Courtesy Warren County
In this chart from Warren County, the cases of unvaccinated people has risen to more than 200 per 100,000 residents in recent days. For the vaccinated, the rate is under 50 per 100,000.
The surge of COVID infections in Warren County has closed government buildings in both the town and village of Lake George.
The town closed its offices effective today, Monday Nov. 22. People doing business with the town will have to call and make appointments or use the dropbox outside the door at 20 Old Post Road to conduct business, the town’s website says.
The Lake George Village board voted today to do much the same at a special meeting that covered many topics. The meeting did not focus on this topic. The village will close its doors next Monday, Nov. 29 and will ask that people call ahead if they need to meet with someone, Blais said. This will apply to all Lake George Village buildings such as the village hall and Visitor’s Center.
“I think we have to be ahead of the curve,” Mayor Bob Blais told the board.
“This week, the town and village both had key employees who have been infected,” Blais added in a subsequent interview. He said they had been vaccinated and are mildly- to moderately-ill, but village leadership knows some employees may be more susceptible to the virus. They cannot afford to have more staff out sick, Blais said.
Don Lehman, Warren County’s director of public affairs, said the numbers of COVID cases in the county are higher now than they were in the thick of the pandemic last winter, but he is seeing good news in that more people are getting vaccinated.
County health officials are not seeing any clusters, Lehman said, and so far have not mandated closures.
The Lake George Village board has decided to shift the public’s participation back to online Zoom meetings, but the trustees themselves may still meet in person since they can keep a social distance in the meeting room.
Thus far, Glens Falls, Queensbury and Bolton Landing are remaining open.
“Masks are required for entry” into Glens Falls City Hall, Michael Mender, the assistant to the mayor wrote in an email. “If anything changes, the media will be notified.”
Victoria La Marque, the executive assistant to Queensbury Supervisor John Strough, said the town made some changes to its operations in recent weeks.
Visitors to the town building and staff who are walking through the halls are required to wear masks. The town has increased how often they clean surfaces. Although the town is still allowing the public into meetings, they also decided to show the meetings via Zoom so that people can participate online if they wish.