Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy announced today that as of this morning, there are now 1,236 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Albany County. Additionally, there are now 1,107 people under mandatory quarantine and 4 people under precautionary quarantine. To date, 2,722 individuals have completed quarantine, with 662 of them having tested positive and recovered. Unfortunately, there were two more deaths in the county – a women in her 60’s and a man in his 70’s, both with underlying health issues. The death toll for the county now stands at 51.

With 33 people now hospitalized, the hospitalization rate for Albany County stands at 2.66%, up slightly from 2.61% yesterday. The number of those individuals who are in Intensive Care Units (ICU) is now at 8, an increase of one since yesterday’s briefing. There are now 48 residents in total at Shaker Place who have tested positive for COVID-19, including two who have recovered. Additionally, 15 employees who have tested positive remain out of work, while nine others who had tested positive have fully recovered and returned to work.

Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region Executive Director Linda MacFarlane joined the County Executive for the briefing today to discuss their COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program, which is providing emergency grants to small businesses who have been adversely impacted by the ongoing pandemic and economic shutdown. 

“As testing continues to ramp up in Albany County and now throughout the Capital District, and as our hospitals retain a responsible amount of beds for surge capacity, I am confident that our regional economy will be able to open in a timely fashion. However, until then, too many of our small businesses continue to struggle and were left behind during the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program,” said County Executive McCoy. “Our local, brick-and-mortar shops are the backbone of our neighborhoods and our economy and they don’t deserve to be saddled with even more debt from loans. That’s why this grant program is so important.”

The Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region’s COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program provides local establishments with up to $20,000 in order to stay afloat or to change their business model to adapt with the changing times. Businesses with fifty employees or fewer may apply and those who have experienced a 10 to 25% drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 crisis will be prioritized. The Community Loan Fund’s fundraising efforts for the program is continuing, but they hope to have nearly $3 million in total to offer. As of yesterday, 150 businesses have submitted applications. To apply for a grant, go to https://mycommunityloanfund.org/covid-emergency-grants/

During the briefing, County Executive McCoy highlighted the food and supply drive at Crossgates Mall to benefit the Veterans Miracle Center and the Veteran & Community Housing Coalition. Donations will be accepted from 10am to 2pm this Saturday, May 9, by entering the Macy’s parking lot and following the signs to the lot near 110 Grill. They are requesting mac & cheese, canned tuna, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, coffee, tea, oatmeal and ready-made meals. They are also accepting cleaning products, toilet paper, paper towels, toiletries and personal hygiene products. For more information, go to www.shopcrossgates.com

The County Executive also announced six portable toilets have been strategically installed throughout the City of Albany in order to provide for the homeless populations who are dealing with overflowing shelters and closed public facilities. 

County Executive McCoy announced recently the schedule this week’s walk-up community COVID-19 testing, a partnership between Albany County and the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center. The initiative has been expanded to take a regional approach to testing and help more people. To date, 835 people have been tested at these sites, with 107 of those individuals testing positive for the virus. The schedule is based on demand and mobile site locations are updated weekly based on that need. All testing is by appointment only, after being screened for symptoms over the phone. To be screened, please call (518) 465-4771. 

Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center - 920 Lark Drive, Albany

• Monday: 8:30am – 12 noon
• Tuesday: 1:00 – 4pm 
• Wednesday: 8:30am –12 noon
• Thursday: 1:00 – 4:00pm
• Friday: 8:30am – 12 noon

Rotating Locations & Dates for the Week of May 4

Each week the mobile sites will rotate morning & afternoon testing. The full schedule can be found here.

• Tuesday, May 5
  • 1:30 – 4:00 pm: Front of the County Administration Building, 1000 7th Avenue, Troy
• Wednesday, May 6
  • 9:00 am – 12 noon: Equinox, 500 Central Ave, Albany
  • 1:30 – 4:00 pm: Watervliet Health Center, 1804 Second Ave, Watervliet
• Thursday, May 7
  • 9:00 am – 12 noon: Capital South Campus, 20 Warren Street, Albany
  • 1:30 – 4:00 pm: Front of City Hall—62 Washington St, Rensselaer
• Friday, May 8
  • 9:00 am – 12 noon: Whitney Young Troy Health Center, 849 2nd Ave, Lansingburgh
  • 1:30 pm – 4:00pm: Watervliet Health Center, 1804 Second Ave, Watervliet

The County Executive also highlighted the latest testing site in Albany County at Priority 1 Urgent Care, located in Hamilton Square at 2080 Western Avenue in Guilderland. The partnership was made possible by Albany County supplying the facility with critical personal protective equipment for the staff and supplemental test kits. The location, at the corner of Routes 20 and 155, is convenient for both those relying on public transportation and those traveling in their own vehicles from the City of Albany, New Scotland, the Hilltowns and Schenectady. Testing will be reimbursed by an individual’s health insurance, and will be done by appointments only after patients come in to be screened for expanded CDC symptoms. To schedule an appointment, you can call (518) 867-8040.

County Executive McCoy also encouraged those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to register for the drive-thru community testing site at Rite Aid, 1863 Central Avenue in Colonie that was launched in partnership with Town Supervisor Paula Mahan, Rite Aid and the US Dept. of Health and Human Services. In the first 12 days, over 500 tests have been given. Testing is free for those who are eligible based on CDC guidelines and are at least 18 years old. It’s available between 9am and 5pm, seven days a week by appointment only. Registration is now available at www.riteaid.com. Tests will be conducted from within an individual’s car with self-swab nasal tests and with the help of a pharmacist.

For those experiencing stress, anxiety or depression while confined to their homes for extended periods of time, the Albany County COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line is available seven days a week from 8am to 8pm at (518) 269-6634. Anyone experiencing a psychiatric emergency should still call the Albany County Mobile Crisis Team at (518) 549–6500.

The County Executive continues to offer online videos on coping, crafts and reading, AAU karate, exercise, proper use of personal protective equipment and more.

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.

For all COVID-19 questions and concerns, including issues with price gouging and fraudulent products, residents are encouraged to use United Way’s 2-1-1 hotline as well as the State Department of Health’s hotline at 888-364-3065.