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“I wore a mask for year, it’s not the biggest deal in the world. I could get this delta variant, and I could spread the delta variant. So, better safe than sorry, I’m going to wear a mask.”
Children younger than 12 will be allowed to enter Canada with their parents or guardians if they follow public health guidelines.
SUNY is pushing vaccine awareness campaigns and encouraging students and faculty to use vaccine clinics on campus.
The AP finds that other states, including Pennsylvania, report death numbers that mirror the CDC numbers, and count all cases where COVID is either the cause of death or a contributing factor.
Wall Street executives are pushing vaccinated workers to return to work, and that’s good news for vendors and other small businesses in New York that depend on workers from finance.
The 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate for the Finger Lakes region is now down to .40%.
An amendment to the Senate bill designed to prevent “vaccine passports” would prohibit the secretary from ordering mask wearing and other public health measures.
They seek a detailed list of data about the deaths of New Yorkers from COVID-19, including those tracked by the date, county and ZIP code, as well as confirmed cases of coronavirus by age group, race, and ethnicity.
“The emergency is over. It will not be renewed.”
The infection rate for the Finger Lakes region is .54%. That is the second highest rate in the state, behind the North Country, but the positivity rate for all regions of the state is well below 1%.
Experts warn that separation anxiety is a real possibility for pets who got used to having their people around all the time. There is a type of training that helps, but it requires time and patience.
“The pandemic made it clear that traffic is an important source of pollutants for the air that we breathe. But the fact that we have this data will allow us to understand those interactions better.”
Not everyone can immediately go back to normal. Unvaccinated New Yorkers still need to wear masks in public and practice safe social distancing.
The good news is that the local economy is improving and more tourists are coming to town. The bad news is there is a shortage of workers to staff businesses and serve those tourists.
New York is still in the process of reopening from the months-long mandatory lock downs, and Governor Cuomo says there are still dangerous variants of the virus that are spreading in other parts of the world.
Rates in some low-income urban and rural areas are as low as 38.8%. The governor says local governments need to focus on those areas and give it “one more push.”
“New York’s COVID-19 numbers continue to hit record lows and New Yorkers are ready to return to normal.”
“Business owners have seen their work and their dreams just disappear. I don’t know how many thousands of businesses have closed permanently, but it’s thousands, and that’s just a tragedy.”
Acting State Human Services Secretary Meg Snead said parents ultimately have to make their own decisions about what’s safe.
“We need school districts and superintendents to marry civil disobedience with common sense. And that is no masks for the rest of the year.”
Young people and those with no COVID-19 symptoms are among those at risk.
The announcement began a weekend of confusion and anxiety for school leaders, teachers and parents who said they would have to once again reconfigure classrooms and alter other protocols.
“We hit 70%, we will be back to life as normal, or as normalized as you can be post-COVID.”
“There’s still a segment of the population who are apprehensive, who are on the fence, and that’s why this event is going to be critical.”
SYRACUSE, NY (WRVO) – When Corey Fram looks out of his window at work he sees both the American and Canadian flags flying high. “It’s on my property in the United States, but we carry two flags here, a lot of places and that means something to us,” said Fram, the director of the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council. The US-Canadian border remains closed until June 21, when it will be readdressed. Fram said the lack of communication between the two countries throughout the pandemic has really hurt border towns within the Thousand Islands. “There just seems to be no international discussion between the United States on what easing these border restrictions are going to look like,” he said.
The largest U.S. school district will reopen this fall with no option for virtual classes. Chancellor Meisha Porter says 70,000 employees have already been vaccinated, “and we need our children back.”
The coronavirus pandemic has robbed many people of sleep. A specific behavior therapy that has a record of success may help those who are suffering from insomnia.
“Trying to get ten toddlers to keep a mask on is a feat that’s impossible. It’s very, very difficult. We can barely get them to keep their shoes on, let alone a mask on their face.”
“Our goal should be focused on getting the vaccine to those who want it, but not punish those who have made a personal choice.”
78% of New Yorkers want the option, implemented during the pandemic, to be made permanent in New York.
Meanwhile, Republicans in the state legislature say they want lawmakers to rescind a new mask mandate imposed by Cuomo on young children at day care centers.
Governor Cuomo also announced that more than 1 million Excelsior Passes have been issued since New York began the program in March.
Providers’ groups say many long term care homes are on the brink of closure.
“I was running COVID response for this state, so I didn’t want to get COVID, and precautions were taken.”
“My resting heart rate used to be in the upper 50s, low 60s. Just last night, I’m sitting around doing nothing, it’s 115.”
The governor says it’s still OK to continue to wear a mask, if you feel more comfortable doing so.
Since March 2020, the border has been closed to all “non-essential” traffic, and the shutdown has been extended on a monthly basis since then. Currently, the closure remains in effect through Friday, May 21.
Connecticut and Pennsylvania promptly lifted their outdoor mask mandates. New Jersey, and Massachusetts, like New York, are waiting a little longer.
“Even if a younger person tends to be less affected by COVID, they can transmit COVID just as easily as anyone. So, we have to change the mindset.”
“You go to a SUNY school, State University of New York, City University of New York, you must have a vaccine to come back in September. If you must have a vaccine, get it now, if you have to get it anyway.”
If 100% of a firm’s traders are fully vaccinated, they can start sending more to the stock exchange floor. They can eat lunch in their booths again. Masks will be optional in some parts of the floor.
“It is not a cost saving mechanism to put your employees and customers at risk of death.”
“As we set our sights on the fall semester and reopening our campuses, we hope to be able to lift many more COVID-related restrictions in the weeks and months to come.”
“It shouldn’t take lawsuits and court hearings for our struggling restaurants to be heard.”
“The pandemic has laid bare the risks to vulnerable nursing home residents that are inherent in a low staffing business model.”
The bill requires that the state health and labor departments design minimum standards for health and safety during outbreaks of airborne viruses and all infectious disease outbreaks.
All states were to have opened vaccine appointments to all adults this week, if they hadn’t already.
“Over and over, we’ve heard that we’re supposed to be following the facts and science. But as weeks turn into months, and months have now turned into over a year, we watched this administration change the rules without regard to either.”
“School is not just a place where they learn academics. It’s how they learn to get along with other kids their same age — how to navigate and negotiate all that.”
60% approve the Democrat’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and about half (51%) do not believe Cuomo should resign.
While some of his Republican colleagues have said otherwise, the speaker is touting mask-wearing and vaccinations as “important to reducing the spread of the virus.”
In recent days, the state’s COVID-19 indicators have shifted downward, with a decline in the statewide positivity rate compared to numbers seen in March.
Some farm workers are hesitant to get the vaccine because they are wary of interacting with the government.
“At same time, we caution New Yorkers. Don’t get cocky. The disease is still very much with us.”
“The nursing home allowed her to die. I had no idea my mother was being neglected. They lie to you. You call on the phone every day, you’re FaceTiming and they’re telling you she’s fine, she’s great.”
Buffalo’s ballpark underwent several capital projects and adjustments – paid for by the Jays organization – to help it meet Major League Baseball facility standards.
“We want to get past this and the only way to get past this is to get folks, you know, vaccinated.”
Looser restrictions are complicated by a rise in cases fueled in part by more infectious variants.
Cuomo’s office is encouraging faith-based institutions to partner with medical providers to launch local vaccination clinics.
The P.1 variant has been designated a “variant of concern,” which means there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease and the potential for reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines.
Pharmacies were previously only able to vaccinate New Yorkers over the age of 60 and teachers.
She said the proposed $3.6 billion would dramatically increase currently allocated funds for wraparound services. And she believes those are more sorely needed because of the pandemic.
As the coronavirus pandemic turns one, researchers have found women have lost decades of economic progress, but some have also found a new voice in advocating for better family and work policies.
“We know the vaccine is the weapon that defeats this invisible enemy and we are getting more shots in arms than ever before.”
Hundreds of migrant workers have already started coming to the region for seasonal farm jobs. As they work in fields, barns and greenhouses, there is a chance of spreading the coronavirus.
The newest relief package includes$350 billion dollars in aid to states to fund home and community-based services.
Across Quebec, 648,663 people had been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Friday. In Quebec, residents aged 75 or greater have been able to make a vaccination appointment since last week.
Larry Schwartz, a longtime aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, called local officials in New York to gauge their loyalty to the governor. Some local officials viewed it as a threat to cut off vaccine.
New York has, so far, administered 6.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, with about 10% of the state now fully vaccinated.
While no longer required, the New York State Department of Health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution.
For four months last year, Dr. Angela Chen only saw her child through a window. A year into the global pandemic, the view is a different, but it’s impossible to forget the memories of last spring.
“The supply is increasing, and if the supply is increasing we can increase our distribution levels.”
The data have shown that restaurants can operate safely and in accordance with strict health protocols at 75% capacity. New York City restaurant capacity will remain at 35% capacity.
“Over time, we can get what we think is a pretty good trend estimate for what’s going on.”
State officials insisted Thursday that the edits were made because of concerns about accuracy, not to protect Cuomo’s reputation.
The action comes as Cuomo is embroiled in scandals over his nursing home policies during the coronavirus and allegations that he sexually harassed former staffers.
State officials say there’s a need to ensure equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Movie theaters in New York City are reopening after nearly a year. And the decisions has consequences for the entire globaly output of Hollywood.
While COVID-19 has greatly affected the economy, it was already in flux before the pandemic hit.
Under this latest plan, educators and staff will not be moved into Phase 1a, which would make them eligible for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Black Americans with addiction face “pervasive and continuing systemic racism” and often struggle to gain access to treatments that prevent fatal overdoses.
Over three million people have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in New York, according to the state, which is now administering more than 100,000 shots per day.
“These temporary emergency powers were granted as New York was devastated by a virus we knew nothing about. Now it is time for our government to return to regular order.”
Restaurant and bar owners have pressured state lawmakers for months to give their struggling businesses more help.
“It will help protect our most vulnerable clients who rely on the staff and volunteers to provide them with nutritious food and critical services.”
Currently, about 30 percent of Pennsylvania’s K-12 schools, which serve half the total student population, are learning entirely remotely.
After one year of pandemic, over 38,000 New Yorkers have died of the virus so far and more than one and a half million were sickened.
The policy at group homes has been to require those facilities to admit residents discharged from the hospital regardless of their COVID-19 status.
“We had time to prepare for this and that’s why everybody’s frustrated. It didn’t have to be this chaotic and it didn’t have to be this unorganized.”
Caregivers react to a update of state restrictions that will allow visitations in long-term care facilities.
Cuomo’s job approval ratings, which were high in the summer and fall of 2020, have now dropped back to pre-pandemic levels, with 49% saying that he’s doing a good job in office.
Visitors to nursing homes will continue to be banned in counties where the virus rate is 10% or higher, or in any facility where someone has contracted COVID-19 within the past 14 days.
Health systems believed they were following state orders when they used vaccines that were supposed to be set aside for people awaiting their second doses.
“For generations, our teachers, guidance counselors, nurses, students, and school staff have been sent into buildings where they can get brain damage because of chipped paint, or cancer because of asbestos.”
“If you change the six-foot rule and it was only three feet with distancing, or four feet, we could bring back more in-person learning, because of the physical space.”
The legislature gave Cuomo the powers nearly a year ago, in early March of 2020. But now, many say, it’s time to end them.
Arcades and other indoor family entertainment centers can open with 25% capacity starting March 26.
“This is a very big and aggressive effort to address vaccine hesitancy in the Black community.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James said Amazon refused to obey coronavirus guidelines that would protect its warehouse employees from infection.
“What if they have some type of reaction while they’re in Binghamton or driving home, or if it’s a resident in our community who has no access to transportation?”
True allergic reactions to vaccinations are extremely rare, but two New York women did experience this after receiving their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Allergists were able to safely administer their second vaccine doses by following a special procedure.
“Thousands of restaurants throughout New York state will close if we don’t get them some immediate relief.”
In a rare concession, Cuomo said the state was wrong to stonewall lawmakers and members of the media on that data, saying it created a void for disinformation and “conspiracy theories.”
Chinatown has faced both a spike in anti-Asian violence during the pandemic and mounting economic challenges. One of those challenges is the smaller celebrations for the 15-day Lunar New Year festival which began last Friday and usually brings lots of visitors and revenue.
“With the holiday surge now in our rear-view mirror, we must keep taking steps to further re-open the economy safely and responsibly.”
“Even just the appearance of being not being forthcoming with information is a liability in this case, and honestly I don’t understand why.”
Social media networks and online research skills give some younger people an edge, even as older people overall face higher risk of hospitalization and death.
“Crucial information should never be withheld from entities that are empowered to pursue oversight. This was always about getting the truth and allowing information to guide our response.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio spent the better part of three hours on Thursday morning asking state lawmakers to empower localities to fight the pandemic and distribute vaccines, and raise taxes on ultra-wealthy New Yorkers.
“If you look at the data, the whole issue of vaccine, equity… the vaccine isn’t at this point, really, getting to the most vulnerable in an equitable fashion.”
“Everyone should take it when it’s their turn, because that’s how we get everyone back to work and see our families and friends safely together.”
The funds would allow schools to upgrade things like HVAC and ventilation systems. It would also offer funds to help expand access to reliable, high-speed broadband, in districts that can’t afford it.
“If there’s things need to be codified in law, mandated in law that actually secure people’s safety and well being, that’s what we want to do.”
Cuomo, who was on a call with the Biden administration Tuesday morning, said the federal government is planning to boost the state’s vaccine supply by 5% over the next three weeks.
The numbers confirm a report by State Attorney General Tish James, who said the state undercounted nursing home hospital deaths by 50%.
They include cancer, heart conditions, COPD, chronic kidney disease, Type 1 and 2 diabetes, moderate to severe asthma, and people with intellectual and development disabilities, organ transplant recipients, and people who are morbidly obese.
“We used to have 10-17 people in a class and now we still struggle to get 6-8 people in each class.”
Only county health departments will administer vaccines for those with underlying conditions, they won’t be available at several large state run sites.
“We are opposed to a one-shot federal fund replacing needed state dollars for schools.”
The December stimulus from Washington D.C. included about $1.3 billion in housing assistance for New York, with the bulk of the money left to the state to distribute.
The attorney general’s report, released on January 28, found that the health department was undercounting the number of nursing home residents who died by 50%.
“This is the future that you’re seeing, in how packages are going to be delivered both business to business and have packages going from businesses to consumers.”
“You have to know where you went wrong in order to correct things.”
The latest government figures show a net loss of 140,000 jobs in December. What may be surprising is that all those jobs were held by women, especially women of color.
“We have to recognize the very long history of injustice and misuse that really sets the context for why community members feel the way that they do.”
A state probe last week found that Zucker could have underreported these deaths by up to 50%.
The steepest decline in sales tax collections happened during the peak of the pandemic, when sales tax collections dropped by about 27% statewide.
New Yorkers who have appointments at centers that closed because of the storm will receive new appointments by email or text.
“There’s a lot of ways that scammers can use this information.”
“The declination rate among blacks in hospital settings where they are hospital workers, is much, much higher than it is among whites or Latinos or Asians.”
If you’re lucky enough to get engaged over a COVID-era dinner date, you’ll be able to get married as early as March 15.
“I believe everybody did the best they could. I believe the state department of health, they gave their best guidance and made the best decisions on the facts that they had.”
The state will be launching a new advertising campaign targeted at communities of color with the intention of boosting vaccine recipients among those populations.
The pandemic has left many Americans craving safe social interaction. For one group of New Yorkers, outdoor Zumba classes bring a little joy.
“Clearly, some facilities were not prepared to handle outbreaks through early and effective training or staffing.”
Residential gatherings will still be capped at 10 people, and certain restrictions on restaurants, like a capacity limit and 10 p.m. curfew, will also remain in effect statewide.
“Now is as good a time as any to make a plan to quit smoking. Because the last thing you’d want to see is complications from COVID-19.”
“Now, the states will know what they’re getting every week for the next three weeks, and we’re getting 16-17% more.”
“The state needs to step up and help us ensure that this industry is able to continue on and prosper. It is the lifeblood of New York state.”
Governor Cuomo said the big problem across New York now is that hospitals can’t seem to vaccinate its own workers.
The Cuomo Administration issued a controversial order on March 25th 2020, that required nursing homes to allow hospitalized residents sick with COVID re-entry into the homes.
Many senior citizens entered their golden years with more debt than previous generations, and now they’re struggling financially as they try to provide care for an ailing relative during the pandemic.
Polls have shown that vaccine skepticism is relatively high in Black communities.
The state says local health officials should consider whether there has been a more transmissible variant of COVID-19 identified in the area, and local rates of COVID-19 transmission.
“We just need to keep the arrows pointed down, but, never get cocky with COVID.”
“I kept seeing these questions over and over: How do I run for school board? How do I help candidates run for school board?””
State figures report up to half the staff in some areas of New York are refusing the vaccine. That might lead to mandated vaccinations.
“New York, and America have more to do in terms of educating the people about the vaccine and doing a campaign to encourage New Yorkers and Americans to get the vaccine.”
“We’re going to act swiftly and decisively to provide direct federal aid so state, county and local governments can save tens of thousands of vital public service jobs.”
“The federal administration essentially opened up a floodgate while cutting our supply — leading to confusion, frustration, and dashed hopes.”
The Governor’s disclaimer recommends people eligible for the vaccine directly contact their local pharmacies, doctors’ offices and hospitals.
A Kaiser Family Foundation report released last week found rural residents are among the most hesitant about vaccines.
First responders, people 75 and older, educators, and grocery store workers can now begin to schedule their vaccine appointments. But the wait to get the shot could take a while.
Republican state lawmakers were vocal in their criticisms, saying the Cuomo administration was unprepared.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, bowing to pressure from local governments, is agreeing to expand the state’s vaccination sites for front-line health care workers.
“We saw in the first big wave here in New York that the people who bore the brunt, the sacrifice and health problems, were the people who had to go to work.”
“It would be one thing if he was making split-second decisions about procurement (of medical supplies), but I think we have moved well beyond the time when that resolution was necessary.”
They said Cuomo and the state health department are not providing data that they need and are leaving them out of key meetings.
“You pull up. We verify who you are. You roll down your window. We swab you. Just a little nasal swab, not invasive. We then take that specimen with the requisition and we send it to our laboratory.”
“This is really a very important step forward in fighting COVID and in fighting any other kind of illness.’
“Our hospitals and health care systems continue to be significantly challenged.”
The governor said the man, in his 60s, works in a jewelry store, N. Fox Jewelers, in Saratoga Springs and that three other employees have also tested positive for the virus.
“It’s nowhere near where we were last year at this time. We’re sitting roughly about 70% off where we were in 2019.”
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said testing for COVID-19 was more readily available in richer, whiter communities in the state. He added: “This can’t happen again, and it can’t happen with this vaccine.”
Cuomo says the underperforming hospitals will face sanctions, including a fine of up to $100,000 if they don’t use up all of the vaccine they have in store by the end of the week.
A business that traditionally provided line standers for Broadway shows and other events, now serves people who don’t want to wait hours outside a health clinic.
During the week of Christmas, four staff members and 21 inmates at the Steuben County Jail tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
“2021 is going to be literally what we make of it. We’re coming out of probably the most traumatic year that we’ve had in decades.”
There are currently 3,914 COVID-19 cases among inmates, parolees, and corrections officers at state prisons, while 2,156 people have recovered.
A video featuring unmasked attendees went viral last week on Twitter. On Wednesday, three individuals who were at the party were reported to have tested positive for the coronavirus.
“There will be a New Year, I can’t say that it won’t be worse, because now, I don’t know.”
“I don’t think an anti-vaxxer would have a good claim if they were fired for refusing to take a vaccine.”
“We recognize that visitation is a vital part of family reunification and therefore, we will resume it when safe to do so.
While adults can make a distinction that changes in tradition are for the greater good, kids don’t have that level of cognitive awareness.
New York state’s positivity rate for the coronavirus jumped to 8.3%, according to the latest numbers released Monday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
There is “universal support” overall, but some disagreement on specifics.
Hospitalization rates are steadily rising. More than 6000 New Yorkers are in the hospital with COVID-19, and more than 1000 are in intensive care.
Child care centers in Pennsylvania are facing a dark winter. With coronavirus cases surging, and government relief aid far reduced from the early days of the pandemic, providers are struggling as they navigate how to stay afloat financially while keeping the children they serve and their staffs safe.
“If we do not change the trajectory, we could very well be headed to shutdown, and shutdown is something to worry about.”
“I know how horrific it was. It was a modern day battlefield. What you do, showing up every day, you really are heroes.”