Link to Town Board Meeting, Vaccine Notifications

News from Town Hall

Use This Link for the

January Town Board Meeting on Zoom

The Town Board Meeting Zoom link in the February Newsletter sent on February 1 is not working correctly. If you wish to attend the meeting use the link below.

Topic: Town of Hillsdale February Town Board Meeting

Time: Tuesday February 9, 7:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81337055132

Dial in: 646 558-8656 Meeting ID: 813 3705 5132

NY Alert Offers Vaccine Notifications

Columbia County has developed a NY ALERT public information category that can be used to receive information by email about the COVID-19 vaccine effort in Columbia County, said county Emergency Management Director David Harrison, Jr., on Wednesday. “The COVID-19 vaccine information provided is non-emergency general information for Columbia County that will be sent out to anyone who signs up for it,” Director Harrison said.

Personal NY ALERT accounts are provided by NYS free of charge. If you already have a NY ALERT account, sign in and go to "My Subscriptions" and click Edit. Under Columbia County, check the box for COVID-19 vaccine information, then click save – you will receive informational emails when they go out.

If you do not have a NY ALERT account, visit https://alert.ny.gov, sign up and follow the instructions to create your account. Then follow the instructions outlined above to get COVID-19 vaccine information emails.

NY ALERT is also the mass emergency notification system that Columbia County uses to send out emergency notifications to county residents. There are many additional categories of information about which you can request to be notified. The NY ALERT website is operated and maintained by New York State.

NYS Vaccine Info

Columbia County Dept. of Health

County Says Cases Going Down But Warns

Against Big Super Bowl Parties

As of Friday afternoon February 5, Columbia County reported 350 active COVID-19 cases and a total of 3,280 county residents infected with the virus since the beginning of the pandemic.

“It appears that the infection numbers are trending downward in New York State and the Capital Region,” said county Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell. “Some counties are already at a four percent seven-day rolling average for infection, with a few even below that. I think we’ll continue to trend this way – I’m certainly hopeful for that.” For COVID statistics Columbia County is considered part of the Capital Region.

Murrell is warning county residents that while it may be tempting to think that, given the lower infection rate numbers the county has seen over the last week or so, it’s okay to hold large gatherings on Super Bowl Sunday, but that’s not the case. The state-mandated limit on indoor gatherings remains at 10 individuals.

“We saw what happened after the recent holiday gatherings, when the infection rate shot up and stayed there for quite a while,” said Chairman Murell. “As we are now beginning to experience a downturn in the infection rate, this is no time to let our guard down. It seems we’re making some real progress. Let’s continue to do our part with mask-wearing, social distancing, and observing the gathering limit.”

Getting a Vaccine Appointment

New York State is offering vaccines at over a dozen state operated sites, the nearest of which is at SUNY Albany. As of Friday afternoon 2/5, no appointments were available but appointments will be available once the state receives more doses. Go to the state's Am I Eligible app to check availability and determine if you are eligible.

If you don't have internet access, or just prefer to call, you call the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829) to make an appointment at one of the state sites when appointments are available.

Walgreens and ShopRite have started offering appointments in the area though appointments may not currently be available. Check their websites or call the pharmacy for the latest information. You must meet NYS eligibility requirements to make an appointment. Other area pharmacies that will be offering vaccinations are Hannaford in Valatie and Hudson; Price Chopper in Chatham; and the Hudson Walmart.

Am I Eligible

Did you miss the February 1 issue of this newsletter? There was lots of news! Link to it here... just don't use the town board meeting link in that issue.