Jefferson County is the latest to declare a state of emergency due to rising COVID-19 numbers. However, it will not be like last time, as the county said it wants to keep business and schools open and will not legally enforce any mask requirements.
But the county is asking its residents to think about others by getting vaccinated, socially distancing and wearing masks everywhere.
“Our public health system right now is on the brink,” Jefferson County Board of Legislators Chair Scott Gray said at a press conference Wednesday.
It’s official.
Jefferson County has declared a state of emergency as a result of COVID numbers continuing to climb.
We will have much more on what exactly that means in terms of masks, gatherings & more, but I fficials say 15% are boosted & that’s not enough.@SPECNews1CNY pic.twitter.com/LHmWhm3Ana
— Brian Dwyer (@BrianDwyerTV) December 8, 2021
COVID-19 numbers are on a path not seen before and he said it’s only a matter of time before it’s just all too much.
“The glass is full. This is not a preemptive measure. This is a call to action right now for our community,” Gray said.
The county declared a state of emergency Wednesday, calling on all residents to vaccinate, socially distance and mask up. In fact, masking is now required in public indoor venues. However, unlike last time, it won’t be legally enforced.
Businesses can deny service, but that’s as far as it will go.
“This is a call to action for our community to respond accordingly and do what is necessary to make sure that our health care system continues to operate as best it can,” Gray said.
The county said about 12% of those tested this week were positive for COVID-19.
That’s about 65 or so per day, on a rolling seven-day average.
Jefferson County’s state of emergency does indeed come a mask requirement, but a requirement that will NOT be enforced in anyway. Businesses are allowed to require and deny entrance, but no outside enforcement. Schools will remain open despite being over threshold. @SPECNews1CNY pic.twitter.com/BjibpXzKnJ
— Brian Dwyer (@BrianDwyerTV) December 8, 2021
With only about 15% bolstered, as vaccines begin to wear off, hospital officials fear it won’t be long before it is just about impossible to keep up with bed demand.
“If I look back at this same time a year ago, we had less than 10 patients in the hospital. We didn’t peak last year until January. If we stay on this trajectory through January, we could be overwhelmed,” said Samaritan Medical Center CEO Thomas Carman.
As for schools, the declaration won’t change much of anything, despite many schools having guidelines that call for them to go remote once COVID-19 reaches a certain level, levels the county are well past.
“We want kids in school. We want kids in sports. We want all your activities to go on. What we’re asking you to do is to do it correctly and do it with masks on,” Gray said.
In the grand scheme, the county said it hopes this declaration will serve as a wakeup call for not only those living in the region, but also those in Albany who have not been answering calls for help as much as is clearly needed. However, the reopening of the testing site in Watertown on Washington Street was important.
“We have to identify the cases quicker. That is what is going to slow the spread down. Identify them, get them isolated as quickly as possible. That helps slow the spread,” Gray said.
The state of emergency lasts for 30 days. After that, the county can let it expire or it can vote to extend it.
Gray said if people need any more proof that vaccines and masks work, they need look no further than Fort Drum, where both are mandated.
Gray said Fort Drum’s COVID-19 numbers are much lower than the rest of the region — and it’s not even close.
