Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy announced today with County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen that as of this morning, there are now 300 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Albany County. Additionally, there are now 340 people under mandatory quarantine and 57 people under precautionary quarantine.

With 41 people now hospitalized, the hospitalization rate for Albany County stands at just over 13.6%. Fifteen of those individuals are now in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Father Chris DeGiovine of St. Matthew’s Church and Rabbi Roy Feldman of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob joined the County Executive in making in the announcement to discuss the importance of following state guidelines on mass gatherings, social distancing and self-isolation ahead of Passover and Easter. 

“I know for many members of the Jewish and Christian faiths, this is an especially difficult time to have to stay home during the pandemic. However, we’ve seen the dangers to public health in other states across the country that provided exceptions to social distancing and self-isolation guidelines for religious gatherings,” said County Executive McCoy. “As Rabbi Feldman said, ‘Danger to life overrides any ritual needs, whatsoever.’ I want to thank both of these esteemed community and faith leaders for helping us spread the word to keep people safe and also for making efforts to help their congregations continue to practice from home online.”

County Executive McCoy again expressed his appreciation for the partnership between Albany County, Governor Cuomo, Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Health Partners and the University at Albany (SUNY) to bring community COVID-19 testing back to Albany County. The new mobile drive-thru testing facility is located at the Colonial Quad parking lot of the UAlbany main campus, 1400 Washington Avenue. The site opened today at 10am, and hours going forward will be every day of the week from 8am to 6pm. There will be no walk-ins allowed and all patients must be in a vehicle with an appointment made ahead of time by calling 888-364-3065. Those who have the highest risk of contracting COVID-19 will be prioritized.

County Executive McCoy provided an update on PVA of Cohoes and making ventilators. The company expects to have FDA approval in the next week and is already taking orders. PVA expects to send their first shipment out April 24th.

Daily briefings are recorded and may be seen with slides on Albanycounty.com, the County’s Facebook page, public access channels—Open Stage Media in Schenectady and Channel Albany in the city of Albany and on Capitol OTB —Channel 1250 Spectrum and Channel 467 on Fios.

The County Executive also took time to thank Bill Cade of Slingerlands for donating 500 N95 masks to the Albany County Department of Health that will be distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and members of law enforcement.

For those experience stress, anxiety or even depression during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the Albany County Mental Health Support Line is available seven days a week from 8am to 5pm at (518) 269-6634. County Executive McCoy is also offering videos on coping, AAU martial arts, exercise and more. Anyone experiencing a psychiatric emergency should still call the Albany County Mobile Crisis Team at (518) 549–6500.

For all COVID-19 questions and concerns, residents are encouraged to use United Way’s 2-1-1 hotline as well as the State Department of Health’s hot line at 888-364-3065.