15th death reported in Saratoga County
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. » With the imminent start of Phase 1 of New York state’s reopening plan upon the Capital Region, the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services on Monday confirmed the county’s 15th Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) related death.
The fatality, the first reported death in nearly three weeks, is a 75-year-old male from Halfmoon.
The two reported deaths on April 30 were a 78-year-old female from Hadley and a 66-yearold male from Halfmoon.
The county’s 12th fatality on April 25 was as a 72-year-old male from Halfmoon, with the 11th death, a 70-year-old Clifton Park resident who lived in the hamlet of Ballston Lake, was reported a day earlier.
The county’s 10th death — a 67-year-old from Malta — was confirmed on April 19, while the deaths of a 61-year-old male from Clifton Park and a 77-year-old male from Mechanicville were reported a day earlier. Earlier in that week, a 91-year-old Clifton Park woman died.
Previously, a Saratoga Springs resident died in New Jersey on April 12, while a 78-year-old Ballston Lake resident died on April 7. Two males in their mid-tolate 80s from Clifton Park, as well as 59-year-old Ballston Spa male,
died on April 6, while the first reported fatality was a 95-year-old woman who died at Glens Falls Hospital on March 27.
Additionally, a 71-yearold Brooklyn resident who was staying with family in Clifton Park, died from COVID-19 last month.
The number of positive COVID-19 cases stands at 429, a jump of six cases from the previous day, while the number of hospitalizations remained at six. There are 74 active cases, with 340 recovered cases.
To date, 2,193 individuals have been in isolation or quarantine — 353 active cases — while 8,100 county residents have been tested.
Clifton Park has reported the most positive cases with 93, while Halfmoon has 66. Saratoga Springs has 44 cases, with Wilton and Malta next at 35 and 27 cases, respectively. Moreau has 24 positive cases, followed by Mechanicville and Milton at 19 and 18, respectively.
The town of Ballston reported 14 cases, with Northumberland at 13. Greenfield and Waterford follow at 11 and 10 positive cases, respectively.
Rounding the list of municipalities with positive cases are Stillwater (9), Galway (7), Ballston Spa (7), South Glens Falls (6), town of Corinth (5), Schuylerville (5), town of Saratoga (5), Round Lake (3), Charlton (2), Providence (2), Waterford (2), Hadley (1) and village of Corinth (1)
Facebook Live event
Officials from Saratoga County and community partners will be hosting a Facebook Live event at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20 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 at https://www.facebook.com/ SaratogaOES/
Efforts to reopen
The reopening process 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 at https://forward.ny.gov/industriesreopening-phase.
In the efforts to having area businesses open again, officials continue to stress the importance of the community’s effort to help flatten the curve. They pointed out the number of positive cases continues to increase, and the public 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 atrisk 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 face-toface 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.