Of COVID and Monkeypox

Today's press release from Matt Murell, chair of the Columbia County Board of Elections, contains this information of interest:

“Positive COVID-19 cases held steady for another week, with 97 reported,” Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said this morning. “The number of people hospitalized reached a summer high of 22, but only one is in the ICU. The county has recorded another death.”

The County Department of Health held its second Jynneos monkeypox vaccine clinic Thursday, bringing in 81 for the vaccine over the two-hour event.

“We had a good turn out,” said Director Mabb, adding that staff, as they were giving the shots, asked people how they found out about the clinic and most said it was from word of mouth. “We’re finding that those folks who want the shot have a good network they can tap into.”

Another Jynneos monkeypox clinic will be held next Thursday, September 1, but will be held in the PAC building at Columbia-Greene Community College.

As of Monday, per the CDC, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases continued in the low risk category. On Thursday, the CDC-reported current average of new daily cases per 100,000 of population stood at 21.9. The positive test rate is 16.9 percent.