New case count for the day overall is lower than Wednesday’s spike of 44 new cases
ALBANY — Albany County officials said five more people were infected with coronavirus as a result of attending a July 4 street party on Hudson Avenue.
The new cases revealed Thursday increased to 11 the number of people who contracted the virus after attending the block party, which drew about 200 college-aged people.
On Wednesday, the county expressed concern after it received 44 new positive cases, which was the largest daily increase in confirmed infections since May 20.
On Wednesday, the Capital Region had the highest percent of tests that came back positive – 2.1% – of all regions in New York. New York City, in comparison, had 1.3% of people test positive.
But the overall new case count was much lower Thursday, with 13 new cases – five of which where from the block party.
County leaders pleaded with party-goers to get tested.
“We would like to encourage anyone who was at that party to be tested and contact Albany County Department of Health 518-447-4640,” said Albany County Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen. “It’s very important for control of COVID for us to be able to identify and appropriately isolate individuals who test positive as quickly as possible – especially because we know people in that age group are asymptomatic. Knowing you’re positive empowers you to make positive decisions.”
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan weighed in on Twitter after the county press conference, saying: “Our entire city, county, and region has worked very hard over the last several months to limit the impacts of COVID, however we cannot continue on the trajectory we are on or we will quickly undo that work.”
“Mask up or close down (again) – it’s as simple as that,” Sheehan wrote.
Coronavirus has been most prevalent in county among people aged 20-29, a group that often shows no signs of the virus and can easily spread it to others, including sick and elderly people who are particularly vulnerable.
Our entire city, county, and region has worked very hard over the last several months to limit the impacts of COVID, however we cannot continue on the trajectory we are on or we will quickly undo that work.
Mask up or close down (again) – it’s as simple as that. 😷 https://t.co/RB3SRxiEDZ
— Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan (@MayorSheehan) July 16, 2020
Whalen said officials worry that the party cases will eventually spread to at-risk people, which could lead to increased hospitalizations.
‘You don’t want someone who is quite ill to say you were the contact,” Whalen said. “Please think of others.”
The heavily attended gathering raised worries this week that college students returning for the fall semester will regularly attend off-campus parties in the city neighborhood’s favored by students.
The county also announced four healthcare workers tested positive for the virus, include two staffers from the county’s nursing home, Shaker Place in Colonie.
Overall, cases in nursing home cases are spiking in the Capital Region after a lull of several weeks. Riverside Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Castleton-on-Hudson had 30 residents test positive for the virus last week, along with 11 staff members. Four other healthcare workers in Rensselaer County at Living Resources and Evergreen Commons also tested positive Tuesday.
