COVID-19 related deaths hit 40 in the county
Steve Hughes
Students had to quickly adapt to remote learning, figure out if their Wi-Fi connection would be suitable to connect with teachers, and face the challenge of not being able to see friends and family.
On a much more basic level, students and families had to figure out where meals would be coming from daily.
To assist with that need, staff members at Averill Park Central School District have come together to form a food service and delivery program.
Now a full month into the closure of school buildings, APCSD is making roughly 2,500 meals per week, including 1,250 breakfasts and 1,250 lunches.
“We are still required to follow the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program meal pattern, so the meals consist of the same components that are offered in school,” APCSD Director of Food Services, Colleen Wise, said. “Each breakfast includes whole grains, milk, juice and fruit. Lunches include whole grains, meat or a meat alternative, such as cheese or yogurt, fruit, vegetables, and milk.”
Students had to quickly adapt to remote learning, figure out if their Wi-Fi connection would be suitable to connect with teachers, and face the challenge of not being able to see friends and family.
On a much more basic level, students and families had to figure out where meals would be coming from daily.
To assist with that need, staff members at Averill Park Central School District have come together to form a food service and delivery program.
Now a full month into the closure of school buildings, APCSD is making roughly 2,500 meals per week, including 1,250 breakfasts and 1,250 lunches.
“We are still required to follow the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program meal pattern, so the meals consist of the same components that are offered in school,” APCSD Director of Food Services, Colleen Wise, said. “Each breakfast includes whole grains, milk, juice and fruit. Lunches include whole grains, meat or a meat alternative, such as cheese or yogurt, fruit, vegetables, and milk.”
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, at right, says four more people have died from COVID-19 in the county, bringing the death toll to 20. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Christine Murphy is seen serving customers in their car out of the Snowman-to-go trailer parked behind the main ice cream stand on Friday, April 3, 2020 in Troy, N.Y. Her husband and owner of Snowman, John Murphy, carefully set up everything to deal with social distancing but was forced to close when people ignored the safeguards. He’s allowing pre-ordered pickup and trying to figure out how to reopen. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Molly Sky, 4, stands wither her mother Alexa, left, as they wave to Watervliet School District teachers and staff during a caravan parade through the city on Friday, April 3, 2020, in Watervliet, N.Y. Students and family members came to their doorsteps to reconnect with school staff members following the coronavirus lockdown. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
Watervliet School District teachers and staff members wave to students and family while taking part in a caravan parade through the city to reconnect with students during the coronavirus lockdown on Friday, April 3, 2020, in Watervliet, N.Y. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
St. Peter’s Hospital facilities workers Jim Larm, left, and Gary Bright install a Life Net windsock on a light pole next to a helipad in a parking lot on the Hackett Blvd. side of St. Peter’s Hospital on Friday, April 3, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
A helipad is surrounded by barriers in a parking lot on the Hackett Blvd. side of St. Peter’s Hospital on Friday, April 3, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Veterinarian Assistant Tracy Powell, left, holds Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, as Dr. Pamela Reppert listens to her heartbeat outside Saratoga Springs Veterinary Hospital on Thursday April 2, 2020 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The animal hospital set up a fenced in fresh air veterinary care examining room outside their building and had the animal’s human stay inside their car. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
FULL STORY: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Saratoga-Springs-veterinarian-creates-outdoor-15174808.php
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Dr. Pamela Reppert, left, checks the ears of Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, as Veterinarian Assistant Tracy Powell holds her outside Saratoga Springs Veterinary Hospital on Thursday April 2, 2020 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The animal hospital set up a fenced in fresh air veterinary care examining room outside their building and had the animal’s human stay inside their car. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
FULL STORY: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Saratoga-Springs-veterinarian-creates-outdoor-15174808.php
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Wayne Wilson of Saratoga Springs holds his Tea Cup Poodle Mena-oo in the waiting room which is in his car outside Saratoga Springs Veterinary Hospital on Thursday April 2, 2020 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The animal hospital set up a fenced in fresh air veterinary care examining room outside their building and had the animal’s human stay inside their car.(Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
FULL STORY: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Saratoga-Springs-veterinarian-creates-outdoor-15174808.php
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Veterinarian Assistant Tracy Powell lets Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, jump into her owner’s car after being examined outside Saratoga Springs Veterinary Hospital on Thursday April 2, 2020 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Alia Sahlborg brought Lucy in for a routine check-up. The animal hospital set up a fenced in fresh air veterinary care examining room outside their building and had the animal’s human stay inside their car.(Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
FULL STORY: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Saratoga-Springs-veterinarian-creates-outdoor-15174808.php
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Volunteers including Mayor Bill Keeler, left, and organizer Theresa Bourgeois, right, help Cohoes residents in need of food as they pick up bags of groceries from their cars at the Emergency Food Distribution at the Cohoes Visitors Center on Thursday April 2, 2020 in Cohoes, N.Y. The people picking up food were in need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Chibao Miaw, left, and his wife, Lilly Miaw go through face masks and other protective gear outside of UPS after picking up the shipment of boxes on Thursday, April 2, 2020, in Latham, N.Y. Chinese community members have been organizing shipments of the supplies from China to distribute to area hospitals. Many of the masks have been donated by Chinese community members or their relatives in China. The local community has also raised $35,000 to purchase more protective equipment in China and to have it shipped over. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
A sign warning people how to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus is posted at a Washington Avenue Capitol entrance on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, in Albany, N.Y. The Capitol complex has been closed to visitors during the outbreak. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
Columbia High School seniors, from left, Julia Poitras, 18, Brady Hoffman, 18, Jessica Vorst, 17, and Ella Conway practice social distancing as they meet up in the school’s parking lot on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 in East Greenbush.
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
A rainbow made of fabric is seen on a porch of a home on Rt. 20 on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 in Stottville, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
A view of the first non-hospital testing site for COVID-19 at Community Care Physicians on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in Latham, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
A view of the first non-hospital testing site for COVID-19 at Community Care Physicians on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in Latham, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
A view of the Arbor Hill Firehouse on North Manning Boulevard on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in Albany. The firehouse was shut down Monday so it could be cleaned after a firefighter tested positive for COVID-19.
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
Susan Dunckel, owner of Sweet Sue’s Copper Pot, applies a vanilla buttercream icing to a four inch round pound cake on Monday, March 30, 2020, in Troy, N.Y. Dunckel began selling the cakes made to look like a roll of toilet paper on Saturday and Monday was the first day she began filling all the orders. Becky Kendall, background, a recruited baker that Dunckel has brought in to help fill the orders. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
Dan Lundquist shared this collage of rainbows in windows in Albany’s Woodscape neighborhood on March 30, 2020.
Courtesy of Dan Lundquist
Parking lots at Albany International Airport are virtually empty during the coronavirus outbreak on Monday, March 30, 2020, in Colonie N.Y. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
Campsites are closed for the season at Thompson’s Lake State Park Campground on Monday, March 30, 2020, in New Scotland, N.Y. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
A Gulf gas sign displays a price of $2.17 per gallon for regular gas with cash payment on Monday, March 30, 2020 in Colonie, N.Y. Gasoline prices in the Capital Region are down nearly 30 cents a gallon from a month ago, according to AAA Fuel Gauge reports. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
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District Attorney candidate Matt Toporowski throws bottles of hand sanitizer to people outside the New York State Capitol as he campaigns on Friday, March 27, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. People in his campaign made the hand sanitizer out of aloe vera gel and 91% alcohol. Toporowski is endorsed by Working Families and Citizen Action. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
A sign is seen on a car that was in a caravan with District Attorney candidate Matt Toporowski as he threw bottles of hand sanitizer to people outside the New York State Capitol as he campaigns on Friday, March 27, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, left, and Albany County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen hold a press conference to discuss coronavirus in Albany County on Sunday, March 29, 2020, in Albany, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
Albany County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen talks about coronavirus in Albany County on Sunday, March 29, 2020, in Albany, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
Karen Kissinger, of Delmar, uses the app House Party to connect with family and friends across the country during the coronavirus crisis. Share your story about coping with the isolation of the coronavirus outbreak here. You can send the Times Union your pictures by email at [email protected] or by text 518-250-9866.
Courtesy of Karen Kissinger
National Guard troops listen as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks to the press at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, on March 27, 2020. – The New York National Guard, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Javits employees are constructing a 1,000-bed facility at the center, as the state tries to contain the rising coronavirus cases. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP)
BRYAN R. SMITH/Getty
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 27: Members of the National Guard wait the arrival of New York Gov Andrew Cuomo at the Javits Convention Center, which is being turned into a hospital to help fight coronavirus cases on March 27, 2020 in New York City. Across the country, schools, businesses, and places of work have either been shutdown or are restricting hours of operation as health officials try to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty
A face mask is seen on a street near a curb on Friday, March 27, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. Protective face masks have been in short supply since the coronavirus pandemic started. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Members of Albany Police Athletic League (PAL) including Leonard Ricchiuti, Jr., executive director, deliver bags of cheer to some of the homebound seniors at St. Vincent?•s Apartments on Friday, March 27, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. They’re also delivering to Holy Wisdom and St. Sophia?•s, and the South Mall Towers. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
A large group of people are seen playing basketball at the Livingston and Lake Playground on Friday, March 27, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. Many people are still playing basketball in groups and not keeping a safe distance during the coronavirus outbreak. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Department of Recreation employees Casey Craig, left, and Johnny White post signs on the basketball equipment at Washington Park informing the public not to use them on Friday, March 27, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. They told young men who were there alone they were fine. The city is discouraging groups of people playing basketball or other sports that involve close contact. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
J.C. Glindmyer, owner of Earthworld comics, waits on the curb for two customers to drive up on Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Albany, N.Y. Glindmyer started doing curbside delivery to customers on Wednesday, the day new releases come out. He said that customers should email the shop or reach out through the shop’s Facebook page or Instagram account to place an order. Glindmyer said that he opened the comic book store in 1983 and is just trying to get comics into the hands of his customers as they are staying home. The shop will be doing curbside delivery till 6pm on Friday and 5pm and Saturday, then customers should check the website or Facebook page for information on what days they will be open next week. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
Sign for the Jericho Drive-In on Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Bethlehem, N.Y. The Chenette family has owned Glenmont’s Jericho drive-in theater for 26 years but now they are trying to find out if they can once again open next month or even earlier. They’ve been getting calls from longtime customers who want to go to the movies but can’t due to coronavirus. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
George Hillenbrandt of Guilderland practices his chipping to get ready for the golf season at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course on Thursday, March 26, 2020 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
A pedestrian wears a protective face mask as he walks down a street on Thursday, March 26, 2020 in Troy, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
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Shaker Road Elementary first-grader Kennedy Pielo, 7, holds a sign in support of school staff during a school parade on Thursday, March 26, 2020, at the corner of Albany Shaker Road at Osborne in Colonie, N.Y. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
Olivia Dunn Jimmy Taylor are pictured with their baby daughter, Rosalind Olga Taylor, on Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Albany, N.Y. New parenthood has been bittersweet for Olivia and Jimmy ?‘ they’re head over heels for their new baby girl, but heartbroken that their parents have not been able to hold or be near their first grandchild. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
Emma Sawyer, left, general manager of Savoy, volunteers with the Feed Albany program in front of the restaurant Savoy on Lark St. Wednesday, March 25, 2020 in Albany, N.Y Feed Albany is a COVID-19 relief program to help people in need such as restaurant workers who are unemployed due to the coronavirus. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
The Times Union Center displays messages relating to the coronavirus in between concert advertising on Wednesday March 25, 2020 in Albany, N.Y #518RAINBOWHUNT refers to hundreds of local families and businesses that are spreading joy in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak by displaying rainbows in their windows or front yards. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
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People keep their social distance while standing in line for the food pantry at Saint Vincent DePaul Parish Center on Wednesday March 25, 2020 in Albany, N.Y (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Employees from Upstate Pressure Cleaning sanitize and disinfect a CDTA bus stop enclosure along Western Ave. on Wednesday March 25, 2020 in Albany, N.Y They were cleaning all the CDTA bus stops. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Douglas Estadt, owner of Capital Distillery, talks to customers Dave Catalfamo of Albany and his sister Dori Parla of Connecticut who were looking to buy vodka and hand sanitizer on Wednesday March 25, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. Dave and Dori were taking care of their elderly father who is a WWll veteran. Doug has been making hand sanitizer with the “tails” left over when he distills vodka, adding tea tree oil and lavender as well as aloe vera gel. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Mary Bon, minister of music at The First Church in Albany, makes her way past worshipers in vehicles on her way to the pulpit during a drive-in service on Sunday, March 22, 2020, in Albany, N.Y. The church usually begins their drive-in services in May but started them early to give people a place to go for Sunday service where they can still be isolated from each other. Senior minister Mashona Walston said that she plans to continue the services, holding them every Sunday at 10:30am. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
East Greenbush Supervisor Jack Conway stands in an empty part of town hall on Monday, March 23, 2020, in East Greenbush, N.Y. East Greenbush has closed it’s parks and almost all town hall workers are working from home. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Times Union
Police tape is used to mark off playground equipment at the Seventh Street Park on Monday, March 23, 2020, in Watervliet, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
Robert Palmer of Albany is seen sitting in the cab of his truck with pizza and a drink at the Plaza 23 truck stop on Monday, March 23, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. Drivers are finding new hurdles as they try to deliver the goods, including limited opportunities for food and showers. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
The Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services distributed personal protection equipment (PPE) and hand sanitizer to nursing home facilities, senior facilities, medical support staff and emergency responders this past weekend March 22, 2020.
Provided
Tents set up for COVID-19 screening are seen behind Samaritan Albany Memorial Hospital on Friday, Mar. 20, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union)
Jenn March/Jenn March Photography
Schenectady High School U.S. history teacher Mike Silvestri calls his students who he sees are not logged on to Google classroom at his home on Friday, March 20, 2020 in Rensselaer, N.Y. Silvestri’s 14-year-old daughter Zoe, a freshman at Albany High School, is seen working on a paper for school. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Craig Weston, chief pilot of Sky Photos LLC, shared this photo of Albany at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2020. “Not quite normal traffic,” he said.
Courtesy of Craig Weston
A view of the empty lot at the temporarily closed Macy’s store in Colonie Center on Thursday, March 19, 2020, in Colonie, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
Michelle Kern of Rotterdam looks at pistols as she waits to buy ammunition for hunting at Upstate Guns & Ammo store on Thursday, March 19, 2020 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Exterior of the coronavirus testing tent in the rear parking lot at Albany Medical Center on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
People line up outside of Trader Joe’s before they open for the day on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, left, Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, second from left, Deputy Minority Leader, Joseph Griffo, and Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan hold a Senate session on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, in Albany, N.Y. All the other senators voted remotely so as not to be in the chamber next to each other due to the corona virus. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
Trader Joe’s employee Sophia Therodorou dispenses hand sanitizer to customers as they enter Trader Joe’s on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 in Colonie, N.Y. The store was letting 50 people in at a time. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Almost every cart had toilet paper in it as customers leave BJ’s Wholesale Club on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 in Colonie, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
An electronic sign with the message “stay home, stop the spread” is seen southbound on Rt. 787 on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. The sign also rotated with the message “save lives, #flattenthecurve.” (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
A sign is posted on the front door of The Fresh Market on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 in Lathem, N.Y. The sign asks for customers to reserve the first hour between 8 A.M. to 9 A.M. for seniors and other customers who are at risk. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union
Herbert Sodher sits in his living room on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. next to a large photo of he and his wife Cynthia on their wedding day given to them on their 50th wedding anniversary. Cynthia is an Alzheimer’s patient in hospice in Saratoga Springs and Herbert is unable to visit her because of new rules at the hospice that limit visitations to cases only when the patient is close to death. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
YWCA staff members Shara Branon-Bender, left, Angelina Jones, second from right, and Rick Rivera, right, help bring in food to the YWCA delivered by Pete Borys, in truck, of the Food Pantries for the Capital District on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 in Troy, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Albany Times UnionGUILDERLAND — Our Lady of Mercy Life Center and Albany County’s own Shaker Place have the highest number of residents with coronavirus infections in the county, according to data released Wednesday morning.
Roughly, 20 percent of the 1,026 cases in the county are at nursing homes.
The county says 44 residents and 13 employees at the St. Peter’s Health Partners-run Lady of Mercy in Guilderland have tested positive.
At Shaker Place, 46 residents and 23 employees have tested positive. At least two people at the county-owned nursing home have died.
This is how the COVID-19 cases break down at nursing homes in the county:
| Nursing home | Residents | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Shaker Place | 46 | 23 |
| Our Lady of Mercy Life Center | 44 | 13 |
| Teresian House | 27 | 12 |
| The Grand | 22 | 4 |
| Hudson Park | 15 | |
| Daughters of Sarah | 1 | |
| Eddy Village Green Cohoes | 1 | |
| Eddy Village Green at Beverwyck | 1 |
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The county’s list does not include deaths tied to each facility.
County Executive Dan McCoy’s office released the numbers for the private nursing homes shortly before he spoke with reporters Wednesday morning.
The county released the numbers as the death toll from COVID-19 hit 40 Wednesday. More than 1,000 people in the county have tested positive.
He said four more people died from the virus: two men in their 70s, another man in his 90s and a woman in her 70s.
Counties continue to vary in how they report out cases and deaths at long-term care facilities, which fuel nearly a quarter of all coronavirus deaths statewide.
Schenectady County has refused to release data on private nursing home cases. But Rensselaer County has shared information about outbreaks at such facilities in that county.
