News Blog

A Message to Second Home Owners and Short-Term Rentals

Posted: 3/25/2020

Share this post:
A Message to Second Home Owners and Short-Term Rentals

By Parker Hamblin
CVB Marketing/ Community Coordinator

We understand that some people will travel to their summer homes in the Lake George Area to get away from high-density areas that are exposed to many cases of COVID-19. If you are already here — or plan to travel here — there are some things we ask you to consider.

1) Be smart and pack any health supplies that you have available including toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and Lysol spray. With relatively small communities, many grocery stores, large and small, have been dealing with shortages of essential supplies.

2) If you have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, be honest and practice safe-precautions to prevent other people around you from contracting the virus. Avoid touching surfaces, keep safe distances from neighbors and other people as the corona virus travels from person to person through touching, coughing and sneezing. Many studies show that COVID-19 is an airborne virus in some environments.

3) Rest stops and other public facilities are highly trafficked destinations for travelers. Avoid touching surfaces, wandering around or playing on playgrounds. There are still workers keeping the facility clean and goods stocked in the machines. We want to make sure that our workers and visitors are safe from exposure to COVID-19.

4) Be considerate of people around you. Anyone you walk by could be of high risk to COVID-19. Practice social distancing and staying at home per the request of the CDC and New York State. Social gatherings of any size are not permitted by the state.

5) Even if you do not show symptoms of the virus, you could still be a carrier. A large amount of people traveling up could result in the spread of the virus resulting in more cases. Hospitals in our area will be dealing with the extra traffic due to this pandemic with little to no testing for COVID-19. If you have been exposed, consider staying home in self quarantine, traveling to other communities does not reduce the risk of exposure and is putting residents, first responders as well as medical and essential staff at risk. Our region is not a refuge to the virus. This is a global pandemic. We as individuals play an important role in how this pandemic will result. Be smart and follow guidelines set by government officials.

6) Avoid nonessential travel per the request of the CDC. White House officials stated recently that people traveling from NYC to new locations need to self quarantine for 14 days as you may not know that you have contracted the virus. Stay home, save lives.

Statements from Local Government

Warren County Board of Supervisors Chairman Frank Thomas and the Warren County Health Department issued a statement today requesting that seasonal homeowners who have come to the county contact the Health Department, and short-term rental companies like Airbnb temporarily halt rentals in the county.

Click here to visit the Warren County website to read the statement.

Washington County’s Chairman of the Board, Samuel J. Hall is calling upon visitors, weekenders, second-home owners and short-term rental owners and those with rental listings to refrain from visiting Washington County during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Click here to read the statement from Washington County.

Essex County states it has seen an "alarming influx of travelers from outside the County who are staying at second homes and short term rentals, like Airbnb and Vrbo. While you may be seeking refuge from the larger amount of cases downstate, you must be aware that this is a global pandemic. You and your families have a critical role to fulfill in halting the rapid spread of this virus, which can be dangerous and even fatal to the elderly and people with underlying health conditions."

Click here to read the statement from Essex County.




Back to News Blog