Info on the COVID-19 Disease

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

March 12,2020

Ballston Spa, NY – The Saratoga County Department of Public Health is working diligently to contain and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 in the county. Currently, the county is not experiencing community spread of the virus.

There is a third confirmed case of COVID-19. The individual is an adult resident of Clifton Park. The County Department of Public Health is continuing to investigate the circumstances of this case, including the point of origin and the individuals with whom they’ve come in contact.

The two individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 on March 7th, did visit the VENT Fitness in Clifton Park on March 5th for a 6:00 p.m. class. Everyone who was in close proximity to these individuals has been notified and given appropriate guidance that may have included quarantine if necessary. The Department of Public Health gave VENT Fitness guidance on how to perform a proper cleaning and provide information to the gym’s membership.

The state Department of Health has issued further guidance related to the pharmacist who has tested positive for COVID-19 and has asked the county to place individuals who worked in close proximity to him at the CVS located at  653 US Route 9 Gansevoort, NY 12831 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on February 28, 2020. Individuals considered to be in close proximity are immediate coworkers and individuals who received counseling or immunizations from the pharmacist. Patrons to the CVS store and those who received prescriptions on February 28, 2020 are considered to have a low risk of exposure. The County Department of Public Health is in communication with CVS to identify all of the individuals who were in close proximity to the pharmacist.

The New York State Department of Health and U.S. Center for Disease Control have advised the County Department of Health that those who received medications that were handled by the pharmacist are considered to have a low risk of exposure.

If an individual has questions regarding COVID-19 they should contact the state Department of Health Hotline at 1-888-364-3065. If an individual believes they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 they should contact their primary care physician to make an appointment.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include: cough, fever, trouble breathing and pneumonia.

While there is currently no vaccine to prevent the virus, these simple steps can help stop the spread of this and other respiratory viruses:

  • Practice social distancing and avoid handshakes.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available then use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Key Messages – Saratoga County COVID -19

March 13, 2020

  1. We are prepared to handle this
    1. We have a dedicated team of county staff across various departments working together to contain and mitigate the impact
    2. We’ve trained for scenarios like this and have activated our response plan
  1. Reportable numbers will fluctuate
    1. As more individuals reveal to the county or state that they’ve come in contact with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or they’ve traveled to a high-risk country or other areas, quarantine numbers will change
    2. Quarantines are precautionary measure
    3. Individuals who complete the 14-day quarantine without showing any symptoms of the illness will be taken off the list
  1. People who believe they are showing symptoms should:
    1. Self-isolate and contact their primary care physician to arrange an appointment
    2. Call the NYS Dept. of Health hotline for more information on signs and symptoms of COVID-19
  1. Patient information and privacy
    1. Saratoga County will not be releasing any identifiable information related to persons who are in quarantine
    2. Saratoga County will release limited information related to persons confirmed to have COVID-19
  1. Course of action when a case is confirmed
    1. The confirmed individual is immediately quarantined, if not already
    2. The County Dept of Public Health will contact anyone who is a medium or high risk based on interaction with the confirmed case and provide quarantine guidance
    3. The County Dept. of Public Health will monitor daily all individuals in quarantine