Local health dept. urges caution amid spiking cases

ELIZABETHTOWN | Parts of New York are again experiencing a jump in COVID-19 cases as the state saw an overall 26 percent increase last week, including spikes in several northern counties. After reaching a winter peak of 12,700 cases in January statewide, hospitalizations dropped dramatically and have remained low since. Still, hospitalizations often lag case increases by a few weeks. This week, Essex County moved back into a "medium" COVID-19 Community Level, along with Clinton and Hamilton counties. Franklin county is now at a "high" risk level. COVID-19 Community Levels are a classification system used by the CDC to help individuals and communities make decisions based on local context and their unique circumstances. Counties are coded as low, medium, or high by taking into account COVID-19 hospital admissions, cases, and the percent of available hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients. "The recent increase in cases in parts of New York underscores the need for everyone to remain cautious, especially if they have individual risk factors that make them more susceptible to serious illness," said Linda Beers, Director of Public Health for the Essex County Health Department (ECHD). "Residents who are at higher risk should consider layers of precaution, like limiting close social contact, mask wearing, and planning for testing and treatment should the need arise." Essex County health officials said with the winter surge behind us, many residents are still benefiting from some immunity following infection with omicron and with added protection offered by vaccines and the availability of antivirals, state officials do not anticipate the kind of spikes that have been seen in previous waves. Warding off future illness though hinges on people continuing to get vaccinated and boosted when eligible, getting tested following exposure or when symptoms develop, and staying home with sick, the Essex County Department of Health said March 29. "Remember, children younger than 5 are still not eligible for vaccination and our vaccination rates in youth under 12 remain lower than we'd like. It's important to stick with layered prevention strategies to protect these groups, as well as others who are more vulnerable," Beers stressed. Jessica Darney Buehler, Director of Health Planning & Promotion for ECHD, said "Today, the FDA amended the emergency use authorizations for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow for a 2nd booster in those 50 years of age and older, as well individuals with certain immune conditions. We offer vaccine clinics weekly at our health department and we will incorporate these newest changes to vaccine eligibility as soon as state approvals occur."

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Local health dept. urges caution amid spiking cases

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