Thursday, January 5, 2023

News from the Department of Health

The Columbia County Department of Health has stopped reporting daily COVID figures, but news about the state of things healthwise in the county is still coming in press releases from Matt Murell, chair of the Board of Supervisors. Today's press release contained the following information:
The number of hospitalizations of county residents doubled this past week, as rampant respiratory illness takes its toll, Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said this morning. 
The number of hospitalized county residents jumped to 20 this week, twice the number reported last week, Mabb said. Three of those individuals are currently in the ICU. 
"We are in the midst of a big spike in flu cases, coupled with a new subvariant of COVID-19. It can make for a lot of respiratory distress, especially for the elderly and immunocompromised,” said Mabb. 
The number of COVID-19 cases for the first three days this week is 80, a number that remains consistent with recent weeks. 
The county continues to offer COVID-19 and flu vaccines at its Thursday A.B. Shaw clinic. Last week’s totals included 15 COVID-19 shots, eight flu vaccinations, and one monkeypox immunization. Those vaccination opportunities will continue through the month of January.

Vaccinated or not, it may be a good idea to keep wearing a mask in public places where you can't stay six feet away from other people. For more information about the vaccine clinic at the A. B. Shaw Firehouse in Claverack, click here.

No comments:

Post a Comment