Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Franklin County Public Health Services Reminds All to Beware of COVID-19, Colds, and Flu

The weather is changing and as we start to spend more time indoors, Franklin County Public

Health Services (FCPHS) reminds everyone - vaccinated and unvaccinated – that we are empowered to help stop the spread of COVID-19, colds, and flu by following the safety guidelines we’ve practiced since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic:

•Continue to wash your hands frequently with soap for at least 20 seconds. (Sing the

Happy Birthday song twice.) Hand sanitizer can be used if soap and water are not available.

•Clean high touch areas in your home on a regular basis. (Think fridge and freezer door handles, light switches, and sink and shower controls.)

•Reduce gathering sizes and visit outdoors whenever possible.

•Wear a mask. People may choose to wear a mask at any time. When choosing to wear a mask, make sure it covers both your nose and mouth. Wearing a mask in indoor public spaces is especially important when people have symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with colds, flu or COVID-19. It’s also a good way to avoid germs when in crowded spaces.

•If you feel sick, stay home.

•If unvaccinated, please get vaccinated! Vaccines for flu are available at our Monday and Wednesday vaccination clinics. Call 518 481-1710 for a flu vaccine appointment and for up-to-date information about our COVID-19 vaccine availability. Vaccines are also available at your local pharmacy Vaccines.gov - Find COVID19 vaccine locations near you and provider’s office. Unsure about what vaccines you need? Talk to your health care provider.

•Stay up-to-date on local flu and COVID-19 information and conditions:

-COVID.gov - Find COVID-19 guidance for your community

-Key Facts About Influenza (Flu) | CDC

More helpful COVID -19 information:

COVID-19 tests are available:

- At-home COVID-19 test kits are available for about $25 at local pharmacies and online.

- People who have Medicaid may get tests for free. Ask your local pharmacist.

- Four at-home tests per household are available for free from the federal government at

COVID.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests. Save money and order your tests today.

- You may also get tested for COVID-19 at your provider’s office, local hospital, or Urgent

Care. Call them for details on how to set up a testing appointment.

If you test positive - Call your primary health care provider to report your positive case and get

advice on how to care for yourself and those around you while you are positive. (FCPHS no

longer collects reports of or monitors COVID-19 cases.)​

If you need an isolation affirmation, please visit Isolation | Department of Health (ny.gov) for

information on how to obtain one.​

For more information on COVID-19 isolation or exposure, please Isolation and Precautions for

People with COVID-19 | CDC.

​If you have a non-urgent COVID -19 question or concern, please call 518 481-1599 and leave a

detailed message, including your name and phone number, and someone from our FCPHS office will return your call.