UPDATE: January 12, 2022
Covid Test Kits and KN95 Masks Available at Town Hall
The Town has received a limited supply of Covid-19 home test kits and KN95 masks for Ghent residents, organizations, and businesses. We ask that you read the CDC guidelines for testing, which are provided below.
If you determine you meet the requirements for a test now, please contact Town Hall. (518) 392-4644, [email protected] or [email protected].
Thank you.
CDC Testing Guidelines
Who should get tested:
- People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
- People who have come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be tested to check for infection at least 5 days after they last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. The date of the last close contact is considered day 0.
- People not fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine who are prioritized for expanded community screening for COVID-19.
- People not fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine who have been asked or referred to get testing by their school, workplace, healthcare provider, state, tribal, localexternal icon or territorial health department.
Who does not need to be tested:
The following people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 do not need to get tested if they do not have COVID-19 symptoms:
- People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered, as long as they do not develop new symptoms, do not need to get tested.
Columbia County Dept of Health Covid-19 Vaccine Information Main page
https://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com/news/new-covid-19-vaccine-information/
GHENT TOWN HALL INFORMATION
Please be advised that Town Hall is open to the public Monday-Thursday 9:00am-2:30pm under the following conditions inline with requirements related to COVID-19:
- Whenever possible, for Building Inspector, Assessor or Supervisor, please try to contact by phone or email in order to set up an appointment to meet.
- When entering Town Hall please be aware that face covering is required, and that social distancing is in effect. Hand sanitizer will be provided for use and located in the lobby area, additionally there is hand soap in the bathrooms for use.
- For safety reasons the Town Clerk may keep her glass partition closed or partially closed while assisting the public.
- If you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or had COVID-19 symptoms or if you have tested positive or had symptoms within the past 14 days, or if you feel ill before entering Town Hall PLEASE DO NOT ENTER. You may call or email the Town Clerk, Building Inspector, Assessor or Supervisor for assistance instead.
- We are required to have every visitor to Town Hall sign-in by printing your name and contact information (such as a phone number) to protect against COVID-19 transmission.
- Lastly, once in-person meetings resume in the future, you may be required to submit to a thermal temperature scan before entering the meeting.
CORONAVIRUS TESTING SITES
- New York Testing Site, University at Albany. By appointment only at 888-364-3065 or www.covid19screening.health.ny.gov;
- WellNow Urgent Care, 446 Fairview Avenue, Hudson. 518-267- 3496. May be out-of-pocket costs;
- Columbia County Department of Health. 518-828-3358. Check www.columbiacountynyhealth.com for scheduled walk-up and drive-thru clinics;
- Greene County Department of Health. 518-719-3600. By appointment only on Wednesdays from 5:00-6:30 p.m.
- Community Care Physicians, Latham. 518-863-3600. 12-7 p.m.;
- Priority 1 Urgent Care, Guilderland. 518-867-8040;
- Whitney Young, Albany. 518-465-4771;
- Rite Aid, Colonie. 518-267-3496;
- CareMount Medical Urgent Care, Rhinebeck. 844-484-6564;
- Rapid Testing, Albany. 518-240-1456. Insurance is billed;
- Walgreens Rapid Testing, Albany. 518-426-2976.
COVID-19 ALERT APP
COVID Alert NY is the official New York Exposure Notification System app created by the New York State Department of Health in partnership with Google and Apple.
- Our free smartphone app will be available for download for users 18+ on the Google Play and App Store starting October 1, 2020.
- After downloading the COVID Alert NY app, you will be able to use your phone in the fight against COVID-19 and get exposure alerts, without compromising your privacy or personal information.
- COVID Alert NY is part of New York’s Contact Tracing Program and will enhance our efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and keep New Yorkers informed.
COVID Alert NY helps you get timely updates on COVID-19.
- COVID Alert NY alerts users if they have come into close contact — within 6 feet for at least 10 minutes — with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, even before the app user may experience symptoms.
- Knowing about a potential exposure allows you to self-quarantine immediately, get tested, and reduce the potential exposure risk to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and others.
- COVIDAlertNYusesBluetoothtechnologytoestimateproximitytootherphoneswithenabled Exposure Notification Service technology developed by Apple and Google.
COVID Alert NY protects your privacy and personal information.
- The app does not track your location or movement, use GPS, location services, or any movement or geographical information.
- The app will never collect, transmit, or store your personal information and is completely anonymous.
- Users must explicitly choose to turn on exposure notifications–and can turn it off at anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is COVID Alert NY?
COVID Alert NY is the official New York Exposure Notification System app. This free smartphone app is available for anyone 18+ who lives or works in New York. After downloading the app, you will be able to use your phone in the fight against COVID-19 without compromising your privacy or personal information. COVID Alert NY uses Bluetooth technology to alert users if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The app also allows user to log their symptoms daily, so they can check back and review at any time. And it keeps users up to date on the fight against COVID-19 in New York.
How can I download COVID Alert NY?
COVID Alert NY is available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store starting October 1st.
Why is COVID NY important?
COVID Alert NY alerts app users of potential exposure, even before they may experience symptoms. Knowing about a potential exposure allows you to self-quarantine immediately, get tested and reduce the potential exposure risk to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers or fellow students.
Is my privacy protected?
Yes. The COVID Alert NY app protects your privacy and does not collect or share any personal information that can identify you. The app does not use GPS navigation, cannot be used to track you and it doesn’t know if you should be self-isolating or quarantining. At all times, you are in control and remain anonymous.
How does COVID Alert NY work?
As an app user goes about their day, the COVID Alert NY app uses Bluetooth to sense when another person with the same app comes within 6 feet. Your phone exchanges a secure random code with the other phone to record that they were near.
If the app senses that you’ve been within 6 feet of someone for more than 10 minutes, the app adds their phone’s random code on a list of close contacts.
For those who test positive for COVID-19, a Case Investigator from the county health department will ask if the person is willing share the app’s list of “close contact” codes to help protect other people. Sharing your list is secure and private. The app never reveals who you are to anyone.
Each day, the list of codes for “confirmed cases” is sent to every phone that has the app. The app compares its own list of close contact codes to the list of confirmed cases. If there’s a match, the app displays a COVID alert. Using these lists of anonymous codes, the alert is kept private. No one ever knows who the COVID Alert comes from.
How can I learn more about COVID Alert NY?
Additional information can be found at ny.gov/covidalerts.