ALBANY — The number of positive COVID-19 cases in the county continue to increase, but the hospitalization rate is the lowest since the beginning of the pandemic.
From Sunday to Monday, there were nine new cases reported in Albany County bringing the total to 2,304 with 609 under quarantine.
There is only one person hospitalized, though, for a rate of .04 and there are no patients currently in the ICU being treated for the virus.
“We can’t explain this, but our numbers had an uptick and our hospitalization rate is the lowest it’s been since the beginning of this 143 days ago,” said County Executive Dan McCoy during a briefing on Monday, Aug. 3. “Right now it is still out there but it is not effecting us the same it was six months ago.”
Among the new cases three are health care workers, two who were travelling from out of state, two had close contact with a positive case, one had no clear source of infection as of yet and one is from the Fourth of July party on Hudson Avenue bringing the total number from there to 47.
There are currently 33 active cases in Albany County with 2,271 who have tested positive and recovered.
Dr. Elizabeth Whalen, head of the Albany County Department of Health, said one reason for the uptick in numbers but a low hospitalization rate is the county’s aggressive contract tracing program, which identifies positive cases and finds those who that person has come into close contact. Part of that investigation requires those who have come into contact with a positive case to get tested, which results in a higher reported infection rate.
Another, is the number of 20 to 29 year olds who are testing positive but generally are more immune to the serious symptoms of the virus than someone who is older or who has a compromised immune system.
She did say there are those who do not cooperate with the contact tracing investigation.
“We are getting some push back. if you are identified as a contact it comes with a legal quarantine,” she said. “If you decide to hang up on my staff, or if you are going to be difficult the next step will be to have law enforcement on your door. We want to help you so please know how important this cooperation is.”
