ALBANY — There are two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Albany County and the city has cancelled both the North Albany St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the main St. Patrick’s Day Parade slated for this Saturday.
The two cases — a Guilderland woman in her 30s and a male UAlbany student in his 20s living off campus in the City of Albany — are not related. They were not hospitalized, and both are recovering at home while under quarantine.
What makes these cases outside the norm, said Albany County Executive Dan McCoy during a press briefing Thursday morning, is the two did not recently travel outside the area.
“They didn’t go anywhere,” he said. “They were here locally so it causes a lot of other issues we are addressing.”
Albany County Department of Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen said the two were tested on Monday, and her staff is currently working to track down people they have come in contact with to determine if they should be quarantined.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 25 people in Albany County were quarantined, either by mandate or voluntarily. That number is expected to increase when the county makes its daily report to the state later today.
How many in Albany County have been tested is not clear because private physicians are also now conducting tests for the virus. They are required to report positive results but not how many have been tested.
Meanwhile, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said the city has suspended all mass gathering permits including the two St. Patrick’s Day parades. The next is a 5K race slated for later this month.
“There are those who will be disappointed but there is a lot we don’t know and we will not regret erring on the side of caution,” she said.
Other actions taken to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, which the World Health Organization categorized as a pandemic earlier this week.
- Sheriff Craig Apple said he is restricting visitation at the county jail.
- Nursing homes are restricting or banning visitors
- The NCAA has cancelled March Madness
- The Albany Patroons have cancelled the rest of its season
- The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has postponed all winter championship games
- Colleges across the state have closed campuses and are requiring students to take classes via the internet.
McCoy said the status of other events will constantly change locally as the world tries to get a grip on the pandemic that for most people is not life threatening but can be deadly for those over 60 or those who have underlying health problems.
The county executive’s office stressed that the network between county and state health departments has continued to stay in response to the spread of coronavirus as reported numbers continue to rise across the county. As more testing occurs, McCoy said, those numbers are expected to go up.
“As testing ramps up, there will undoubtedly be more positive cases,” McCoy said. “However, I urge everyone not to panic and to contact their doctors if they have any concerns.”
