Not that they ever really went anywhere, but Schoharie County’s COVID numbers have come roaring back: 26 new cases over the last seven days for a total of 1,768 and a positivity rate of 6.88 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
That puts us in the “substantial” category for level of community transmission.
Albany, Schenectady, and Saratoga Counties are “high”—the worst; Otsego, Montgomery, Greene, and Delaware Counties join Schoharie as “substantial.”
Because of the high numbers and the documented spread between even those who’ve been vaccinated, the Health Department is now recommending everyone wear a mask indoors.—regardless of vaccination status—when they can’t maintain a distance of six feet.
Unlike last summer, Health Departments are now taking their lead from the CDC—not the state—and no longer have the authority to mandate masks, Public Health Director Amy Gildemeister said Monday.
“I’m certainly concerned,” Dr. Gildemeister said. “We’ve had people going to the Emergency Room and we have people in hospitals.
“I know people are tired—we all are. But this is very concerning. I will not be putting out a mask mandate, but I am highly recommending them.”
The Delta variant of COVID is especially contagious, she said, and has even hospitalized children in nearby counties.
The dramatic increase in numbers comes as school are getting ready to reopen.
The CDC has said getting kids back for in-school learning is a priority and Dr. Gildemeister agreed.
But, she warned, the Delta variant is different; just because schools did such a good job limiting transmission last time, doesn’t mean that will necessarily be the case this time, especially if the same preventive measures aren’t in place.
The Health Department will be offering free walk-in vaccinations at the Cobleskill Fair, which runs through Sunday, daily from 1-7pm.
The vaccines will likely be Pfizer, Dr. Gildemeister said, though a small amount of the J&J vaccine may be available as well.
The Health Department is also planning a vaccination clinic at SUNY Cobleskill on August 30, and sometime before then, one in the Village of Cobleskill, probably at the Fire House.
According to the CDC, 49.6 percent of the county has received at least one dose of a vaccine and 46.4 percent are fully vaccinated.
There have been 19 deaths.
The state tracks vaccination rates by zip codes.
Local vaccination rates follow. They have been stalled and virtually unchanged for weeks.
The first figure is the percentage of people with one dose; the second is the percentage of people who are fully vaccinated.
Sharon Springs—36.9 percent, 34.5 percent.
Fultonham—41.3 percent, 37 percent.
Charlotteville—43.1 percent, 39.3 percent.
Richmondville—44.5 percent, 42 percent.
Cobleskill—47.1 percent, 44.2 percent.
Sloansville—48.5 percent, 46.3 percent.
Gilboa—48.9 percent, 45.9 percent.
Jefferson—49.1 percent, 45.7 percent.
Middleburgh—50.5 percent, 47 percent.
Schoharie—50.4 percent, 47.6.
Carlisle—56.4 percent, 54.4 percent.
Central Bridge—57.6 percent, 52.8 percent.
Warnerville—71.3 percent, 65.9 percent.
Howes Cave—73.4 percent, 69 percent.
Esperance—75.2 percent, 70.8 percent.
Summit—78.8 percent, 73.3 percent.
West Fulton—78.8 percent, 75.6 percent.
North Blenheim—99 percent, 99 percent.