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County warns against gathering as holidays approach

The virus is spreading faster here, now, than it was at this time last year

Public health officials are again urging caution when gathering for the holidays as the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to rapidly rise.

Franklin County Public Health issued a warning against large gatherings on Tuesday. Public Health Director Kathleen Strack said in a statement that gatherings are spreading the virus around the county, and that people should take extra precautions or reconsider large holiday gatherings.

“‘Tis the Season,” her statement began, referencing the fact that the county saw a spike in coronavirus cases at this time last year, too, because of the holidays.

“High numbers of COVID cases are occurring from seasonal and other celebratory gatherings in Franklin County,” the statement reads. “Franklin County Public Health Services encourages you to get tested before and after gatherings.”

Strack urged residents on Tuesday to take precautions to reduce the spread. Someone with symptoms should self-isolate and get tested. People who test positive should stay away from others. Those who are unvaccinated should quarantine if they come in contact with someone who tested positive. She also recommended everyone wear masks, even those who are vaccinated and not having symptoms.

The county also recommended limiting the number of people at household gatherings if physical distancing cannot be maintained.

County numbers

Franklin County Public Health reported 43 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, and 44 people were released from mandatory isolation. The total number of active cases in the county was 233 as of Tuesday.

Eight of the new cases are inmates at Franklin Correctional, a state prison in Malone.

Tupper Lake still has a high number of cases — 53 people were in isolation with COVID-19 and 63 people were in precautionary quarantine as of Sunday, according to FCPH. Harrietstown had 33 confirmed cases and 40 people in quarantine as of Sunday.

The Essex County Health Department on Monday reported 90 new COVID-19 cases since last Wednesday. The number of active cases is now 124, down from 202 active cases at this time last week.

Most of the new cases reported Monday are in the towns of Ticonderoga and Chesterfield, but seven of them are in the town of North Elba, eight are in Jay, four are in St. Armand and three are in Wilmington.

The Essex County Health Department reported its 40th COVID-19-related death on Friday.

Adirondack Health spokesman Matt Scollin said Tuesday that the company’s Adirondack Medical Center hospital in Saranac Lake hasn’t had any COVID-19 related hospitalizations in a week.

A year of difference

The rise in cases recently mimics the rise in COVID-19 cases this area saw at this time last year. At that time, public health officials attributed the rise in cases to holiday gatherings.

This year, the case numbers are much higher. For example, there were four times as many active COVID-19 cases in Franklin County on Tuesday as there were on Nov. 16, 2020, and nearly nine times as many cases in Essex County on Monday as there were on Nov. 15, 2020.

The virus is spreading faster here, now, than it was at this time last year. Last year, in the first 16 days of November, Franklin County Public Health reported 114 new cases of COVID-19. That was before any COVID-19 vaccines were authorized for use in the U.S., back when some travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines for travelers were still in place, and while New York still required masks to be worn indoors. That was also before the highly-contagious delta variant became the dominant strain of the coronavirus in the U.S.

This year, in the first 16 days of November, the department reported 348 new COVID-19 cases.

Last year, in the first two weeks of November, Franklin County recorded its first two COVID-19-related deaths. In the year since, 23 more people have died from the illness in the county.

Last year, in the first 16 days of November, the Essex County Health Department reported 31 new cases of COVID-19. This year, the county surpassed that number in the first two days of this month. In the first 16 days of November this year, the department reported 433 new COVID-19 cases.

Forty people have now died of COVID-19 related illnesses in Essex County, more than double the number of deaths at this time last year.

Vaccine clinics

Now that children 5 and older are able to get the Pfizer vaccine, there are several clinics planned in Franklin and Essex counties for them to get their shots.

A clinic at Petrova Elementary School in Saranac Lake is scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saranac Lake Central School District Community Schools Liaison Erika Bezio said this clinic is for 5- to 18-year-olds and no booster shots will be available.

“Students can come from any district. No Boosters available at this clinic,” Bezio wrote in an email. “Pre-registration available, walk-ins welcome.”

She said people can call her with questions at 518-897-1467.

A vaccine clinic for children 5 to 11 will be held at the Lake Placid Horse Show Grounds on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Registrations for this clinic can be made at https://bit.ly/32afI5x.

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