Washington, Warren, and Essex counties and others are reporting an influx of visitors from New York City and the metropolitan area.

“I’m aware of three or four families from the metropolitan area that are here,” said Lake George Mayor Robert Blais.

There are a number of people also seeking short-term rentals through Airbnb and other services, though county leaders are asking listings to be taken down.

“To have a lot of people coming from downstate, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and traveling up here, thinking this will be safer up here makes people apprehensive,” said Warren County Board of Supervisors Chairman Frank Thomas.

Compared to downstate, there are not a lot of confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

“We want them to come. We love visitors; that’s the business we’re in here in Lake George,” said Blais. “But because of this crisis, we want them to be aware we don’t want to increase our chances of exposing ourselves to the people coming from high-impact areas.”

Health officials say seeking refuge from more densely-populated areas will not result in faster tests or better care. A lot of medical facilities are already stretched thin, addressing local needs and assisting heavily impacted communities downstate.

“We’re afraid the virus will spread and kind of overwhelm our ability to deal with it,” said Thomas.

The county health departments would like to speak with anyone who has already traveled north and are asking them to self-isolate for at least two weeks.

“It’s a very difficult situation for us that depends on a great influx of people from another area during a certain time of year when school is out,” said Blais. “We’re very apprehensive about the season.”

County leaders are hoping visitors take these requests seriously, as it’s part of an effort to keep the level of infection to a minimum.