As the North Country experiences a record number of positive COVID-19 cases, testing sites and vaccination sites continue to work on overdrive to provide important resources to keep the community safe. Last week, a new state testing site opened at Plattsburgh State and one opened in Malone a week earlier in response to the high demand for tests, and both Clinton and Franklin counties continue to hold vaccination clinics to help everyone get vaccinated and get their booster shots. There were also several COVID-19 testing distribution events held throughout the North Country last week to get more tests into the hands of people in the region.

There are many people throughout the North Country who needs tests but were unable to attend test distribution events that were held throughout the region last week. Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) is working to make sure that more people can obtain testing kits. “There are people who have been working throughout the pandemic, who have been essential, like those who work at grocery stores and convenient stores who were not able to take the time out of their schedules to wait in line to get a testing kit,” said Assemblyman Billy Jones. “These are people who worked the frontlines every day. It’s important that everyone, especially essential workers, have access to COVID-19 tests to help keep our communities safe.”

This weekend, the assemblyman handed out testing kits throughout the district. On Saturday, the assemblyman also delivered PPE and essential supplies to the United Way of the Adirondacks to make sure that vulnerable populations also have access to the resources they need. The Assemblyman’s office delivered testing kits on Monday throughout Clinton and Franklin counties while the assemblyman was working in Albany. They distributed the testing kits at grocery stores such as Yando’s Big M in Plattsburgh and Price Chopper in Malone. Tests were also distributed to the Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country, MHAB, the Champlain Valley Family Center, the YMCA, Citizens Advocates, Senior Citizens Council of Clinton County, Catholic Charities and several other places as well.

“When you are already struggling to put a roof over your head and food on your tables, or are working hard to stay in recovery, or are responsible for taking care of everyone’s kids while they are at work, the last thing you need to stress over is trying to find COVID-19 testing kits,” Jones said. “These are the organizations that are out in the trenches taking care of the North Country’s most vulnerable and it is the least I can do to make sure that they have COVID-19 tests as positive cases continue to increase across the region.”