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A few new COVID cases in Essex, Franklin counties

Essex and Franklin counties recorded a few new COVID-19 cases over the weekend, but the region’s numbers remain below those of most of New York state, which is consistently doing better than the U.S. average.

On Sunday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office reported two new positive test results in Essex County and one in neighboring Franklin County. Franklin County Manager Donna Kissane reported two active cases countywide, both new positive test results. State and county results do not always agree exactly.

On Friday, the Essex County Health Department reported three new cases of COVID-19: two in the town of North Elba and one in the town of Moriah. Three of those people were hospitalized, the department said.

Only one of those three was related to an outbreak that emerged last month at the Essex Center nursing home and rehabilitation center in Elizabethtown, the Health Department said.

Essex County reported five active COVID-19 cases on Friday. Of those, three were in North Elba, one in Moriah and one in the town of Elizabethtown.

Since the pandemic began, Essex County has had 10 deaths from COVID-19, all Essex Center residents. The county has documented 196 total cases, including 46 nursing home residents, 18 prison inmates and six non-residents no longer in the county.

The state says Franklin County has had one COVID-related death, but that county’s Public Health agency says it has not had any. The county has documented 59 total cases.

The governor’s office said 0.86% of Saturday’s COVID-19 tests statewide came back positive, continuing the state’s steady showing of good numbers compared with many other states. In the North Country region, the state said the positive test percentage ranged between 3% and 5% between Thursday and Saturday.

“Our numbers continue to look good, and our infection rate is again below 1%,” Cuomo said in a press release. “Our progress is thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers who came together and rose to the occasion like no other community.

“But this pandemic is far from over, and with flu season approaching it’s especially critical we remain vigilant: Wash your hands, wear a mask, socially distance, and above all, stay New York Tough.”

(Correction: An earlier version incorrectly said 0.86% of Saturday’s COVID-19 tests statewide came back negative; that was the positive percentage.)

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