Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy announced today that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Albany County has now climbed to 3,746 to date, an increase of 43 new positive cases since yesterday. Please note that our overall case count will fluctuate as the CommCare records for college students are transferred to the county in which they are isolating for their daily monitoring and then transferred back to Albany County for the final case count.

Additionally, the number of people under mandatory quarantine has increased to 1,243 from 1,237. The five-day average for new daily positives jumped to 29.2 from 26. There are now 205 active cases in the county, up from 186 yesterday. So far, 17,137 people have completed quarantine. Of those who completed quarantine, 3,541 of them had tested positive and recovered. Among the new positive cases, 24 had close contact with positive cases, one reported traveling out of state, nine did not have a clear source of infection at this time, and nine are healthcare workers or residents of a congregate settings – though not from Shaker Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

There were five new hospitalizations to report overnight, while the number of county residents currently hospitalized due to the virus rose from 27 to 29. There are still two patients in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), unchanged from yesterday. The hospitalization rate has gone up to 0.77% from 0.72%. There were no new deaths to report and the county’s death toll is 142 since the outbreak began.
“While we respond to COVID-19, we can’t lose focus of the other issues we face in Albany County. Project Growth is smart policy that has now given second chances to 42 low level offenders who still have their whole lives ahead of them. Not only do they get invaluable, hands-on work experience through mentorships with our local unions, the Career University portion of the program ensures they’re also building skills that will help land them a job and find success, including resume writing, interview tips, computer skills and more,” said County Executive McCoy. 

“It’s critical that we continue to provide these types of opportunities for our youth and young adults to divert them from going back to the criminal justice system. I want to congratulate today’s graduates who worked hard to improve our community and are making positive changes in their lives,” he continued.

Over the years, participants of Project Growth have helped build and stain the deck on Waldman Lodge and constructed a bird sanctuary at Lawson Lake County Park, as well as a wooden fence for the Shaker Heritage Society. They have also painted the Albany County Probation Department offices and built the Probation Department’s Employment Services Center for the County Dress 4 Success program, among other projects. Participants earn a stipend to repay restitutions they owe and those of age will also have the chance to take Albany County’s award-winning Department of Motor Vehicles Pre-Permit Course and five-hour certification.

Probation Department Director Bill Connors, who spearheads Project Growth, announced today that three of the four graduates have applied to join the painter’s union, District Council 9. *(Pictured in attachment are program graduates Cameron Dobbs, Zaire Daniels, Brian Pagan and Alexander Carey, along with Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy, Deputy County Executive Dan Lynch, County Probation Department Director Bill Connors and Probation Department support staff)*

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. 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.

Locations & Dates for the Week of November 2
(Albany has a location change)
The full updated schedule and a list of other testing sites in the county can be found at the Albany County website here.

Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center – (new location) 900 Lark Drive, Albany
• Friday – 8:30am – 11:30am 

Community-wide testing continues on the University at Albany (SUNY) campus by appointment only for those with or without symptoms. Appointments may be made by calling the NYS hotline at 888-364-3065 or by visiting the State Department of Health website.

County Executive McCoy continues to highlight the testing site in Albany County at Priority 1 Urgent Care, which also provides 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.

The County Executive 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.

Walgreens is now operating a testing facility at the 41 Holland Avenue location utilizing a self-collection model. Residents will be able to remain in their cars while assisted by pharmacists when necessary. Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, individuals who are 18 years or older may be tested once completing an eligibility assessment at the Walgreens website or at their app. Patients can get their results from PWNHealth.

Price Chopper/Market 32 is piloting a free COVID-19 test program at three of its New York drive-thru pharmacies. Customers can register for a test at the website here and they will get a voucher to go to one of the testing sites on a specific date. Local participating pharmacies are in Latham, Clifton Park and Johnstown. Testing is on Tuesdays from 7am- 9am. Customers won’t leave their car and will administer the test themselves with guidance from a pharmacist. Results will be provided by eTrueNorth within three to five business days. This is in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

CVS is offering drive-thru testing at select stores. You must register online for an appointment. To do that and find locations offering the drive-thru testing, go to the CVS website.

For the all latest data on COVID testing and results, you can refer to the Albany County COVID-19 Data Dashboard, as well as the New York State Department of Health COVID-19 Tracker.

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.