News Flash

General Town News

Posted on: April 3, 2020

Coronavirus Update for Saratoga County

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

June 3, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced the most current stats* on COVID-19 in Saratoga County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 495
Deaths: 16
Recovered cases: 434
Active cases: 46
Hospitalizations: 6
Total tested: 12,644

*Please note that the deaths, recovered cases and active cases, when added together, do not equal the total number of confirmed cases. That is because one of the previously reported deaths happened out of the state, but was never counted as a confirmed case within the county.

Facebook Live event

Officials from Saratoga County and community partners hosted a Facebook Live event today to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event was hosted on the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page and featured:

Gary Dake – President, Stewart’s Shops
Andrew Jarosh – Saratoga County Treasurer
Frances Kelly, RN – Contact Tracer for Saratoga County
Bruce Potter – Superintendent, Mechanicville City School District

Community members can re-watch the stream here.

Resources for Individuals & Families

Saratoga County has compiled a list of resources for individuals or families that need assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes food bank information, health hotline numbers, and family, pet and community resources. The full list can be found here.

County Reopening Website

Remember to visit the County’s new COVID-19 reopening website. The website will be updated regularly with information pertaining to when certain businesses may begin to reopen.

Data Dashboard enhanced

The dashboard now includes more comprehensive information and charts on positive cases. A link to the data dashboard, which is updated on weekdays, can be found at the top of the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services’ COVID-19 website, located here.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

June 2, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced the most current stats* on COVID-19 in Saratoga County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 484
Deaths: 16
Recovered cases: 434
Active cases: 35
Hospitalizations: 6
Total tested: 12,197

Resources for Individuals & Families

Dental offices can reopen this week

Dental offices are allowed to open this week. Health and safety plans to open need to include appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Dental offices should check with their professional organizations, such as the Fourth District Dental Society, to source PPE.

Facebook Live event

Officials from Saratoga County and community partners will be hosting a Facebook Live event on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event will be hosted on the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page and feature:

Gary Dake – President, Stewart’s Shops
Andrew Jarosh – Saratoga County Treasurer
Frances Kelly, RN – Contact Tracer for Saratoga County
Bruce Potter – Superintendent, Mechanicville City School District

Community members can submit questions in advance or view the stream here.

County Reopening Website

Remember to visit the County’s new COVID-19 reopening website. The website will be updated regularly with information pertaining to when certain businesses may begin to reopen.

Data Dashboard enhanced

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

June 1, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced the most current stats* on COVID-19 in Saratoga County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 481
Deaths: 16
Recovered cases: 418
Active cases: 48
Hospitalizations: 6
Total tested: 11,577

The Department confirmed the death of one more county resident from COVID-19 — a 69-year-old male from Halfmoon.

Facebook Live event

Gary Dake – President, Stewart’s Shops
Andrew Jarosh – Saratoga County Treasurer
Frances Kelly, RN – Contact Tracer for Saratoga County
Bruce Potter – Superintendent, Mechanicville City School District

Community members can submit questions in advance or view the stream here.

Antibody testing for food delivery and restaurant workers

As part of the Governor’s initiative for antibody sampling of essential workers, food delivery and restaurant workers will be offered the opportunity to receive free COVID-19 antibody testing conducted by the New York State Department of Health. The testing process takes approximately 15 minutes. No appointment is necessary.

When:

Monday, June 1 – Thursday, June 4

Site hours:

10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Location:

SUNY Albany

SEFCU Arena (please enter via Western Avenue)

1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222

Reopening

The Capital Region remains on track for Phase Two re-opening on June 3. Guidance documents are available for those that are allowed to open during Phase One or Phase Two here. All businesses or entities must have plans in place to open safely and protect their employees and customers, and reopening safety plan templates can be found here.

County Reopening Website

Remember to visit the County’s new COVID-19 reopening website, www.saratogacountyny.gov/county-reopening. The website will be updated regularly with information pertaining to when certain businesses may begin to reopen.

Data Dashboard enhanced

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 29, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced the most current stats* on COVID-19 in Saratoga County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 472
Deaths: 15
Recovered cases: 407
Active cases: 51
Hospitalizations: 6
Total tested: 10,818

Masks in public

The Governor recently signed an Executive Order allowing business owners to deny entry to people who refuse to wear masks. It’s been proven that widespread mask-wearing is an effective tool against the spread of COVID-19, and that is why this Executive Order was signed. Face masks work two ways by protecting both the wearer and others.

Reopening plans and procedures

As Phase One begins our reopening in the Capital Region and across New York State, there are key elements to keep in mind. Proceed with caution, reason and patience.

In order to best ensure a safe and sustainable reopening, Saratoga County Public Health recommends the following elements be part of any reopening strategy:

All large gathering limitations should be maintained as far as possible into the latter part of the year to avoid super-spreader events and to provide time to evaluate appropriate density limitations to reduce the risk of disease.
Social distancing and disinfection must continue to be practiced on an ongoing basis. Businesses should share their creative solutions and best practices that they employ to protect their employees, customers and the public.
Saratoga County Public Health will continue, and expand as necessary, our contact tracing and targeted isolation and quarantine efforts to minimize the spread.
All reopening activities should be coordinated between local, state and regional governments, while still retaining the local health infrastructure and authority need to respond quickly to locally emerging public health threats.

Proceeding with caution and following the continued guidance and reopening plans will allow us to proceed forward. We have witnessed the negative impact of the virus in other regions around the world when social distancing ended too soon. No one wants to go backwards in our efforts to return to an open state.

Data Dashboard enhanced

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 28, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced the most current stats* on COVID-19 in Saratoga County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 467
Deaths: 15
Recovered cases: 404
Active cases: 49
Hospitalizations: 6
Total tested: 10,386

Launch of County’s Reopening Website

Saratoga County Reopening Advisory Group Chairman and Waterford Supervisor Jack Lawler yesterday announced the launch of the County’s new COVID-19 reopening website, www.saratogacountyny.gov/county-reopening. The website will be updated regularly with information pertaining to when certain businesses may begin to reopen.

The website will be overseen and maintained by the Saratoga County Reopening Advisory Group. Announced earlier this month, the Advisory Group is made up of local officials, health and public safety experts and business leaders and will help guide the county’s reopening efforts through the four phases in accordance with the guidelines set by the state.

Reopening plans and procedures

As Phase One begins our reopening in the Capital Region and across New York State, there are key elements to keep in mind. Proceed with caution, reason and patience.

In order to best ensure a safe and sustainable reopening, Saratoga County Public Health recommends the following elements be part of any reopening strategy:

All large gathering limitations should be maintained as far as possible into the latter part of the year to avoid super-spreader events and to provide time to evaluate appropriate density limitations to reduce the risk of disease.
Social distancing and disinfection must continue to be practiced on an ongoing basis. Businesses should share their creative solutions and best practices that they employ to protect their employees, customers and the public.
Saratoga County Public Health will continue, and expand as necessary, our contact tracing and targeted isolation and quarantine efforts to minimize the spread.
All reopening activities should be coordinated between local, state and regional governments, while still retaining the local health infrastructure and authority need to respond quickly to locally emerging public health threats.

Data Dashboard enhanced

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 22, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced the most current stats* on COVID-19 in Saratoga County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 444
Deaths: 15
Recovered cases: 365
Active cases: 65
Hospitalizations: 4
Total tested: 9,629

Memorial Day Weekend

As we all head outside to enjoy and celebrate Memorial Day Weekend, there are a few important things to remember. It is still recommended that you maintain social distance and wear a mask or face covering while in shared public spaced.

Here are a few different ways you can celebrate safely:

Get Outdoors – Go for a hike, bike, walk or have a picnic with your household while still maintaining social distance from others
Game Night – Take on a puzzle or pull out a board game.
Drive-in Movies – Local drive-in movie theaters have opened with some new rules. Be sure to visit their websites for more information before attending.
Outdoor Cookout – Order from your favorite restaurant or start up the grill and have a family barbeque at home with the members of your household.
Driveway Chalk Art – Thank our veterans and honor Memorial day by making patriotic driveway chalk art for everyone to see on their walks.

Remember to be safe, maintain social distance and help protect all of our loved ones this holiday weekend.

What businesses should consider prior to reopening

The Capital Region has started the reopening process. This will take place in phases, and not all businesses will be allowed to reopen immediately. A breakdown of the businesses that are included in each phase can be found here.

As we begin phase one, it is important that businesses have their safety plans in place. Templates can be found here.

Every business should be thinking about the following things:

Physical spacing and incorporating distancing where possible
Personal Protective Equipment
Health screening process for employees
Cleaning protocols and supplies
Log of people in the building (employees and visitors)

Mask Information

As we begin to reopen, it is important to continue wearing a mask when out in public. There is a proper way to put on, wear and take off a face mask or covering. The CDC has provided a flyer you can find here on best practices. Remember that children under two years old should not wear a face mask for safety reasons. If you need to make a face covering, you can view the CDC website here for instructions on how to make a homemade face covering.

Additionally, reusable masks have been distributed to each municipality in the county, and residents can contact their local Town or City Hall to see if they are still available.

Data Dashboard enhanced

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 21, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced the most current stats on COVID-19 in Saratoga County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 436
Deaths: 15
Recovered cases: 358
Active cases: 64
Hospitalizations: 4
Total tested: 9,018

What businesses should consider prior to reopening

As we begin phase one, it is important that businesses have their safety plans in place. Templates can be found here.

Every business should be thinking about the following things:

Physical spacing and incorporating distancing where possible
Personal Protective Equipment
Health screening process for employees
Cleaning protocols and supplies
Log of people in the building (employees and visitors)

Mask Information

Additionally, reusable masks have been distributed to each municipality in the county, and residents can contact their local Town or City Hall to see if they are still available.

Data Dashboard enhanced

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 19, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced the most current stats on COVID-19 in Saratoga County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 432
Deaths: 15
Recovered cases: 344
Active cases: 73
Hospitalizations: 6
Total tested: 8,636

What businesses should consider prior to reopening

The Capital Region is on the cusp of starting the reopening process. This will take place in phases, and not all businesses will be allowed to reopen immediately. A breakdown of the businesses that are included in each phase can be found here.

As we begin to open Phase I, it is important that businesses have their safety plans in place. Templates can be found here.

Every business should be thinking about the following things:

Physical spacing and incorporating distancing where possible
Personal Protective Equipment
Health screening process for employees
Cleaning protocols and supplies
Log of people in the building (employees and visitors)

National EMS Week

This week is National EMS Week. Saratoga County wants to take a moment to recognize the frontline staff across the county, including our own EMS personnel, and send them a big thank you!

Our emergency responders have been working incredibly hard and have been dedicated to helping our residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage all residents to thank an EMS worker today!

Facebook Live event

Officials from Saratoga County and community partners will be hosting a Facebook Live event on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event will be hosted on the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page and feature:

Aric Butts RN, BSN – Registered Nurse, Saratoga Hospital
Craig Hayner – Saratoga County Clerk
Cathleen Medick, RN, BSN – Director of Patient Services, Saratoga County
Dr. Michael Patton – Superintendent, Saratoga Springs City School District

Community members can submit questions in advance or view the stream here.

Data Dashboard enhanced

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 18, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced the most current stats on COVID-19 in Saratoga County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 429
Deaths: 15
Recovered cases: 340
Active cases: 74
Hospitalizations: 6
Total tested: 8,100

The Department confirmed the death of one more county resident from COVID-19 — a 75-year-old male from Halfmoon. The total number of resident deaths from COVID-19 now stands at 15. This was the first death reported since April 30.

Facebook Live event

Aric Butts RN, BSN – Registered Nurse, Saratoga Hospital
Craig Hayner – Saratoga County Clerk
Cathleen Medick, RN, BSN – Director of Patient Services, Saratoga County
Dr. Michael Patton – Superintendent, Saratoga Springs City School District

Community members can submit questions in advance or view the stream here.

Efforts to reopen

While the county is looking forward to seeing our businesses open again, we cannot get there without everyone’s help as we continue to flatten the curve. It’s important to remember that the number of positive cases keeps increasing, and we must continue to take precautionary steps to mitigate the spread.

Practice social distancing. Stay home as much as possible, even if you feel well. COVID-19 spreads through speaking, coughing and sneezing. Wear a face mask as a barrier from respiratory droplets. Avoid unnecessary appointments. Social distancing includes:
- Not shaking hands, hugging or kissing when greeting people;
- Limiting visitors;
- Maintaining at least a six-foot distance from others;
- Avoiding gatherings; and
- Working at home, whenever possible
Wash your hands frequently. Cover your cough and sneezes. Use a tissue or your elbow. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Take caution with at-risk individuals. Avoid visiting anyone who is most at risk, including the elderly and people with underlying health conditions. Call and offer to help with groceries and to pick up other needed items. Drop off without having a face-to-face contact.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. COVID-19 can survive for a long time on surfaces where the droplets land, and can be picked up when you touch that surface and then touch your face. Use hand sanitizer immediately after touching common surfaces when out in public.

Data Dashboard enhanced

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 14, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced the most current stats on COVID-19 in Saratoga County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 408
Deaths: 14
Recovered cases: 326
Active cases: 68
Hospitalizations: 7
Total tested: 6,887

Cloth masks available to County residents

The Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services has provided reusable cloth masks to each municipality in the county. Residents in need of a cloth mask should contact their Town or City Hall for one.

Additionally, residents can attend one of two cloth mask distribution events on Friday, May 15 from 10:00 a.m. until noon, or until supplies run out. The locations are:

Town of Malta — Malta Town Hall, 2540 Route 9
City of Saratoga Springs — Saratoga Springs High School Parking Lot, 1 Blue Streak Blvd.

Efforts to reopen

The state has released its plan for reopening. It includes metrics that regions must meet before reopening can begin. The metrics can be found here.

Saratoga County is stressing that businesses cannot reopen until an Executive Order from the Governor allows it. The Capital Region has not met all metrics and reopening will not begin in the region on May 15.

The County continues to take action to address the Governor’s plan to reopen New York, working with the other counties in the region to reach the metrics. Once the reopening begins, it will take place in phases, and not all businesses will be allowed to reopen right away. The phases are outlined here.

Facebook Live event

Officials from Saratoga County and community partners hosted a Facebook Live event earlier this week to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event was hosted on the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page and featured:

Nash Alexander – Chief Operations Officer, Wilton Emergency Corp.
Peter P. Bardunias – Senior Vice President, Community Advancement, Capital Region Chamber
Penelope Heritage – Director, Saratoga County Animal Shelter
Cathleen Medick, RN, BSN – Director of Patient Services, Saratoga County
Kristine Orr – Superintendent, South Glens Falls Central School District
Todd Shimkus – President, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

Community members can re-watch the stream here.

Data Dashboard enhanced

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 13, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced the most current stats on COVID-19 in Saratoga County.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19: 404
Deaths: 14
Recovered cases: 323
Active cases: 67
Hospitalizations: 9
Total tested: 6,745

Facebook Live event

Officials from Saratoga County and community partners hosted a Facebook Live event earlier today to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event was hosted on the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page and featured:

Nash Alexander – Chief Operations Officer, Wilton Emergency Corp.
Peter P. Bardunias – Senior Vice President, Community Advancement, Capital Region Chamber
Penelope Heritage – Director, Saratoga County Animal Shelter
Cathleen Medick, RN, BSN – Director of Patient Services, Saratoga County
Kristine Orr – Superintendent, South Glens Falls Central School District
Todd Shimkus – President, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

Community members can re-watch the stream here.

Efforts to reopen

The state has released its plan for reopening. It includes metrics that regions must meet before reopening can begin. The metrics can be found here.

Saratoga County is stressing that businesses cannot reopen until an Executive Order from the Governor allows it.

Data Dashboard enhanced

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 12, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced that there are 401 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County. Eight of those individuals are hospitalized at this time.

Facebook Live event

Officials from Saratoga County and community partners will be hosting a Facebook Live event on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event will be hosted on the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page and feature:

Nash Alexander – Chief Operations Officer, Wilton Emergency Corp.
Peter P. Bardunias – Senior Vice President, Community Advancement, Capital Region Chamber
Penelope Heritage – Director, Saratoga County Animal Shelter
Cathleen Medick, RN, BSN – Director of Patient Services, Saratoga County
Kristine Orr – Superintendent, South Glens Falls Central School District
Todd Shimkus – President, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

Community members can submit questions in advance or view the stream here.

Efforts to reopen

The state has released its plan for reopening. It includes metrics that regions must meet before reopening can begin. The metrics can be found here.

Saratoga County is stressing that businesses cannot reopen until an Executive Order from the Governor allows it.

Data Dashboard enhanced

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 7, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced that there are 370 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County and 8 of those individuals are hospitalized at this time.

Data Dashboard enhanced

The dashboard now includes more comprehensive information and charts on positive cases. A link to the data dashboard can be found at the top of the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services’ COVID-19 website, located here.

Mask and hand sanitizer distribution

The Office of Emergency Services has set up four distribution sites for reusable masks and hand sanitizer. This will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 7 and last until supplies run out. Provided by the New York State Stockpile, masks and hand sanitizer will be given out based the number of individuals in each vehicle. The locations are:

Moreau – Moreau Town Hall, 351 Reynolds Road
Wilton – Gavin Park, 10 Lewis Road
Mechanicville – O’Reilly Auto Parts, 80 N. Central Avenue
Clifton Park – Clifton Park Senior Community Center, 6 Clifton Common Boulevard

Efforts to reopen

The state has released its plan for reopening. It includes metrics that regions must meet before reopening can begin. The metrics can be found here.

Saratoga County is taking action to address the Governor’s phased plan to reopen New York. We have established a task force to increase testing within our county, acquire an appropriate level of contact tracers and collaborate with the seven other Capital Region counties. The Capital Region will be working towards the common goal of meeting the Governor’s criteria for allowing businesses to open up; however, it is important to note that we have not met the CDC recommendation at this time to start phase one, which states that once a region experiences a 14 -day decline in the hospitalization rate, they can begin a phased reopening.

Facebook Live event earlier this week

Officials from Saratoga County and community partners hosted a Facebook Live event earlier this week at 10:00 a.m. to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event was hosted on the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page and featured:

Frank McClement – Director of Veterans Service Agency
John Stewart – COVID-19 survivor, Saratoga Springs Firefighter and Office of Emergency Services Deputy EMS Coordinator
Dr. Oliver Robinson – Superintendent of Shenendehowa Central School District
Gregory Connors – U.S. Government Affairs at GlobalFoundries

Community members can re-watch the stream here.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 6, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced that there are 368 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County and 9 of those individuals are hospitalized at this time.

Mask and hand sanitizer distribution

Moreau – Moreau Town Hall, 351 Reynolds Road
Wilton – Gavin Park, 10 Lewis Road
Mechanicville – O’Reilly Auto Parts, 80 N. Central Avenue
Clifton Park – Clifton Park Senior Community Center, 6 Clifton Common Boulevard

Efforts to reopen

Facebook Live event earlier today

Officials from Saratoga County and community partners hosted a Facebook Live event today at 10:00 a.m. to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event was hosted on the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page and featured:

Frank McClement – Director of Veterans Service Agency
John Stewart – COVID-19 survivor, Saratoga Springs Firefighter and Office of Emergency Services Deputy EMS Coordinator
Dr. Oliver Robinson – Superintendent of Shenendehowa Central School District
Gregory Connors – U.S. Government Affairs at GlobalFoundries

Community members can re-watch the stream here.

Data Dashboard

A link to the data dashboard can be found at the top of the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services’ COVID-19 website, located here.

Testing

New York State Department of Health has opened up diagnostic and/or serological testing for individuals who are employed as a healthcare worker, first responder or other essential worker who directly interacts with the public while on the job. Testing must be authorized by a healthcare provider. Saratoga Hospital drive-thru and the Capital District Mobile Testing Center at SUNY Albany (Colonial Quad) are available by appointment only.

COVID-19 is widespread

As you may have seen, the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services has posted data in a more comprehensive way on its website, including breakdowns of positive cases by municipality.

It is important to note that there may be a false sense of security when looking at these numbers by municipality. It is clear that the COVID-19 virus is widespread throughout our county, and the numbers are deceiving due to the lack of testing.

There is no way to capture the individuals who have the virus and do not show any signs or symptoms. An asymptomatic person can still spread the virus to others. It is especially important to continue to wear a face covering when out in public and keep greater than six feet from one another. As always, clean and disinfect common surfaces, wash your hands and use hand sanitizer frequently.

SC - Photo 1 - 5.5.20

On Monday, May 4, the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services took delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the New York State Stockpile. Delivered by the New York State Army National Guard, the PPE is earmarked for healthcare providers, mental health offices and senior assisted living facilities in Saratoga County.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 5, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced that there are 364 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County and 10 of those individuals are hospitalized at this time.

Facebook Live event

Officials from Saratoga County and community partners will be hosting a Facebook Live event on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event will be hosted on the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page and feature:

Frank McClement – Director of Veterans Service Agency
John Stewart – COVID-19 survivor, Saratoga Springs Firefighter and Office of Emergency Services Deputy EMS Coordinator
Dr. Oliver Robinson – Superintendent of Shenendehowa Central School District
Gregory Connors – U.S. Government Affairs at GlobalFoundries

Community members can submit questions in advance or view the stream here.

Data Dashboard

A link to the data dashboard can be found at the top of the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services’ COVID-19 website, located here.

Testing

COVID-19 is widespread

As you may have seen, the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services has posted data in a more comprehensive way on its website, including breakdowns of positive cases by municipality.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 4, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced that there are 364 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County and 11 of those individuals are hospitalized at this time.

Facebook Live event

Frank McClement – Director of Veterans Service Agency
John Stewart – COVID-19 survivor, Saratoga Springs Firefighter and Office of Emergency Services Deputy EMS Coordinator
Dr. Oliver Robinson – Superintendent of Shenendehowa Central School District
Gregory Connors – U.S. Government Affairs at GlobalFoundries

Community members can submit questions in advance or view the stream here.

Data Dashboard

A link to the data dashboard can be found at the top of the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services’ COVID-19 website, located here.

COVID-19 is widespread

As you may have seen, the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services has posted data in a more comprehensive way on its website, including breakdowns of positive cases by municipality.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

May 1, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced that there are 355 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County and 11 of those individuals are hospitalized at this time.

New Data Dashboard Unveiled

The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services has unveiled a new data dashboard that will be updated each weekday with the most current information on COVID-19 cases in the county. The data available includes:

A breakdown of cases and quarantines
Hospitalizations and deaths
Total positive cases by municipality
Graphs on daily and total confirmed cases

A link to the data dashboard can be found at the top of the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services’ COVID-19 website, located here.

How do you protect yourself?

As a simple reminder, scientific evidence shared by the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization remains the same; the best ways to protect yourself and others from this virus is to make sure you do not inhale the virus or contract it from any surface.

Some tips are as follows:

Do not stand too close to someone who could share the virus by talking, sneezing or coughing within your personal space of six feet.

Do not touch your face and transfer the virus to your mouth, nose or eyes. Wearing a mask can provide some protection, but the spatial distance is key.
Disinfect surfaces frequently that are touched by others.
If you wear gloves when at the gas pump or in a store, be sure to remove them before you get back in your car and use hand sanitizer.
Wash your cloth face mask and gloves frequently.

Facebook Live event

Officials from Saratoga County and community partners hosted a Facebook Live event earlier this week to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event was hosted on the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page and featured:

Peter P. Bardunias, Senior Vice President, Community Advancement, Capital Region Chamber
Ken Slentz, Superintendent, Ballston Spa Central School District
Sandra M. Cross, Director, Saratoga County Office for the Aging
Todd Shimkus, President, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

Community members can re-watch the video here.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

April 27, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced that there are 331 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County and 9 of those individuals are hospitalized at this time.

Facebook Live event

Officials from Saratoga County and community partners will be hosting a Facebook Live event on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event will be hosted on the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page and feature:

Peter P. Bardunias, Senior Vice President, Community Advancement, Capital Region Chamber
Ken Slentz, Superintendent, Ballston Spa Central School District
Sandra M. Cross, Director, Saratoga County Office for the Aging

Community members can submit questions in advance or view the stream here.

New online resources

The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services has updated its website to provide residents with additional information related to COVID-19. The website now includes:

Testing sites
Information on Governor Cuomo’s Executive Orders
A listing of county food pantries
Tips from the NYSDOH and CDC
Resources for healthcare workers, schools, workplaces and community based organizations.

The website can be accessed here.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

April 17, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services today announced that there are 253 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County and 14 of those individuals are hospitalized at this time. The Department also confirmed the county’s seventh death from COVID-19 — a 91-year-old female.

Poster Contest for Students

Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo (R,C,I) today announced a COVID-19 poster contest for students in grades K-12 in Saratoga County. The theme is ‘What Saratoga County First Responders Mean To Me.’

Students of all ages from Saratoga County are invited to participate in designing a poster illustrating what a Saratoga County first responder means to them. Artists should consider incorporating one of the following:

Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office
Saratoga County Public Health
Emergency Medical Services
Fire Departments

Posters must be received by Monday, May 18,2020.

Twelve winners will be selected from the submissions and invited to participate in an awards ceremony at an upcoming Saratoga County Board of Supervisors meeting.

All posters submitted will be placed on display in the public area of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, 6010 County Farm Road, Ballston Spa and throughout the Saratoga County Municipal Building. The twelve winning posters will be placed on display in the Supervisors Boardroom located in the County Municipal Building, 40 McMaster Street, Ballston Spa.

Those who wish to enter the contest can mail their completed poster (on any size paper) to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office 6010 County Farm Road, Ballston Spa, New York 12020 or e-mail their submission to sheriff@saratogacountyny.gov.

They are also encouraged to share their artwork via Facebook and Instagram, tagging the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office @SaratogaSheriff.

Students or their parents should include the artist’s first and last name, age and grade and school. Submissions should include an email or phone number.

Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office staff members will choose the best entry.

The contest provides a creative and fun way for students to depict positive influences that first responders are leaving on the community working to stop the spread of COVID-19. By designing posters, students help to highlight the important work of our emergency responders in Saratoga County.

The importance of masks and how to make your own

Earlier this week, Governor Cuomo released a new Executive Order declaring that anyone who is out in public must wear a mask if social distancing is not possible.

The Department of Public Health is encouraging all individuals to wear a mask any time they are out in public. That being said, we are aware of mask shortages. The CDC has a helpful resource on its website outlining how to wear a mask and instructions on how to make a homemade mask. That link can be accessed here. Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing. Be sure to wash your homemade mask often.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

April 15, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health today announced that there are 235 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County and 14 of those individuals are hospitalized at this time.

To date, 2,804 residents have been tested, producing a positive test rate of 8.38%. It is important to note that with every positive case that is placed in isolation, there could be anywhere from two to 50 people who may have made close contact and should be placed into quarantine. By quarantining close contacts, we are slowing the spread; when those in quarantine become sick, they are not out spreading the disease.

How are we doing so far?

Our local hospitals are able to keep up with the number of patients who need an ICU bed or ventilator, and there is no staffing shortage at the current rate. This positive effect can only be achieved by everyone staying home and stopping the spread. If everyone fails to social distance, the number of positive cases will rise and potentially compromise our healthcare system. It’s important to understand that we must remain steady on this course.

The importance of masks and how to make your own

Earlier today, Governor Cuomo released a new Executive Order declaring that anyone who is out in public must wear a mask if social distancing is not possible.

Facebook Live event yesterday

Officials from Saratoga County hosted a Facebook Live event yesterday to answer questions from residents related to COVID-19. The hour-long event featured staff from the Department of Public Health, the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Emergency Services. Highlights included an update on the number of recoveries and a discussion about homemade masks. The event can be viewed here.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a virus closely related to the SARS virus. The disease is the cause of the 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak. It passes from one person to others via respiratory droplets produced from the airways, often during coughing or sneezing. Time from exposure to onset of symptoms is generally between 2 and 14 days. Hand washing, maintaining distance from people who are coughing, and not touching one’s face with unwashed hands are recommended to prevent the disease. It is recommended to cover one’s nose and mouth with a bent elbow when coughing.

DYI Instructions for Face Masks from the CDC

Saratoga County Department of Health

Fact Sheet-What you need to know

Symptoms

CDC Protects

What To Do If Your Sick

How to Stop the Spread of Germs

Hand Washing & Hand Sanitizer

CDC Coronavirus Information

Novel Coronavirus Hotline NYS DOH: 1-888-364-3065

Saratoga County Public Health Services: 518-885-2276
Monday-Sunday 8:00AM-4:00PM