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 1,686 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Albany County, an increase of 21 in the last 24 hours. Additionally, there are now 682 people under mandatory quarantine and 6 people under precautionary quarantine. The five-day average for new daily positives is now 10.4. To date, 4,461 individuals have completed quarantine, with 1,333 of them having tested positive and recovered. That brings the county’s recovery rate up to 79.06%. 

It has now been nine days since an Albany County resident has passed away from the novel coronavirus, keeping the county’s total at 87. With 27 people currently hospitalized, the hospitalization rate for Albany County stands at 1.6%, down from 1.74% yesterday. There are currently three people in Intensive Care Units (ICU), unchanged from yesterday’s briefing. 

Jo-Leen Benincasa, Co-Owner of Avanti Hair Studios in Guilderland, joined the County Executive for the daily briefing to discuss the recently released Phase 2 industry breakdown guidance and how her own studio has implemented new safety and health protections in order to keep customers and staff safe ahead of the reopening. 

“After the Governor’s announcement yesterday, it’s too soon to know for sure if the Capital Region will start Phase 2 on June 3rd as scheduled, but if our data is any indicator, I’m very hopeful we will. Albany County’s hospitalizations remain low, we haven’t had a new death in nine days, and our testing and tracing capacities are strong,” said County Executive McCoy. “Ultimately, it will be up to our businesses and the general public to keep these numbers heading in the right direction and keep us moving through the phases. That’s why I was happy to bring in a local business owner to discuss how she’s reimagining her hair salon for the greater good of our community.”

Ms. Benincasa discussed how her salon has been transformed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. She and her staff have taken a new online Barbicide COVID-19 certification that has ensure they know the new guidelines that have been put into place, much of which was already implemented by the business, including making sanitation a priority. The physical layout of the studio has been changed with things like heavy transparent vinyl curtains in between work stations and hands-free sanitizer dispensers. Operations have also changed with new staggered schedules for employees and by doing away with double bookings for customers to reduce crowding. Shampooing and blow-drying will only be done when necessary, and personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves, will be provided to workers.

County Executive McCoy discussed some of the specifics of the newly released guidelines for Phase 2 of the Capital Region’s reopening. Aside from hair salons and barbershops, the next phase will include office-based work, including professional services, nonprofits, technology, administrative support and higher education administration. Real estate services will include residential property managers, real estate salespeople and brokers, and building inspectors and appraisers, among others. Commercial and non-residential property management is included in Phase 2 as well. Other business sectors include expanded in-store retail, vehicle sales, leases and rentals, and retail rental, repair and cleaning.

The County Executive also sought to clarify the guidelines for dentist offices or procedures. While official guidance has said dentists and dental hygienists should only be performing emergency procedures as long as they have proper PPE, many of the services provided, including teeth cleanings, can be critical to a person’s health. County Executive McCoy discussed how failure to get regular teeth cleanings can lead to bone loss, gum disease, heart disease, strokes and even cancers.

The remainder of this week’s schedule for Albany County’s walk-up mobile testing sites is below. To date, 1,496 people have gotten tested at the Capital Region sites. Next week’s schedule will be posted to the Albany County website soon. 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. 

Rotating Locations & Dates for the Week of May 26

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

• Friday, May 29, 1:30 – 4:00pm 
  Whitney Young Troy Health Center, 849 2nd Ave, Lansingburgh

County Executive McCoy continues to highlight the latest testing site in Albany County at Priority 1 Urgent Care that is now also providing antibody testing, 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. 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. Priority 1 is also now doing antibody testing. 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. 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 24-hour sexual assault hotline number is (518) 447-7716.

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