COVID surge hits Essex Center again

ELIZABETHTOWN | A second major COVID cluster has been identified at the Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Elizabethtown, echoing events of last summer when the virus was responsible for the deaths of 16 residents. The center reported a flurry of COVID cases in October, but the cluster announced Wednesday appears to be more serious, with four deaths reported this week. Those are in addition to a death reported in late November. "Essex County Health Department became aware of an emerging outbreak at Essex Center late in the day on Tuesday, Dec. 7," the agency said in a statement. "Including singular cases identified very late in November, the Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing outbreak includes 28 cases. Currently, there are 20 active cases among residents of the facility, and four cases among staff." A death of an unvaccinated individual unrelated to the Essex Center was also reported by the department. The Essex Center cluster punctuates a significant increase in COVID infections, attributable to the more contagious Delta variant and an ebbing of the effectiveness of vaccines administered in the spring. "Many of these individuals (who are becoming sick) are 65-plus and were one of the first groups eligible to be vaccinated last winter," said Linda Beers, director of the Essex County Health Department. "We know that immune response is not as robust as we age, meaning protection from the vaccination for older individuals isn't as strong as it is for younger age groups. Couple that with overall vaccine effectiveness starting to wane after several months, we are now seeing increases in hospitalizations for vaccinated folks who are 65-plus, underscoring the need for boosters." Jessica Darney Buehler, director of health promotion and planning for ECHD, said that the highest risk for contracting and dying of the disease is among the unvaccinated. But those who were vaccinated early in the year and have not been boosted are starting to show a greater risk as well. "The rate of disease is much lower for those who received their booster shot," Buehler said. The CDC advises that everyone age 18 and older get a booster shot either when they are six months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna series or two months after their initial J&J vaccine. The Essex County Health Department offers all three vaccines. Appointments can be made by going to the website at: www.co.essex.ny.us/health/make-an-appointment or by calling 518-873-3500. Overall, the department said Essex County had 595 cases of COVID in November, a third of which were associated with schools. Still, neighboring jurisdictions where vaccination rates are lower are in even worse shape. "Essex County is probably in the best condition of any North Country county," said Essex County Chair Shaun Gillilland at the Dec. 6 supervisor's meeting. Because of the surge, some North Country patients are being cared for in Vermont and New Hampshire, he said.

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COVID surge hits Essex Center again

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