Moran campaign photo (2021)
Dillon Moran
Saratoga Springs City Council members discussed the state of COVID-19 in the community before unanimously passing legislation to outfit city employees with KN95 masks at their board meeting, Tues. Jan. 18.
Saratoga County Supervisor Tara Gaston told the council the percentage of positive COVID tests has declined from over 20 percent to about 18 percent recently, though that number is a bit suspect given that some people test at home, and not everyone reports the results.
Still, she said, the number of filled beds in the ICU department of Saratoga Hospital has been dropping.
Only half of Saratoga County's fully vaccinated residents have gotten booster shots, she said, warning that the pandemic while decreasing is still a threat to public health.
Commissioner of Accounts Dillon Moran said people should not argue over vaccinations.
“We [city employees] should model our behavior by getting tested and wearing masks,” he said.
In a unanimous decision, the city council adopted a resolution to mandate KN95 masks to be worn by all city employees for use during working hours. This updates a previous mask mandate that did not require the specific mask, Moran explained in a later text. [This is an update and correction to the story, and we apologize for the error. –Editor]
This resolution was followed up by another to assign $50,000 in the general fund for COVID safety purchases for city hall employees.
Any money that is left after making the purchase goes back to the general fund.
KN95 masks reduce the amount of dust or virus particles a person breathes in by approximately 95 percent, according to the University of Maryland at Baltimore. The special masks provide better protection and reduce the spread of the virus from the wearer better than other masks.
The regulatory standard for COVID-19 protection, KN95 face masks, ensure efficiency only through a tight seal with minimum leakage.
Moran said the city does not have the authority to mandate the use of KN95 masks on the public but can enforce it when it comes to city employees, unionized and non-unionized.
“They work to stop the spread of Covid-19,” Moran said.
The city of Saratoga Springs is planning another COVID-19 rapid test giveaway tentatively scheduled for Sat. Jan. 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. with a vehicle lineup from High Rock to Maple Avenue. Walk-ins will also be served.
Two test kits will be distributed to all adults; Moran said kits for children have been given by the schools.
“These kits are only available to citizens of Saratoga Springs,” Moran said. He said anyone without proper identification will be turned away since the county allots the tests to localities specifically.
Correction: We have changed this story in a number of locations. We apologize for the mistakes. Among them: the original post listed the $50,000 incorrectly and attributed it improperly. Also, the mask mandate has been in place for months, but the new regulation requires the N/KN95 mask. Other, smaller changes have been corrected as well.