CANTON -- St. Lawrence County Board of Health President Andrew Williams warns that an increase of COVID cases during holiday may impact schools, businesses and lead to more local deaths.

Thanksgiving and the holidays are approaching, a wonderful time for families and friends to come together and celebrate throughout the North Country.

“There has never been a more important time for communities to gather as the COVID 19 pandemic has left many isolated and alone,” Williams said.

Unfortunately, St. Lawrence County continues to have a very high prevalence of COVID 19; daily cases have exceeded 100 many days this week. Dr. Williams said SLC hospitals and ICUs remain full.

“There is no indication that the surge of the Delta variant is fading,” he said.

Dr. Williams said the “community risks amplifying the transmission of the virus to a point that the pandemic will jeopardize in-person schooling, threaten the success of our local businesses, overwhelm our local health care system and lead to the unnecessary suffering and death of our residents. Balancing the need for togetherness and celebration with the realities of the ongoing pandemic, efforts should be made to have the safest possible holiday season.”

Residents are encouraged to consider the following measures to help our community enjoy a healthy holiday season:

1. It is not too late to vaccinate - those who have not yet been vaccinated may choose to receive the vaccine to protect themselves and their family. Vaccination remains the most important tool to reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death.

Boosters are available for those who qualify – this may provide additional protection.

2. Postpone visits if you are ill. Be aware of symptoms that may represent early or mild COVID 19 infection. For young, otherwise healthy individuals and those who are vaccinated, COVID 19 can present with very mild symptoms indistinguishable from a common cold or even allergies. Though mild for some, this same infection may be life- threatening for an elderly or at-risk family member you are visiting.

3. Consider testing prior to visiting with elderly or medically vulnerable friends or families. Accurate and fairly rapid testing is widely available in St. Lawrence County at community testing centers. Another option is home-based rapid antigen tests that can be purchased at local pharmacies and stores. Though not foolproof, pre-visit testing may help reduce spread of the infection.

4. Limit gatherings to household members or more immediate family if possible. Larger gatherings are safer if hosted outdoors (which may not be an option based on North Country weather).

5. Handwashing, physical distancing and mask use are other measures that can further reduce the risk of virus transmission.

6. Isolation and quarantine orders must be respected. Aside from the legal implications of violating public health orders, anyone not complying with these orders is putting their family and friends’ health at risk.

If you are interested in vaccination, please schedule an appointment at any of the local pharmacies, call your physician or contact St. Lawrence County public health.

Options for community based testing include:

• St. Lawrence Health: 315-261-6240

• Claxton Hepburn Medical Center: 315-713-6655

• Clifton-Fine Hospital: 315-848-8049

• Community Health Center of the North Country: 315-379-8132

Rapid, home based antigen tests are available for purchase at local pharmacies.

“Making these efforts to increase safety may allow us to all have a healthy holiday season,” Dr. Williams said.