HUDSON – The Coronavirus is spreading in Columbia County, according to officials. “As of Monday morning, there are 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county stemming from two golf outings in July that really gave the virus life,” said Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb.
The widespread outbreak has affected four retail outlets and two daycare settings in the county, according to Mabb. As a result, as of Monday morning, August 3, 96 people currently under mandatory quarantine in the county are connected to the golf outing outbreak. The health department cannot release the names of the individuals who are affected, due to regulations. If you have been in contact with one of these individuals, you will be contacted by county health department contact tracers.
Mabb stressed that this outbreak can be pinpointed to the two golf events, from which it was subsequently transmitted to the other locations. “This should serve as a reminder that the virus never went away, as well as to how easily one of these outbreaks can happen,” he said.
It should be no surprise if the numbers go up, he said. “This should be yet another reminder that the wearing of masks and social distancing are not jokes. They have proven to be our most effective means of helping limit the spread of the virus. Further, not only are we concerned with the health of the community, but nobody wants to see us have to lose ground in the state’s economic reopening plan.”
To date, the county has experienced 37 COVID-19 deaths. There have been 500 confirmed positive cases in the county with 449 patients in recovery. Daily Coronavirus updates are available here.
The Columbia County Health Department has announced future COVID-19 testing clinics for August on Mondays 17, 24, and 31. The testing will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the sidewalk in front of the John L. Edwards Primary School in Hudson. The health department will be limiting the walk-up clinics to 50 tests each. It is recommended anyone who would like to be tested get to the clinic as early as possible to ensure they secure one of the 50 tests. Pre-registration will not be necessary for the walk-up clinics.
A drive-through clinic is being held on Sunday, August 9, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Ichabod Crane High School in Valatie. Pre-registration is required at https://forms.gle/mngpRnfnPnVjpZee7. A form of photo identification will be required, and a mask is required for entry.
These tests will be nasopharyngeal swabs, which are most useful to detect the virus in actively sick people. These are not antibody tests. The kits used at these testing sites are part of those purchased with the help of private donations to Columbia County.
After leaving the test site, symptomatic residents should go directly home for mandatory quarantine until results are shared with them. Essential workers should plan on quarantining outside of work and being extremely cautious around those with whom they come into contact.
It may take up to five days to receive the test results. Everyone who gets tested at the site will receive their results once they are processed by Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany.
