COVID-19 cases have increased dramatically across the North Country over the past few weeks with Franklin County reporting the highest number of daily new cases last week. Every county in the North Country is currently under a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are in desperate need for state resources to help them address the rise in cases, especially as the omicron variant continues to rise.

At the height of the pandemic, the state operated two vaccination sites in the North Country and various testing sites. Since the state closed the vaccine clinics, folks across the region have found difficulty scheduling vaccine appointments, especially as the FDA approved the booster shot and the vaccine for children aged 5-11.

There have been similar difficulties scheduling COVID-19 tests since the state sites were closed where many have found it nearly impossible to get tested in a timely fashion. Due to issues with health insurance companies not covering tests authorized under standing orders, hospitals and medical providers require doctors notes to obtain tests. Since doctor notes are often difficult to obtain, many find Walgreens to be the easiest way to get tested but often must wait 7-10 days for an available appointment. Others are spending upwards of over a hundred dollars for molecular or antigen rapid tests from a pharmacy.

In September, November, and last week, Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) wrote letters to the Governor asking for state testing and vaccination sites to be reopened. “State testing and vaccination sites are being opened across the state and the region continues to see a surge in COVID-19 cases, yet there has been no discussion from the State to reopen testing and vaccination sites in the North Country,” said Assemblyman Jones. “Constituents have repeatedly contacted my office asking for help getting the vaccine or booster shot or to find a testing site and one constituent who is a cancer survivor told me that she had to travel all the way to Albany to get her booster. The North Country stands ready to receive additional resources for vaccination and testing residents to respond to the rise in COVID-19 cases,” Jones said.