Warren County one-day caseload highest since pandemic started

Health director says sick people are continuing to go to work and gatherings

Warren County reported Wednesday it has 74 new COVID -19 cases — the highest one-day case count in that county since the pandemic began.

“We are continuing to see people going to work when they are sick, going to gatherings and events when they are sick, and that is playing a part in a significant spike in illnesses,” county Health Services Director Ginelle Jones said in a statement. “If you have any symptoms of illness, please stay home and self-quarantine until getting a COVID-19 test.

“If you share a home with someone who is sick or been diagnosed with COVID, please do everything possible to limit your exposure,” she added. “With the infection rates that we are seeing, you should also do whatever you can to limit your potential exposure in public.”

Seven of Wednesday’s cases involved residents of a nursing home, and the remainder were attributed to community spread.

Warren County said it continues to see the majority of its new COVID -19 cases arising from household/family exposures, workplace exposures and indoor events/gatherings.

About a third of the 74 cases Wednesday were in people who were fully vaccinated.

Warren County, home to Lake George and a gateway to the Adirondacks, has the second-highest percentage in the Capital Region of tests coming back positive on a seven-day average at 6.1 percent. Nearby Washington County has a seven-day positivity average that is among the highest in the state, at nearly 9 percent as of Wednesday.

New York’s overall percentage of tests coming back positive on a seven-day average was 2.7 percent Wednesday.

A Times Union review of data last Sunday showed that the number of tests coming back positive in New York’s counties was increasing in rural areas that had lower vaccination rates. However, Warren County’s vaccination rate is strong, with 73.4 percent of county residents having gotten at least one vaccine dose.

We are continuing to see people going to work when they are sick, going to gatherings and events when they are sick, and that is playing a part in a significant spike in illnesses. If you have any symptoms of illness, please stay home and self-quarantine until getting a COVID-19 test.” Warren County Health Services

Director Ginelle Jones