Saratoga Springs Department of Public Safety

01/13/2022

As a mom of 4, my kids are in preschool, elementary school and middle school - so we have gone through a LOT of COVID-19 home testing kits over the last few months with the increase in exposures and infections. The home tests are convenient and give super fast results, but it's the cost that seriously begins to add up, especially with a bigger family.

🔹 However, in happy news, starting January 15, the federal government is requiring private insurances and group health plans to cover the cost of home testing kits - each covered person is eligible to get eight kits for free every month. In my house that means 48 home tests a month can be covered at no cost, saving me what would have been almost $600 per month!

➡ Here's how it works - if the kit is purchased at a person's pharmacy, for example, it should be as easy as checking out since insurance information is already on file. There is no deductible or co-pay cost, they are 100% free.

➡ Alternatively, if you buy home kits at a store that is not in your insurance's network, your insurance company will reimburse the purchase after a claim has been submitted - you are eligible for the same # of test kits per month, reimbursable at a cost of $12 per test.

🔹Make sure you are buying only FDA approved home testing kits: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics-euas-antigen-diagnostic-tests-sars-cov-2

🔹People with Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs are already required to get them for free. If someone has Medicare, they should check with their plan to see if it's covered.

🔹Lastly, the County will continue to give out free home tests as well, check here to see if they have something scheduled for your municipality:
https://www.saratogacountyny.gov/covid/covid-19-testing/self-test-kits/

12/17/2021

Find a vaccine or booster at a local pharmacy •Seniors: Call (518) 693-1075 (Weekdays 8:00am – 4:30pm, Weekends 8:00am – 2:00pm) for booster appointments •All Eligible Individuals: Use the CDC Vaccine Finder •All Eligible Individuals: Visit the NYS Vaccine Site

12/17/2021

Thank you for sharing this vital message Charlie Samuels ❤️

12/17/2021

Messages from the school district and the Saratoga Springs Police Department regarding the Tik-Tost post circulating nationally and school safety>>

As a school community, student and staff safety is our number one priority. Recently, the district learned of TikTok posts referencing school violence circulating nationally that are not credible. The district has not received a report that connects these threats in anyway with our schools, but we have communicated with local law enforcement on this matter to be proactive.
We encourage parents and guardians to speak with their children about the importance of remaining vigilant about threats and to speak up if they see or hear something. In addition, please take this opportunity to talk with your student about the appropriate use of social media and the seriousness and resulting consequences of making any kind of threat.
Thank you to our school community members who have reached out regarding these social media posts. The district continues to embrace a "See Something, Say Something" campaign to raise awareness about the importance of being vigilant in our school community. We all have a role in keeping our students and community safe.

~Saratoga City School District

12/14/2021

❗PLEASE READ ❗

**A message from Angelo G. Calbone, President & CEO of Saratoga Hospital**
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We’re at Another Critical Moment

Everywhere you turn, you hear or read about COVID-19. Whether you’re discussing variants; vaccines, boosters, and mandates; state restrictions on non-essential surgeries; hospital capacity challenges; or healthcare worker shortages, there are plenty of opinions. But they all pale in comparison with this fact: People are dying.

As of December 13, Saratoga Hospital had a total of 970 COVID-19 admissions and 134 deaths. Those numbers are getting worse every day.

Not one of those deaths was of a previously healthy vaccinated person. All were either unvaccinated or were at higher risk because of pre-existing health conditions. And that's the point: People who are vaccinated and are admitted to the hospital have serious underlying conditions that make these patients more vulnerable to serious illness and complications from COVID-19—even death. Otherwise-healthy patients who are hospitalized with COVID-19 have one thing in common: They are not vaccinated.

We are losing vital, previously healthy community members to this disease for one reason only: They are not vaccinated. We have lost unvaccinated healthy men in their 20s, unvaccinated middle-aged mothers and fathers, unvaccinated sons and daughters.

The bottom line: The vaccine is saving lives.

A less obvious danger: waiting to seek care. This has been an issue since the start of the pandemic, especially for those with chronic health conditions—the very people who most need to keep routine health appointments. It’s true that we’re seeing more patients than ever in our Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centers and that the state Department of Health is requiring limits on non-essential procedures. But your health still comes first, and we are prepared to care for you. Here’s how we can manage this together:

Don’t put off routine care. If you have questions or concerns, call your healthcare provider. Use our convenient telehealth option to help determine the level of care you might need. Reaching out early may help prevent you from becoming seriously ill, and that will benefit all of us. You will be less likely to require Emergency Department or hospital care and will help reduce the demand on stressed hospital resources and staff.

If you need more immediate care, again, don’t delay. Come to our Emergency Department if you have chest pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, dizziness, severe abdominal pain, or a severe injury. For less serious symptoms, call your healthcare provider or come to one of our three Urgent Care Centers. Acting quickly will prevent you from becoming more seriously ill and requiring an extended hospital stay.

If you've been discussing surgery or another procedure with your provider, it’s likely that procedure will still be scheduled despite the recent state order to limit non-essential procedures. We have been anticipating—and preparing for—this order for weeks. We always assess staff and resources and allocate them to meet the needs of our community. We are reviewing procedures on a case-by-case basis and expect most to move forward. If you have a procedure planned, your care team will contact you.

I am asking for your help, support, and patience as we confront an unparalleled strain on our resources. I also want to emphasize how fortunate we are to have such a remarkable, dedicated team. Despite nearly two years of unprecedented, nonstop stress and frustration, our staff still come to work each day determined to take care of our patients—and each other. I am in awe of our team and their commitment to this community, and I am honored to work with them as they care for neighbors, friends, and family members.

One more request: get vaccinated, including a booster. If you are vaccinated, thank you. If you are hesitant about the vaccine, please discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider. I also urge you to take every safety precaution, especially wearing a mask at indoor gatherings, regardless of your vaccine status. Do it for your sake and for those around you. Their lives may depend on it.

Stay safe.

Angelo G. Calbone
President & CEO, Saratoga Hospital

12/12/2021

What does tomorrow's new indoor mask mandate mean for businesses and to anyone going inside a public space, business or venue?

First and foremost it is a reminder of how critically important it is for our hospitals to survive this wave of COVID, with enough beds for those who are sick or injured - our collective public health relies on it, no matter who you are and what your politics are, we need doctors and nurses and hospitals to stay alive and well.

So as announced on Friday by NY State Governor Kathy Hochul, masks will be required to be worn in all indoor public places unless a business or venue currently has a vaccine requirement in place - starting tomorrow, December 13, 2021, through Saturday, January 15, 2022 – at which time it will be reevaluated.

🔹For business owners - if you have no vaccination policy in place for your business, everyone must wear a mask inside - employees, customers or anyone who comes into your space.

🔹 For business owners who have a vaccination policy in place, with documentation of a full vaccination, individuals can be inside without a mask & are in compliance.

🔹 Posting signage with the new mandate information on the entry to your business or venue is an easy first step, thanks to Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, who has these signs all ready to go and online - just click, print and tape >>>https://growthzonesitesprod.azureedge.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/505/2021/12/IndoorMaskMandate_12102021.pdf

🔹 For anyone going inside a public business or venue, you may either have to wear a mask or provide proof of vaccination, I would have both handy or at a minimum, a mask. If not, you risk being denied entry.

🔹 How and who is enforcing this mandate? Per NY State, Saratoga County Public Health Department is responsible for enforcement, which could include civil penalties and fines of up to $1000. The City's Public Safety Department does not have any role in enforcement, it is only being handled through County Public Health Departments in New York.

🔶 For the latest COVID data, testing and vaccination information, go to the County's COVID-19 dashboard >> https://www.saratogacountyny.gov/covid/covid-19-data/

Stay healthy Saratoga, you've done an incredible job handling this pandemic over the last almost two years, you know what to do and how important protecting our health as well as supporting our local business community is - stay strong, be well and reach out to us with any questions or contact Saratoga County Public Health Dept at 518-584-7460.

12/08/2021

Great news!

Omicron variant vaccine research from Pfizer-BioNTech appears to show the Pfizer Covid vaccine booster dose can provide strong protection against omicron.

12/07/2021

Albany Med, Glens Falls, Saratoga to limit non-essential surgeries

The state Department of Health announced late Monday which hospitals need to limit...

12/04/2021

**Per Supervisor Tara N. Gaston**
On 1 December 2021, there were 289 residents who received a diagnosis. This is the highest 1-day case total since the start of the pandemic; yesterday there were 216 new cases.

Additionally, there are 53 residents currently hospitalized with COVID-related illness - only 1 of which has completed the vaccine series including a booster. While may not prevent all cases, it is clear that here in it IS working to prevent serious illness and death.

Saratoga TODAY Newspaper is reporting that the County will be announcing a testing site at a press conference on Monday. I have not received any information about such a conference or the subject of it, but will share information as soon as it is available to me.

12/03/2021