News Flash

From the City:

• A HUGE thank you to Quick Response who have set up Mobile Stations to disinfect First Responder’s vehicles at no charge throughout the area- tomorrow they will be in the SSCSD- Saratoga Springs High School front faculty parking lot from 12-5pm ready to professionally disinfect any emergency vehicles - we cannot thank them enough for their generosity! Please see below for the full schedule of their mobile stations throughout the area-
• Mayor Meg Kelly and Commissioner Robin Dalton will be hosting their weekly Facebook Live series tomorrow at 10am on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus tomorrow is on education- specifically the challenges and pressures of homeschooling in the already anxiety-producing COVID-19 environment. To answer your questions and help navigate families through this difficult time, we are delighted to have Saratoga Superintendent of Schools Michael Patton join us as well as Courtney DeLeonardis, an educator with over 22 years of teaching experience. You’ll find Friday’s live stream on The City of Saratoga Springs, NY Facebook page, where you can comment and ask questions- if you are unable to watch live, feel free to email your questions in advance to teri.wilson@saratoga-springs.org.

FROM Governor Cuomo and New York State: 

1. "New York on PAUSE" will be extended until May 15th.This action is taken in consultation with other regional states. Non-essential workers must continue to stay home and social distancing rules remain in place. We will re-evaluate after this additional closure period. I know this is hard, but we must stay the course.

2. Today I outlined a blueprint to get New Yorkers back to work and ease social isolation without triggering a renewed spread of the virus. The blueprint operates under one overarching principle — do no harm. As part of the strategy to reopen, we will strengthen the healthcare system; use diagnostic testing, antibody testing and contact tracing to limit the spread of the virus; and implement a phased return to a "new normal" — which will include evaluating risk by industry, starting with the most essential businesses that present the lowest risk, rethinking the workplace to make it safer, and implementing protocols for response if a worker develops COVID-19 symptoms. Read the full plan here.

3. New Yorkers MUST wear masks or face coverings on public transportation systems and while taking private transportation or riding in for-hire vehicles. Additionally, all operators of public systems, private carriers and for-hire vehicles must wear a mask or face covering at all times while working. These directives expand on the Executive Order announced yesterday requiring everyone in New York to wear a mask or a face covering when out in public and in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained. The order will go into effect on Friday, April 17th, at 8 PM.

4. New York will send 100 ventilators to our friends in New Jersey. Other states helped us when we needed it most, and we are proud to do the same. We will get through this by helping one another. 

5. The number of hospitalizations continue to fall but we are not out of the woods yet. Yesterday, total hospitalizations fell to 17,735, the third straight day of declines. However, infections remain high and the virus is still spreading. Visit covid19tracker.health.ny.gov to see the latest data.  

Tonight’s "Deep Breath Moment": Even though the Bronx Zoo is closed due to Coronavirus, you can still visit virtually through the zoo’s Instagram page. You can catch up with many different animals, like the two recently hatched penguin chicks.

FOR MORE FROM NY STATE CLICK HERE >>

UPDATE: COVID-19 Information for Saratoga County

April 16, 2020

Ballston Spa, NY — The Saratoga County Department of Public Health today announced that there are 246 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County and 14 of those individuals are hospitalized at this time.

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 practice social distancing, 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 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.

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.

FOR MORE FROM THE COUNTY, CLICK HERE >>