18 COVID cases in Albany ICUs; the most in a year

Albany County is reporting its highest number of COVID patients in intensive care in a year.

County Executive Dan McCoy announced Wednesday that there are 18 patients being treated for COVID in ICUs in the county. That’s the most since Jan. 7, 2021.

There are now 119 patients hospitalized in Albany County for COVID.

“And while the situation we’re in is far from ideal, it could be much worse if it weren’t for people doing their part by getting vaccinated, getting their booster shots, wearing masks and practicing social distancing,” McCoy said in a statement. “We need these protective measures to continue as we push through the worst of the pandemic and fight back against the omicron variant.”

McCoy did not say how many of the hospitalized patients – including the ones in the ICU – are vaccinated.

There were 1,166 new positive cases reported Tuesday in Albany County. The county’s seven-day average of new cases is up to 1,072.2 per day.

There was one new COVID death reported on Tuesday. A man in his 80s passed away.