposed to COVID-19 on a Friday, they could be tested on a Monday and not be positive,” she said. “They could then attend a Thanksgiving with their family on Thursday and start to develop symptoms on a Saturday. And we know that people can transmit two days before they become symptomatic.
“So they would’ve been shedding virus and potentially infecting familymembers at a gathering. That individual could then be tested again on a Saturday and be positive.”
Whalen added the most reliable but not guaranteed way to gather safely is to test negative and quarantine 14 days. Whalen also expressed her concern that these large indoor gatherings, coupled with traveling, could lead to more shutdowns and an increased surge in hospitalizations.
To that end, McCoy spoke to the unsettling inching toward said shutdowns.
“The seven- day rolling average for Albany County’s percent positive rates remained over 3% for the third consecutive day as of November 22, bringing us that much closer to the ten- day streak needed to meet the metrics for a Yellow Micro- Cluster Zone. Ahead of Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I’m asking everyone to remain vigilant and do everything you can to stop the spread of the virus from spiraling out of control,” McCoy remarked.
“This is the only way will be able to prevent businesses from being shut down again and schools reverting back to remote learning,” McCoy added.
During his press briefing, McCoy also broke down the latest COVID-19 numbers for Albany County, including 101 new cases.
Encompassed within the new positive cases were 79 who did not or would not provide a clear source of infection, 19 had close contact with positive cases, two are healthcare workers or residents of congregate setting, and one reported traveling out of state.
The county presently has 863 active cases and 2,247 residents in mandatory quarantine.
Additionally, McCoy announced two new hospitalizations. The county hast 43 residents hospitalized total, with 12 patients in the ICU. The hospitalization rate is 0.82%.