From a press release: Warren County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Rachel Seeber issued the following message Tuesday, Dec. 14 relative to New York State's Mask or Vaccination requirement for public places:
"Even before the recent mask or vaccination mandate from New York State, Warren County has requested and continues to request that residents and visitors wear a mask in indoor public settings.
There is enormous strain on our Warren County Health Department and other county agencies due to demands related to COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, contact tracing and mandated isolations and quarantines, and we consequently lack the resources to effectively enforce New York State's new mask or vaccine mandate.
Additionally, Warren County Sheriff Jim LaFarr has rendered the opinion that local law enforcement does not have the ability or authority to enforce the mask mandate from the State of New York that was imposed effective
Monday, Dec. 13. I am continuing to urge residents and visitors to be considerate to our businesses and community organizations as these entities navigate this new state mask mandate despite the realistic difficulties for local agencies enforcing this mandate.
Our goal is to keep our local businesses and organizations open to the public and keep their customers, visitors and employees safe. We have appreciated our partnership with New York State and the Aviation Mall mass vaccination and testing center that continues to serve thousands of New Yorkers weekly."
Her statement is similar to ones made by county leadership in the region.
The county also released its daily COVID update. Among the findings:
From the press release: Warren County Health Services reported 65 additional COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, along with 58 recoveries. Health Services is monitoring 435 active COVID cases as of Tuesday, 414 of them involving mild illness.
Seventeen (17) Warren County residents are hospitalized as of Tuesday. One (1) is critically ill, and the remainder have moderate illness. Four (4) are moderately ill outside of the hospital.
13 of the 17 who are hospitalized are unvaccinated, and the critically ill person is unvaccinated.
The majority of new cases in Warren County where the source of infection can be identified continue to stem from family/household exposures, workplace exposures and indoor events/gatherings.
Presume you will be exposed to COVID-19 when going into a crowded public setting or at a workplace where you interact closely with others, and please take precautions accordingly. Please follow New York State mask/face covering guidelines if venturing into public places that do not have vaccine mandates.
Thirty (30) of Tuesday’s cases involved individuals who had been fully vaccinated. Cumulatively as of Tuesday, 1,675 of 45,610 fully vaccinated Warren County residents have tested positive for COVID-19. To date, 1,587 of 1,675 had mild or asymptomatic infections, while 68 became moderately ill, two (2) seriously ill and two (2) critically ill. Sixteen (16) passed away, all of them elderly and/or with extensive health issues, seven (7) of them at nursing homes.
Warren County Health Services recommends that Warren County residents:
- Do not go to work or elsewhere into public when feeling ill. Quarantine until you are able to get a COVID-19 test.
- Get a COVID-19 vaccination, and a booster dose, as soon as you are eligible. Call Health Services at 518-761-6580 or go to https://bit.ly/36LRv5e for options.
- Wear a mask or face covering in public indoor places per New York State guidelines. New York State's new COVID-19 requirements related to masks or vaccination for public spaces is in effect. Find details here: https://on.ny.gov/3dHrZkf.
- If diagnosed with COVID-19, please consult a physician or urgent care center to discuss treatment, as early treatment is imperative in many cases.
Warren County’s weekly chart comparing infections of vaccinated and unvaccinated persons is attached.
VACCINE UPDATE
The New York State mass vaccination site at Aviation Mall in Queensbury has reopened as a vaccine/testing site. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, including boosters and pediatric vaccines, are being offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This site will offer COVID-19 testing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Find full details here: https://bit.ly/3xDoUuI.