Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy announced today that as of this morning, there have now been 2,304 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Albany County to date, an increase of 9 since yesterday. Additionally, the number of people under mandatory quarantine has decreased from 651 yesterday to 609 today. The five-day average for new daily positive cases has dropped to 8.6 from 10.8 a day earlier. There are currently 33 active cases, up from 28. So far, 7,472 people have completed quarantine. Of those who completed quarantine, 2,271 of them have tested positive and recovered, an increase of 4. 

There is still one individual hospitalized due to the virus, and the hospitalization rate remains at 0.04%. There are still no patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). No new deaths have been reported, and the COVID-related death toll for the county stands at 126 since the outbreak began. Among the new positive cases reported today include three healthcare workers or those who live in congregate settings, two with close contacts to positive cases, two who had reported traveling out of state and one who did not have a clear source of transmission. 

One of the positives reported today has been 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. 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, and commends those who have already come forward. 

“The only way we’re going to keep the curve flat, stop the spread of the virus and prevent any more deaths is by being proactive, not reactive. That’s why I continue to ask the public to wear masks, socially distance, get tested and cooperate with our County Department of Health if they reach out to you,” said County Executive McCoy. “They’ve been doing a great job identifying positive cases and contact tracing to contain the outbreak. That includes an infected employee of the North Colonie Central School District that was discovered yesterday. Out of an abundance of caution and need for deep cleaning, the district closed the extended year program for today.”

In response to ongoing gun violence in the City of Albany this summer, County Executive McCoy continues to highlight some of the county programs available to provide youth with opportunities to avoid jail and lives of crime. Those include the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program, which helps divert those suffering from mental illness and addiction into treatment; Project Growth, which helps young offenders build life and job skills; and the award-winning Five-Hour DMV Pre-Licensing Program, which help probationers get connected with drivers licenses that can help with well-paying jobs.

Some of the other programs Albany County has funded over the years include, but are not limited to, the Summer Youth Employment Program, summer programming at Lawson Lake County Park, the Juvenile Accountability Board, Trinity Alliance’s anger management and jail transition programming, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girls Inc., St. Anne’s Youth Shelter, Police Athletic League, Mediation Matters, the Life Unplugged partnership with SEFCU, the South End Children’s Café, Equinox Transitional Living Programs, and more.

Below is the remainder of this week’s schedule for Albany County’s walk-up COVID-19 mobile testing sites, a collaboration with the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center. The schedule is based on demand and mobile site locations are updated weekly based on that need. Testing is for those experiencing symptoms, essential workers and those returning to work by appointment only, after being screened over the phone. To be screened, please call (518) 465-4771.

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

• Wednesday – 8:30am – 10:30am
• Friday – 8:30am – 10:30am 

Rotating Locations & Dates for the Week of August 3
The full updated schedule can be found at the Albany County website here.

• Tuesday, August 4, 9am – 11am 
Watervliet Health Center, 1804 Second Ave, Watervliet

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.