Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy announced today that there have now been 2,396 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Albany County to date, an increase of 13 since yesterday. Additionally, the number of people under mandatory quarantine has jumped from 369 to 425 today. The five-day average for new daily positives has increased to 10.6 from 8.8 yesterday. There are currently 40 active cases, down from 42. So far, 8,316 people have completed quarantine. Of those who completed quarantine, 2,356 of them had tested positive and recovered, an increase of 15. 

Among the new positive cases reported today include seven healthcare workers or residents of private congregate settings, three who had a close contacts to other positive cases, one who had reported traveling out of state and two who do not have a clear source of transmission at this time. There are still six individuals hospitalized due to the virus, and the hospitalization rate remains at 0.25%. There is still one patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). There were no new COVID-related deaths identified overnight, and Albany County’s death toll stands at 129. 

The daily briefing also featured the major announcement that starting next year Albany County will once again have its own arena football team owned by Ron Tridico and Nate Starling that will play in the National Arena League (NAL), with home games at the Times Union Center. The ownership group, NAL Commissioner Chris Siegfried and NAL Executive Director Rob Storm were part of the announcement remotely through Zoom.

“It’s been a long and difficult five months since Albany County was first hit by the pandemic, and our residents, along with the residents of the Capital Region, deserve some good news. We have some of the best fans in the country right here that cheered on their teams to win both Arena Bowl XIII and Arena Bowl XXXII, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring arena football back to our Times Union Center,” said County Executive McCoy. 

“Not only is this a win for our residents and the NAL, which is getting a tenth team, but it will also be critical to the local bars, restaurants, hotels and the entire economy, that will likely still be struggling to bounce back next year. Hopefully we can get our players on the field by March of 2021,” he continued. 

The nine other teams making up the NAL include the Jersey Flight, the Carolina Cobras, the Baltimore Lightning, the Columbus Lions, the West Virginia Rough Riders, the Louisville Xtreme, the Orlando Predators, the Jacksonville Sharks and the Tampa Bay Tornadoes. While a team name for Albany has not been selected, the owners and league executives are exploring the possibility of acquiring the rights to the Empire and already have the rights to the Firebirds. The league expects the 2021 season to start sometime in early spring. 

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

• Friday – 8:30am – 10:30am 

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, 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.