ALBANY COUNTY — Once again, federal funding is enhancing food benefits for New Yorkers this month.

New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for February.

All households participating in SNAP — including those already at the maximum level of benefits — will receive a supplemental allotment later this month, bringing in roughly $230 million in federal funding into the state’s economy, according to a Thursday release from the governor’s office.

“The pandemic continues to exacerbate food insecurity throughout New York State, which is reflected by the large number of households that continue to rely on the lifeline that is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in the release. “These vital food benefits are playing an integral role in helping New Yorkers put food on the table, providing much-needed relief as we continue to take aggressive measures in our fight against COVID-19.”

The emergency assistance supplement is provided to households that do not ordinarily receive the maximum allowable benefit per month on SNAP. Those households already near or at the maximum benefit level — $835 for a household of four — will receive a supplemental payment of at least $95.

SNAP households in all counties outside of New York City should see these benefits posted between now and the end of the day Thursday, Feb. 17.

Emergency supplemental benefits to SNAP households receiving less than the maximum monthly benefit amount started in April 2020. The federal iad is currently expected to extend into May.

Last year alone, roughly $2.5 billion in supplemental benefits were distributed. Nearly 1.6 million households totaling more than 2.7 million New Yorkers received the supplements in December.

SNAP benefits are also playing an integral role in New York’s economic recovery, with every federal dollar invested generating up to $1.54 in economic activity, according to a federal study quantifying the impact of SNAP on the United States economy. The study also found that an additional $1 billion invested in new SNAP benefits could support roughly 13,560 jobs nationwide.

Diocese ends mask mandate

The Diocese of Albany announced on Thursday that it will no longer mandate masks be worn in diocesan churches and offices.

However, the diocesan notice advised, “Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are strongly encouraged to continue to wear a mask during the distribution of Communion.”

The announcement followed Governor Kathy Hochul’s lifting of the mask-or-vaccination requirement for businesses, effective Feb. 10.

A statewide masking directive remains in place in areas Hochul termed vulnerable, and also where large numbers of people gather and contact tracing would be difficult.

These include state-regulated health-care settings and adult-care facilities and nursing homes; correctional facilities; schools and child-care centers; homeless shelters and domestic-violence shelters; and buses and bus stations, trains and train stations, subways and subway stations, planes and airports.

While Hochul lifted the state mask-or-vax mandate, she is letting counties, cities, and businesses make their own requirements if they so choose.

The diocesan notice said further that, if a city or county imposes a mask mandate, parishes are expected to act in accordance with applicable local law or regulation. “Parishes may continue to impose stricter requirements as they see fit,” the notice said.

The Diocese of Albany will continue to follow the mask requirements for schools.

Newest numbers

On Thursday morning, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy announced 158 new COVID-19 cases, continuing the downward trend since the Omicron peak.

The county’s seven-day average of new daily positive cases is now down to 183.1. 

Albany County’s most recent seven-day average of cases per 100,000 is now down to 49.5 and Albany County’s average percent positive rate is 8.6 percent.

McCoy reported that there were seven new hospitalizations since Wednesday, and there are now 67 county residents hospitalized with the coronavirus — a net increase of two. Twelve of those hospital patients are currently in intensive-care units, unchanged from Wednesday.

Albany County’s COVID-19 death toll remains at 522, McCoy reported on Thursday morning while the governor’s office reported an additional death on Thursday afternoon.

As of Wednesday, 80.7 percent of all Albany County residents had received at least the first dose of the vaccine, and 73.3 percent were fully vaccinated. The first-dose vaccination rate for the county’s population 18 and older is 89.2 percent.