App NEWS
Broome County sees spike in COVID-19 cases
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County officials attributed the rise in cases to residents socializing over Halloween weekend.
coronavirus
Watch Live: Where are we in the fight to tame the COVID pandemic?
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The world is approaching the second anniversary of a cluster of cases of respiratory illness traced to the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Where are we now in the COVID-19 pandemic, and where are we headed? A panel of experts convened by the NPR and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health will discuss the latest developments during a live-streamed event from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12.
Government
New York Governor Warns Of Health Care Staffing Shortage, Hospital Bed Capacity
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“The biggest challenge for our hospitals is not…the beds. Just like last year, it’s staffing. Staffing is now what we need.”
Education
PA Governor Promotes Vaccinations For Some State Employees, But Nixes A School Mask Mandate
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Nine states, including New York, have implemented new mandates aimed at curbing the spread of the more contagious variant indoors.
Finger Lakes Campaign Hopes To Increase Vaccine Confidence
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To better understand the concerns of Black, Hispanic and rural residents, the group conducted a series of interviews and focus groups.
Health
Canada Opens Border To Non-Essential Travelers, But It’s Complicated
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While Canada has taken a major step in reopening its border, the U.S. has not yet offered the same welcome to Canadian travelers.
Health
PA Trying Fairs, Texts And Door-Knocking To Raise Vaccination Rate. Success Is Slow Coming.
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Nearly 64% of Pennsylvania adults are fully vaccinated, a small increase compared to July
App NEWS
‘A Complete Surprise’: State Health Department Has No Reopening Guidance For New York Schools
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“There is an urgent need for timely advice and supervision flowing from the State Department of Health to local and school officials.”
Government
Cuomo: New York Needs Stronger Vaccination Policy
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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.”
Government
Fully Vaccinated Americans Can Cross Canadian border Starting In August
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Children younger than 12 will be allowed to enter Canada with their parents or guardians if they follow public health guidelines.
Education
SUNY Can’t Mandate COVID Vaccines Until They’re Fully Approved By FDA
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SUNY is pushing vaccine awareness campaigns and encouraging students and faculty to use vaccine clinics on campus.
Government
Governor Defends, Explains New York’s Undercount Of COVID Deaths
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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 Bosses Want Their Workers Back. That’s Good For The King Of Falafel
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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.
Government
COVID-Related Hospitalizations Drop To New Low In New York State
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The 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate for the Finger Lakes region is now down to .40%.
Government
PA Republicans Vote To Ban Vaccine Mandates At Schools And Limit Health Secretary’s Authority
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An amendment to the Senate bill designed to prevent “vaccine passports” would prohibit the secretary from ordering mask wearing and other public health measures.
Government
Fiscal Watchdog Seeks COVID-19 Data From State Health Department
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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.
App NEWS
Governor Cuomo’s Emergency Pandemic Powers End Today
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“The emergency is over. It will not be renewed.”
Health
New York’s COVID-19 Positivity Rate Falls Below .30%
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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%.
App NEWS
Ready For A Post-Pandemic life? Your Dog May Be Dreading It
|
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.
Environment
What Researchers Are Learning About Air Pollution And The Pandemic Shutdown
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“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.”
Government
With COVID-19 Waning, Cuomo Retains Emergency Powers
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Not everyone can immediately go back to normal. Unvaccinated New Yorkers still need to wear masks in public and practice safe social distancing.
Uncategorized
Lifting COVID Restrictions Opens The Upstate Economy
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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.
Government
Governor Cuomo Celebrates COVID-19 Milestone By Lifting More Mandates
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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.
Government
Cuomo Says New York One Step Closer to Vaccination Milestone
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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.”
Government
New York In Tie For The Lowest COVID-19 Infection Rate In The U.S.
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“New York’s COVID-19 numbers continue to hit record lows and New Yorkers are ready to return to normal.”
Economy
New State Grant Program To Help Struggling Small Businesses In New York
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“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.”
App NEWS
Despite ‘A Little Bit Of Anxiety,’ PA Officials Say Most Activities Are Safe For Young, Unvaccinated Kids
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Acting State Human Services Secretary Meg Snead said parents ultimately have to make their own decisions about what’s safe.
App NEWS
Astorino: Parents, School Administrators Should ‘Show Civil Disobedience’ on Masks
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“We need school districts and superintendents to marry civil disobedience with common sense. And that is no masks for the rest of the year.”
App NEWS
Study Finds Increased Risk Of Serious Stroke Among People Who Recently Suffered COVID-19
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Young people and those with no COVID-19 symptoms are among those at risk.
App NEWS
New York Governor Revises School Mask Policy: Yes Inside, No Outside
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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.
Government
Cuomo: Most COVID-19 Restrictions Will End Once Vaccination Rate Hits 70%
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“We hit 70%, we will be back to life as normal, or as normalized as you can be post-COVID.”
Health
Historically Black Sorority Work To Eliminate COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy
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“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.”
binghamton
Despite Border Closure, Thousand Islands’ Tourism Persists
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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.
NYC Schools Chancellor Says Her Message To Parents Is Simple: Schools Are Safe
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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.”
Health
Pandemic Was A Sleep Thief; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Help
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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.
App NEWS
After Backlash, New York State Changes COVID-19 Child Care Guidance
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“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.”
Education
Bill Would Bar PA School Districts From Requiring COVID-19 Vaccinations
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“Our goal should be focused on getting the vaccine to those who want it, but not punish those who have made a personal choice.”
Food and Farms
Should To-Go Alcohol be Made Permanent in New York After COVID-19? Restaurants Say Yes
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78% of New Yorkers want the option, implemented during the pandemic, to be made permanent in New York.
Government
Governor Cuomo Offers More Incentives To Freshly Vaccinated New Yorkers
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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.
Government
New York Extends Expiration Date For COVID-19 Excelsior Pass
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Governor Cuomo also announced that more than 1 million Excelsior Passes have been issued since New York began the program in March.
Government
PA Nursing Homes, Hard Hit By Pandemic, Seek American Rescue Plan Funds
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Providers’ groups say many long term care homes are on the brink of closure.
App NEWS
Cuomo Defends Early Pandemic Preferential COVID-19 Testing for Family
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“I was running COVID response for this state, so I didn’t want to get COVID, and precautions were taken.”
Health Experts Focus More On ‘Long COVID’ And Potential Health Effects
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“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.”
App NEWS
New York State Adopts CDC’s New Face Mask Rules
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The governor says it’s still OK to continue to wear a mask, if you feel more comfortable doing so.
Full Reopening Of US-Canada Border Urged For July
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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.
App NEWS
New York Keeps Its Mask Rules; Other COVID Rules Will Ease Wednesday
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Connecticut and Pennsylvania promptly lifted their outdoor mask mandates. New Jersey, and Massachusetts, like New York, are waiting a little longer.
Government
Over Half of New York Adults Are Fully Vaccinated
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“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.”
Education
SUNY, CUNY To Require COVID Vaccinations
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“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.”
I Came Close To Dying: Wall Street’s Most Photographed Man Is Ready For Normalcy
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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.
App NEWS
As HERO Act Is Signed Into Law, Supporters Celebrate Its Worker Protections
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“It is not a cost saving mechanism to put your employees and customers at risk of death.”
App NEWS
SUNY Campuses Allow Fully Vaccinated Folks To Go Mask-Free Outdoors
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“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.”
App NEWS
Restaurants Say They Need More Help to Survive the Pandemic
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“It shouldn’t take lawsuits and court hearings for our struggling restaurants to be heard.”
Government
New York Lawmakers Expected To Set New Staffing Requirements At Nursing Homes
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“The pandemic has laid bare the risks to vulnerable nursing home residents that are inherent in a low staffing business model.”
Government
Supporters, Opponents Of HERO Act Await Action By Cuomo
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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.
Government
Pennsylvania’s Governor Gets First COVID-19 Vaccine Dose
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All states were to have opened vaccine appointments to all adults this week, if they hadn’t already.
Food and Farms
Bar, Restaurant Owners Want Midnight Curfew Lifted
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“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.”
Education
A Year Without Play: Parents And Experts Worry About Loss Of Social Skills During Pandemic
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“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.”
Poll: New Yorkers On The Fence About Cuomo
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60% approve the Democrat’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and about half (51%) do not believe Cuomo should resign.
App NEWS
PA’s House Speaker Tests Positive For COVID-19
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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.”
Health
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Drop in New York, While Vaccinations Climb
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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.
Food and Farms
COVID Vaccine Pop-up Sites Come To New York Farms
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Some farm workers are hesitant to get the vaccine because they are wary of interacting with the government.
Government
New York Extends Curfew For Bars And Restaurants To Midnight
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“At same time, we caution New Yorkers. Don’t get cocky. The disease is still very much with us.”
App NEWS
Essential Caregivers Back Federal Bill That Guarantees Access To Nursing Home Residents
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“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.”
Trenton Home For This Year’s Bisons, As Jays Return To Buffalo
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Buffalo’s ballpark underwent several capital projects and adjustments – paid for by the Jays organization – to help it meet Major League Baseball facility standards.
Education
As Vaccine Eligibility Expands To 16 And Up, Officials Hope College Students Will Get The Shot
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“We want to get past this and the only way to get past this is to get folks, you know, vaccinated.”
Food and Farms
PA Restaurants Expand Service While Grappling With COVID-19 Case Increase
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Looser restrictions are complicated by a rise in cases fueled in part by more infectious variants.
App NEWS
New York Lowers Vaccine Age Eligibility to 50, Launches New Distribution Program
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Cuomo’s office is encouraging faith-based institutions to partner with medical providers to launch local vaccination clinics.
First Case Of COVID’s Brazilian Variant Found In New York State
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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.
App NEWS
Pharmacies Can Now Vaccinate New Yorkers With Co-Morbidities
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Pharmacies were previously only able to vaccinate New Yorkers over the age of 60 and teachers.
Education
Gillibrand Pushing For More School Funds In Next COVID Relief Bill
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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.
App NEWS
Essential, Unemployed, Overstretched: How The COVID Economy Crashed On Women
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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.
Uncategorized
New York State Relaxes More COVID Restrictions
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“We know the vaccine is the weapon that defeats this invisible enemy and we are getting more shots in arms than ever before.”
As Planting Season Nears, Farm Workers Want Vaccines Now
|
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.
App NEWS
Stimulus Package Brings Some Relief To New Yorkers With Disabilities
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The newest relief package includes$350 billion dollars in aid to states to fund home and community-based services.
Canada Behind Other Countries On Vaccination Efforts
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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.
New York’s ‘Vaccine Czar’ Called County Officials To Assess Their Loyalty To Cuomo
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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.
App NEWS
New Law Guarantees New Yorkers Paid Time Off For COVID-19 Vaccine
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New York has, so far, administered 6.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, with about 10% of the state now fully vaccinated.
New York State Ends Quarantine Requirement On Domestic Travel Starting April 1
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While no longer required, the New York State Department of Health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution.
Doctor Who Diagnosed New York’s First Confirmed COVID-19 Case Reflects 1 Year Later
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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.
Government
New York Expands Vaccine Eligibility to Include Ages 60+
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“The supply is increasing, and if the supply is increasing we can increase our distribution levels.”
Restaurant Capacity Increased To 75% Outside Of NYC, Starting March 19
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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.
Arts & Culture
Putting Wastewater To Use, Penn State Researchers Track COVID-19 Trends
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“Over time, we can get what we think is a pretty good trend estimate for what’s going on.”
State Officials Altered Count Of New York’s Nursing Home Deaths
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State officials insisted Thursday that the edits were made because of concerns about accuracy, not to protect Cuomo’s reputation.
Government
New York Legislature to Revoke Governor’s Special Pandemic Powers
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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.
Government
PA Mass Vaccination Sites Ready To Open, With Or Without Vaccines
|
State officials say there’s a need to ensure equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
The Movie Industry Holds Its Breath As New York Reopens Theaters
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Movie theaters in New York City are reopening after nearly a year. And the decisions has consequences for the entire globaly output of Hollywood.
App NEWS
SUNY Educational Opportunity Centers Expand Free Workforce Training
|
While COVID-19 has greatly affected the economy, it was already in flux before the pandemic hit.
Education
PA School Employees Will Be Offered Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Next Week
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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.
During Pandemic, Drug Overdose Deaths Surge Among Black New Yorkers
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Black Americans with addiction face “pervasive and continuing systemic racism” and often struggle to gain access to treatments that prevent fatal overdoses.
Government
New York Begins Administering Johnson & Johnson Vaccine At Mass Vaccination Sites
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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.
App NEWS
Legislature Agrees to Strip Cuomo of Emergency Pandemic Powers
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“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.”
App NEWS
PA Bars And Restaurants Can Apply For New State Grants Starting This Month
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Restaurant and bar owners have pressured state lawmakers for months to give their struggling businesses more help.
Food Pantry Workers Welcome New York’s Extension Of Their Vaccine Eligibility
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“It will help protect our most vulnerable clients who rely on the staff and volunteers to provide them with nutritious food and critical services.”
Education
‘We’re Talking About Generational Loss:’ How PA’s Education Department Is Sizing Up Post-Pandemic Life
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Currently, about 30 percent of Pennsylvania’s K-12 schools, which serve half the total student population, are learning entirely remotely.
Government
In Year One Of COVID, Governor Cuomo’s Political Fortunes Rise, Fall
|
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.
Government
Republicans Question New York’s COVID-19 Policy At Group Homes
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The policy at group homes has been to require those facilities to admit residents discharged from the hospital regardless of their COVID-19 status.
Government
House Lawmakers Grill Health Department Leaders Over PA’s Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout
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“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.”
Government
Face-To-Face Nursing Home Visits Bring Relief To Caregivers
|
Caregivers react to a update of state restrictions that will allow visitations in long-term care facilities.
App NEWS
Poll Documents Cuomo’s Turn Of Fortune
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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.
Government
Cuomo: New Rules for Nursing Home Visits Begin Friday
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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.
Government
‘Don’t Hold Back Any Doses’: How A Conference Call With The PA Health Department Led To Vaccine Delays
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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.
Education
PA Dems Push School Infrastructure As A Priority In Next Federal Stimulus
|
“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.”
App NEWS
New York’s Health Departments Can Now Determine Spacing Of Student Desks
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“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.”
Government
New York Senate Poised To Limit Governor’s Emergency Powers
|
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, Amusement Parks, Campgrounds Can Begin Reopening In March
|
Arcades and other indoor family entertainment centers can open with 25% capacity starting March 26.
Government
Four New Mass Vaccination Sites to Open Upstate
|
“This is a very big and aggressive effort to address vaccine hesitancy in the Black community.”
New York Sues Amazon Over COVID-19 Workplace Safety Failures
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New York Attorney General Letitia James said Amazon refused to obey coronavirus guidelines that would protect its warehouse employees from infection.
Clamor Grows, As Some New Yorkers Travel Hours For A Dose Of COVID Vaccine
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“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?”
Health
There’s A Safe Way To Get A 2nd COVID Vaccine Dose Following A Rare Allergic Reaction
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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.
App NEWS
Schumer Unveils $25 Billion COVID-Relief Fund To Help Restaurants
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“Thousands of restaurants throughout New York state will close if we don’t get them some immediate relief.”
Government
Cuomo Concedes on Nursing Homes: ‘We Should Have Provided More Information Faster’
|
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.”
Arts & Culture
Lunar New Year Brings Smiles And Hope Amid Hardships For New York’s Chinatown
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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.
Economy
New York Expands List Of Late Closing Establishments
|
“With the holiday surge now in our rear-view mirror, we must keep taking steps to further re-open the economy safely and responsibly.”
Featured in Category
Possible Cover-Up Of Nursing Home Deaths Provokes Calls For Probes Of Cuomo, Aides
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“Even just the appearance of being not being forthcoming with information is a liability in this case, and honestly I don’t understand why.”
Government
Forced To Compete For COVID-19 Vaccines, Some Older Pennsylvanians Struggle To Book Appointments
|
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.
App NEWS
After New Revelations, Support For Ending Cuomo’s Emergency Powers Grows
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“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.”
App NEWS
New York Mayor Urges Albany To Tax Billionaires And Avoid Budget Cuts
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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.
Does New York’s Latino Community Distrust The COVID Vaccine?
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“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.”
Government
In Partnership With Feds, New York Opens Vaccination Sites In Underserved Communities
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“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.”
Education
Gillibrand’s COVID-Relief Package Provides Over $100 Billion For Schools
|
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.
Government
Problematic Pandemic Response At Nursing Homes Prompts Action By New York’s Senate
|
“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.”
Government
Another Boost In Vaccine Doses Headed For New York
|
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.
App NEWS
New Data Show COVID Killed Nearly 15,000 Nursing Home And Adult Care Residents In New York
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The numbers confirm a report by State Attorney General Tish James, who said the state undercounted nursing home hospital deaths by 50%.
Government
Chronically Ill New Yorkers Can Sign Up At State Vaccination Sites On Valentine’s Day
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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.
Health
COVID-19 Shakes Up The Fitness Industry, Perhaps For Good
|
“We used to have 10-17 people in a class and now we still struggle to get 6-8 people in each class.”
Government
New Yorkers With Underlying Conditions Qualify For Vaccine Starting February 15th
|
Only county health departments will administer vaccines for those with underlying conditions, they won’t be available at several large state run sites.
Federal Aid Should Not Supplant State School Funding, Says Education Commissioner
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“We are opposed to a one-shot federal fund replacing needed state dollars for schools.”
App NEWS
New York Lawmakers Eye Another Rent Relief Program Before Budget Deadline
|
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.
App NEWS
Relatives Of Nursing Home Residents Killed By COVID Seek Accountability From New York State
|
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%.
App NEWS
Using Drones To Distribute COVID Test Kits
|
“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.”
Government
New York Republicans Draft Subpoena On Nursing Homes, Urge Dems To Move Forward
|
“You have to know where you went wrong in order to correct things.”
Economy
Closer Analysis Of December Finds 100% Of Net Jobs Lost Were Held By Women
|
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.
App NEWS
Vaccine Acceptance Challenged By Long History Of Injustice, Conspiracy Theories
|
“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.”
Government
New York Democrats Block Attempt To Subpoena Health Commissioner Over Nursing Home Deaths
|
A state probe last week found that Zucker could have underreported these deaths by up to 50%.
Economy
As COVID-19 Raged On, State Sales Tax Collections Last Year Took A Dive
|
The steepest decline in sales tax collections happened during the peak of the pandemic, when sales tax collections dropped by about 27% statewide.
Government
Winter Storm Prompts Delays, Closures At State-Run COVID-19 Vaccinations Sites
|
New Yorkers who have appointments at centers that closed because of the storm will receive new appointments by email or text.
Got The COVID Vaccine? Don’t Show Your Card Online, BBB Warns
|
“There’s a lot of ways that scammers can use this information.”
Government
In Vaccine Roll Out, Governor Says Trust Still An Issue Among Black New Yorkers
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“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.”
Government
Governor Allows Weddings Next Month, New York City Reopens Dining On Valentine’s Day
|
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.
App NEWS
Cuomo Deflects Blame From Attorney General’s Nursing Home Report
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“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.”
Government
Data Shows Racial Gap in COVID-19 Vaccine in New York
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The state will be launching a new advertising campaign targeted at communities of color with the intention of boosting vaccine recipients among those populations.
New Yorkers Lunge, Twist And Zumba Their Way Through The Pandemic Together
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The pandemic has left many Americans craving safe social interaction. For one group of New Yorkers, outdoor Zumba classes bring a little joy.
App NEWS
New York May Have Undercounted Nursing Home Deaths By 50%, State Attorney General Says
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“Clearly, some facilities were not prepared to handle outbreaks through early and effective training or staffing.”
Government
Cuomo: Zone Restrictions Lifted, New York City Restaurants Plan Coming
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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.
New Report On Tobacco Prevention Gives New York State Mixed Grades
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“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.”
App NEWS
New York Will Receive Boost In Vaccine Supply, Governor Says
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“Now, the states will know what they’re getting every week for the next three weeks, and we’re getting 16-17% more.”
App NEWS
Senate Republicans Propose COVID-19 Relief Package for New York Restaurants
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“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.”
Elective Surgeries Can Resume, State Unveils New Online COVID Vaccine Tracker
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Governor Cuomo said the big problem across New York now is that hospitals can’t seem to vaccinate its own workers.
Government
Senator Hints At Subpoenas If New York Doesn’t Supply Key Nursing Home Death Numbers
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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.
Some New Yorkers Face Shrinking Nest Eggs As They Care For Loved Ones During Pandemic
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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.
Government
Cuomo Announces Effort To Strengthen Fairness And Equity In Vaccine Distribution
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Polls have shown that vaccine skepticism is relatively high in Black communities.
App NEWS
New York Allows Resumption Of Riskier High School Sports
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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.
App NEWS
New York’s COVID-19 Hospitalization Rate Drops
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“We just need to keep the arrows pointed down, but, never get cocky with COVID.”
Education
Want Kids Back In School? There’s A PAC For That
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“I kept seeing these questions over and over: How do I run for school board? How do I help candidates run for school board?””
Employees Are Now The Biggest COVID Spreaders In Nursing Homes
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State figures report up to half the staff in some areas of New York are refusing the vaccine. That might lead to mandated vaccinations.
Health
Three-Quarters Of New Yorkers Plan To Get COVID Vaccine
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“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.”
Government
Schumer, Gillibrand Optimistic New Congress Will Pass COVID-Relief For States, Cities
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“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.”
Government
Cuomo Seeks More COVID-19 Vaccines Through Deal With Pfizer
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“The federal administration essentially opened up a floodgate while cutting our supply — leading to confusion, frustration, and dashed hopes.”
Vaccine Sign-Up Confusion Continues, Appointments Booked Through April
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The Governor’s disclaimer recommends people eligible for the vaccine directly contact their local pharmacies, doctors’ offices and hospitals.
Health
Rollout Of COVID-19 Vaccines In Rural PA Requires Flexibility And Trust From Communities
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A Kaiser Family Foundation report released last week found rural residents are among the most hesitant about vaccines.
App NEWS
Vaccine Rollout Begins For 1B Category With A Long Waitlist
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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.
Government
New York Lawmakers Complain Vaccine Rollout “Extremely Disappointing”
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Republican state lawmakers were vocal in their criticisms, saying the Cuomo administration was unprepared.
Government
After Slow Rollout, New York Will Offer Vaccines At More Sites
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo, bowing to pressure from local governments, is agreeing to expand the state’s vaccination sites for front-line health care workers.
Democrats, Unions Seek Workplace Protections Against Infectious Diseases through NY HERO Act
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“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.”
New York GOP Lawmakers Push Back Harder On Cuomo’s Emergency Pandemic Powers
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“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.”
County Leaders Seek Governor’s Cooperation As They Carry Out Vaccination Plans
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They said Cuomo and the state health department are not providing data that they need and are leaving them out of key meetings.
Bills’ Parking Lot Becomes Massive COVID Testing Site
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“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.”
Economy
New Paid Leave Law Could Help New York Slow Spread Of COVID-19
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“This is really a very important step forward in fighting COVID and in fighting any other kind of illness.’
Government
With Holidays Over, COVID-19 Vaccination Effort Expected To Ramp Up
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“Our hospitals and health care systems continue to be significantly challenged.”
More Contagious Strain Of COVID-19 Found In New York State
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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.
Health
Holiday Traffic At Syracuse Airport Down Significantly
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“It’s nowhere near where we were last year at this time. We’re sitting roughly about 70% off where we were in 2019.”
Cuomo Won’t Get Vaccine Until His Group’s Turn In Black, Hispanic, Poor Communities
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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.”
Government
If They Don’t Act Faster, Cuomo Threatens To Cut Off Hospitals From Vaccination Program
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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.
In New York, Waiting For A COVID-19 Test Is A Business Opportunity
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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.
App NEWS
COVID-19 Impacts Steuben County Jail
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During the week of Christmas, four staff members and 21 inmates at the Steuben County Jail tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Economy
Despite Virus Spike, Governor Says 2021 Could Bring Reopenings
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“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.”
Crime and Justice
Statewide Ban On Prison Visitation In Effect
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There are currently 3,914 COVID-19 cases among inmates, parolees, and corrections officers at state prisons, while 2,156 people have recovered.
Multiple Coronavirus Cases After Republican Christmas Party In New York
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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.
Government
In 2020, The Pandemic Was The Only Story
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“There will be a New Year, I can’t say that it won’t be worse, because now, I don’t know.”
New York Employers Could Mandate COVID-19 Vaccine, According To Updated Federal Guidelines
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“I don’t think an anti-vaxxer would have a good claim if they were fired for refusing to take a vaccine.”
Prison Visitations Suspended Statewide As COVID Cases Surge
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“We recognize that visitation is a vital part of family reunification and therefore, we will resume it when safe to do so.
