Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy announced today that as of this morning, there have now been 2,190 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Albany County to date, an increase of 22 since yesterday. Additionally, the number of people under mandatory quarantine have jumped from 631 yesterday to 844 today. The five-day average for new daily positive cases is now up to 18.6 from 14.4 yesterday. There are currently 110 active cases, up from 91 yesterday. So far, 6,725 individuals have completed quarantine, while 2,080 of them have tested positive and recovered, an increase of 3. 

There are still currently six individuals hospitalized and the hospitalization rate has risen to 0.28% from 0.27% yesterday. There are now no patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a decrease of one. There were no new deaths to report and the county’s death toll remains at 124 since the outbreak began. Highlights of the new positive cases reported today include that eight are close contacts to positive cases, one had reported traveling out of state, five are healthcare workers or residents of private congregate settings, and two did not have a clear source of transmission. 

Four of today’s announced positives were linked to those who either attended the Fourth of July party on Hudson Avenue in Albany or were with the same group of people on July 3 or July 5. That brings the total to 37. County Executive McCoy continues to urge those who attended the party to call the Albany County Department of Health at (518) 447-4640 to get expedited testing.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow knowing how much progress we had made as a county and a region, only to see our metrics start moving in the opposite direction. Two weeks ago, our five-day average for new daily positives was 5.8, and it’s now 18.6,” said County Executive McCoy. “We knew that as we opened up there would be spikes in new positive cases, but now we’re also seeing upticks in hospitalizations and the first new deaths in weeks. What happens going forward will ultimately be decided by the actions of individuals and businesses. If we continue down this path, the possibility that we will have to roll back the reopening process is real.”

The County Executive continues to offer two gallons of hand sanitizer to businesses, nonprofits, churches and others who have filed their health and safety plan affirmation statements, and invites local Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Chambers of Commerce and others to help distribute to their members. Anyone interested who has not already received any hand sanitizer can go to the back of the Times Union Center by taking Market Street, follow the ramp to the right and call (518) 487-2023 when you arrive. This will run each week, Monday through Friday, from 8am to 6pm.

County Executive McCoy continues to highlight the testing site in Albany County at Priority 1 Urgent Care, which is now also providing antibody testing, located in Hamilton Square at 2080 Western Avenue in Guilderland. 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 encourages 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 during the ongoing pandemic and gun violence in the City of Albany, the Albany County Mental Health Support Line is available seven days a week, now from 8am to 5pm 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.