Staff Report

SOUTH ROYALTON — The Royalton Memorial Library is closed for five days due to staff being exposed to a positive COVID-19 case and a lack of back-up coverage.

The library, located at 23 Alexander Place in South Royalton, plans to reopen next week, according to a Front Porch Forum post from the library’s director.

The library closure comes as health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated against winter illnesses.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services issued a news release on Thursday urging residents to talk to their health care providers about shots to protect them against the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, as well as the viruses that cause the flu and COVID-19. People most vulnerable to serious illness should they contract these viruses, such as older adults, infants, children, pregnant people and people who are immunocompromised, are especially urged to consider vaccination.

Two new RSV vaccines are now available for adults age 60 and older, and a new RSV vaccine for infants and young children is expected within weeks.

This year’s flu vaccine is available and recommended for everyone ages 6 months or older. Clinics have been scheduled at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and in other locations around the Upper Valley. An updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available later this month.

DHHS also recommends that people do their part to prevent spreading illnesses by washing their hands, covering mouths and noses when sneezing or coughing, and staying home when sick.