HUDSON–A county employee has tested positive for COVID-19, Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell announced in his daily COVID-19 press update, the afternoon of March 27.
“Be assured that our county facilities’ staff has been working daily and evening hours to clean and sanitize county buildings. In the event that you or your family should experience symptoms and suspect it may be COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider and follow their advice.” Mr. Murell said.
“All county buildings remain closed to the Public, with the exception of the Department of Social Services, he said in the release.
On Friday, the county Department of Health confirmed that four residents of the Pine Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation facility in Philmont had tested positive for COVID-19. Each of the four individuals are isolated at the facility. None of the four confirmed cases are hospitalized–their symptoms are being treated and managed by the facility. The families of the patients have been notified and the facility reports the patients’ symptoms are improving.
“All nursing homes within the county have a plan to handle these types of contingencies,” county Emergency Management Director David W. Harrison, Jr, said in the release.
A story that has circulated in social media that a person that came to Columbia County from New York City recently died of COVID-19 contains erroneous information, according to county Department of Health Director Jack Mabb. “There was no testing done on this individual. It was never confirmed that he had COVID-19,” said Mr. Mabb.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Murell reiterated an earlier request urging people who
migrate from New York City to Columbia County to self-quarantine for 14 days.
“We understand that people are coming here to escape the disease, but everyone should consider they are a carrier of the coronavirus,” Mr. Murell said.
On a similar note, health officials have observed that people are congregating or stopping to chat in places like the grocery store and the post office. Again, everyone is asked to conduct their business and move along, as we need to respect the space of others.
County officials advised those confronted with a situation that involves people not following the governor’s guidelines on social distancing to contact law enforcement.
It remains the county’s intention to issue accurate information regarding the coronavirus situation under conditions that can change by the minute. For the most up-to-date, accurate information on numbers please, visit the county Department of Health’s website at:
The county will issue a daily press release on the coronavirus situation every afternoon at 4. The releases can be found on the Columbia County website and the Facebook pages of the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Health, and the Emergency Operations Center.
