St. Lawrence County Public Health reports 50 new COVID cases on Thursday, Aug. 26. New cases continue to rise at a rate approximately 5 times higher than just a month ago.

Total number of confirmed positive cases to date in the county is 8,307. Active cases are 289.

Health officials said 7,921 patients have been released from isolation since the start of the pandemic.

Current hospitalizations for COVID-19 are 21.

Ninety-seven people in the county have died from COVID since the epidemic began.

Public Health said it has performed a total of 356,865 tests for the disease. The percent tested versus total population stands at 318%. The percent positive of tested individuals is 2.3%, 0.4% lower than the region average.

The percentage of fully vaccinated people in St. Lawrence County is 50.9. The positivity rate is 5.48 percent.

COVID-19 updates will be provided daily, Monday-Friday until further notice, Public Health said.

The FDA-approved Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older.

The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

St. Lawrence County Public Health strongly urges and recommends that all persons wear a mask indoors in public spaces, in accordance with recent CDC guidance.

Public Health is holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics every Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 80 St. Hwy 310, Suite 2, Canton. To make an appointment, call (315) 229-3452 or click the links below.

Registration is encouraged but not required. Walk-ins are accepted.

To register for Monday, Aug. 30 visit https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?OpID=C9229B8...

For appointments on Wednesday, Sept. 1 visit https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?OpID=C93A417...

A number of COVID-19 back-to-school Pfizer vaccination clinics have been scheduled for anyone age 12 and older. Registration is encouraged but not required. Walk-ins are accepted.

The schedule follows:

• Thursday, Aug. 26, 4PM - 6PM, Parishville-Hopkinton School Back-to-School Event, 12 CR 47, Parishville. To register visit https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?OpID=C976781...)

• Thursday, Aug. 26, 5PM - 7PM, Clifton-Fine Central School Back-to-School Event, 11 Hall Ave, Star Lake. To register visit https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?OpID=C9D8358...)

• Wednesday, Sept. 1, 3PM - 6PM, Canton Central School Back-to-School Event, 99 State St., Canton. To register visit https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?OpID=C9769DD...)

• Thursday, Sept. 9, 3PM - 5PM, Edwards-Knox Central School Back-to-School Event, 2512 CR 24, Hermon. To register visit https://apps2.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?OpID=C9C7189...)

Vaccinations are also available at local pharmacies.

Homebound individuals interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, call Public Health at 315-386-2325. Testing is by appointment only.

Call the hotline numbers below between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. if you have symptoms or feel you should be tested:

• St. Lawrence Health System, 315-261-6240

• Claxton Hepburn Medical Center, 315-713-6655

• Clifton-Fine Hospital, 315-848-8049

• Community Health Center of the North Country (Canton), 315-379-8132.