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Fireworks to celebrate vaccinations

If you use some imagination, this sequence of stacked-up explosions might look like a colorful ice cream cone as it lights up the sky during Tupper Lake’s Fourth of July Fireworks display in 2020. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

LAKE PLACID — There is expected to be a fireworks show in Lake Placid tonight to celebrate the state hitting a new threshold for vaccinations against COVID-19.

The fireworks show — to celebrate New York state reaching 70% of adults at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19 — is slated for 9:15 p.m. tonight, according to Code Enforcement Officer Michael Orticelle. The fireworks are expected to be visible from downtown Lake Placid and set off from the same property off of Mirror Lake Drive where the Fourth of July fireworks are usually launched from.

It was unclear on Monday whether the state planned to set of fireworks elsewhere, or just in Lake Placid, to celebrate meeting the benchmark. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office did not respond to a request for comment by deadline Monday. The state Olympic Regional Development Authority was expected to release more information on the fireworks in Lake Placid ahead of the show, but was working out the details on Monday. The Lake Placid Village Board of Trustees is expected to have an emergency meeting today to authorize the fireworks.

Cuomo said Monday that once the state hits that 70% threshold for vaccinations, “most remaining COVID restrictions will be lifted.”

“If you haven’t already, I encourage you to get your COVID-19 vaccine so that you can fully enjoy all that this beautiful state has to offer with your loved ones this summer,” Cuomo said.

Altogether, more than 20 million vaccine doses have been administered across the state. As of Monday, 61.3% of adult New Yorkers were completely vaccinated and 69.9% had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Including New Yorkers under 18 years old, 57.8% of the state’s population has been at least partially vaccinated, and 50% of the population has been completely vaccinated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The state of Vermont became the first state in the country to hit 80% of residents at least partially vaccinated on Monday, according to Vermont’s Seven Days newspaper. In response, Gov. Phil Scott lifted all remaining COVID-19 restrictions there.

Residents of Essex and Franklin counties can call 1-833-697-4829, visit covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov or www.vaccines.gov/search to find out where to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

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