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NY County's Mask Ban Signed Into Law; Here's Possible Sentence For Violations NY County's Mask Ban Signed Into Law; Here's Possible Sentence For Violations
NY County's Mask Ban Signed Into Law; Here's Possible Sentence For Violations It’s now against the law to cover your face in public in this New York county. On Long Island, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed the “Mask Transparency Act” into law during a ceremony held Wednesday morning, Aug. 14. It came a little more than a week after the Republican-controlled county legislature passed the act by a vote of 12-0 on Monday, Aug. 5. All seven Democrats abstained from voting. Earlier Report: Nassau County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Rise In Covid-19 Cases The bill makes it a misdemeanor for anyone 16 and older to wear a face mask in public spaces in…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In COVID-19 Cases NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In COVID-19 Cases
NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In Covid-19 Cases Lawmakers in a New York county approved a controversial bill criminalizing mask wearing amid a summer bump in COVID-19 cases. On Long Island, the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature passed the “Mask Transparency Act” by a vote of 12-0 on Monday night, Aug. 5. All seven Democrats abstained from voting. The bill makes it a misdemeanor for anyone 16 and older to wear a face mask in public spaces in the county. It also gives private businesses the right to prohibit masks on their premises. It grants exceptions for health or religious reasons, though that distinction will be determ…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Americans 'Self Silencing' In Record Numbers, New Study Reveals: Here's What It Means Americans 'Self Silencing' In Record Numbers, New Study Reveals: Here's What It Means
Americans 'Self Silencing' In Record Numbers, New Study Reveals: Here's What It Means If you’ve ever found yourself hiding your true opinion just to avoid ruffling feathers, you’re not alone, according to a new study from the think tank Populace. Researchers wanted to find out how prevalent self-silencing, or preference falsification, is - defined as saying what you think others want to hear rather than what you truly believe. What they found is a tendency for people of all demographics to succumb to social pressures to have the “right” opinion when it comes to hot-button issues like abortion, mask wearing, and discussing gender identity in schools, despite their true feelin…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
COVID-19: CDC Recommends Wearing Masks Indoors In These CT Counties COVID-19: CDC Recommends Wearing Masks Indoors In These CT Counties
Covid-19: CDC Recommends Wearing Masks Indoors In These CT Counties Connecticut residents are being advised by federal health officials to start masking back up amid the latest spike in new COVID-19 cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance on mask-wearing to concentrate on COVID-19 hospitalizations, hospital capacity, and newly reported infections, leaving most of the state being encouraged to return to wearing facial coverings indoors. With the state reaching a seven-day average COVID-19 infection rate above 13 percent, and new cases on the rise across Connecticut, most of the state has been advised to take precautio…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Recommends Connecticut Residents Wear Masks Indoors In These Counties COVID-19: CDC Recommends Connecticut Residents Wear Masks Indoors In These Counties
Covid-19: CDC Recommends Connecticut Residents Wear Masks Indoors In These Counties Connecticut residents are being encouraged by federal health officials to start masking back up amid the latest surge of new COVID-19 cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance on mask-wearing to concentrate on COVID hospitalizations, hospital capacity, and newly reported infections, permitting most of the state to drop the mandate. With the state reaching a seven-day average COVID-19 infection rate above 13 percent, and new cases on the rise across Connecticut, most of the state has been advised to take precautions to help curtail the spread of the…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing COVID-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing
Covid-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing The “new normal” may start to look more like the “old normal” as federal health officials are expected to loosen up COVID-19 mask mandates across the country. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced during a White House briefing on Wednesday, Feb. 16 that the agency will “soon put guidance in place” regarding mask-wearing. The announcement comes as the country continues to recover from the surge of Omicron cases that mounted over several months around the holiday season. Walensky said that the CDC will monitor certain metrics s…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Cuts Isolation Time In Half For Those Not Displaying Symptoms COVID-19: CDC Cuts Isolation Time In Half For Those Not Displaying Symptoms
Covid-19: CDC Cuts Isolation Time In Half For Those Not Displaying Symptoms The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shortened the amount of time it recommends people isolate if they have contracted COVID-19 and are not experiencing symptoms. The CDC said in an announcement on Monday, Dec. 27, that based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, it is reducing the recommended time for isolation from 10 days to five days for those who have tested positive and are asymptomatic.  After leaving isolation, people should wear a mask for the next five days when around others, the CDC said. Health officials said those who are …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says COVID-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says
Covid-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says The COVID-19 pandemic is now nearly two years old, and there's still no end in sight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says there are two key signs to look for down the line that are key indicators when the time comes that it does finally wind down. The first is a manageable number of hospitalizations, and the second is a significant drop in the number of daily deaths, she said in an interview with ABC News. To get there, Walensky emphasized the importance of relying on strategies that have proven to be effective, namely vaccines and mask…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
COVID-19: Wegmans Announces Change In Mask Policy COVID-19: Wegmans Announces Change In Mask Policy
Covid-19: Wegmans Announces Change In Mask Policy Wegmans has announced a change to its COVID-19 masking policy after reviewing updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The company announced on Tuesday, Aug. 3, that effectively immediately, all employees are required to wear masks in its stores.  Effective immediately: After reviewing the updated guidance from the CDC & state & local health departments, we strongly encourage all customers, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask while shopping with us. All employees are now required to wear a mask in our stores. — Wegmans Food Markets…

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
COVID-19: New Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Haven't Changed Mask-Wearing Habits COVID-19: New Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Haven't Changed Mask-Wearing Habits
Covid-19: New Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Haven't Changed Mask-Wearing Habits When it comes to mask-wearing, just because you can ditch them, should you? A newly released Monmouth University poll found that since vaccines became more prevalent, public anxiety about contracting COVID-19 plummeted, though nearly half of Americans are still choosing to continue wearing facial coverings. Even with one in five adults continuing to refuse to get the shot, the new poll also found that nearly four in 10 Americans have not changed their mask-wearing habits, even with updated guidance not making non-mandatory under the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) …

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by Zak Failla
Business
Popular Area Supermarket Announces New Mask Policy Popular Area Supermarket Announces New Mask Policy
Popular Area Supermarket Announces New Mask Policy A popular supermarket is adjusting its policy on mask-wearing as the country continues its rapid recovery from the winter surge of COVID-19. In the wake of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health departments in the tri-state area loosening the guidance on facial coverings for vaccinated people, Stew Leonard’s announced new guidelines for both customers and employees. As of Wednesday, May 19, customers can begin shopping at Stew Leonard’s locations in New York and Connecticut without a mask, though employees will continue to wear facial coverings through at least Mem…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Here's When Fully Vaccinated CT Residents Won't Be Required To Wear Masks Indoors COVID-19: Here's When Fully Vaccinated CT Residents Won't Be Required To Wear Masks Indoors
Covid-19: Here's When Fully Vaccinated CT Residents Won't Be Required To Wear Masks Indoors The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it is easing federal guidance on mask-wearing indoors, though it will be a few days until Connecticut follows suit. This week, the CDC issued new guidance that calls for continued mask-wearing in more crowded indoor spaces such as on mass transportation, hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters, but eases restrictions on workplaces and other similar locations. Earlier story - COVID-19: CDC Issues Brand-New Guidance On Mask-Wearing Indoors Gov. Ned Lamont said that Connecticut will be adopting that guidance, though not unti…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: CDC Announces Major New Guidance On Mask Wearing COVID-19: CDC Announces Major New Guidance On Mask Wearing
Covid-19: CDC Announces Major New Guidance On Mask Wearing The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has just released major new guidance on mask-wearing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the new guidance, announced Tuesday afternoon, April 27, people who are fully vaccinated and who are outdoors no longer have to wear masks if they are gathered in small groups. Masks should still be worn at heavily attending outdoor gatherings, including concerts and sports events, where social distancing is not possible, the CDC said. It is also safe for those fully vaccinated to return to several activities inside, including attending religious ser…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: With Vaccinations Ramping Up, Should You Still Wear A Mask Outdoors? Experts Weigh In COVID-19: With Vaccinations Ramping Up, Should You Still Wear A Mask Outdoors? Experts Weigh In
Covid-19: With Vaccinations Ramping Up, Should You Still Wear A Mask Outdoors? Experts Weigh In Wearing a mask in public has been a staple during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now that more than half of US adults -- about 135 million people 18 and older -- have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, many are ready to go maskless - at least when outdoors. In order to achieve herd immunity, though, medical experts say 70 percent of Americans must be fully -- not just partially --- vaccinated. In other words, we're not quite there yet. COVID-19: Here's Number Of Americans Who've Become Infected Despite Being Vaccinated, CDC Says That means people should continue to wear masks in pu…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
COVID-19: CT Releases Guidance For Proms, Graduations COVID-19: CT Releases Guidance For Proms, Graduations
Covid-19: CT Releases Guidance For Proms, Graduations As the end of the school year grows near and students are dreaming of proms and graduation ceremonies, Connecticut state officials have released guidelines on how to limit the spread of COVID-19. State officials from the Department of Education and Department of Public Health have released a three-page document, that stresses the importance of many of the key preventions that have been in place for the past year including mask-wearing, social distancing, hand sanitizing, and limiting groups size for events. They are also asking school districts to have rapid contact tracing in place an…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
COVID-19: CDC Revisiting Guidance After Study Reveals New Safe Social DIstance For Students COVID-19: CDC Revisiting Guidance After Study Reveals New Safe Social DIstance For Students
Covid-19: CDC Revisiting Guidance After Study Reveals New Safe Social DIstance For Students With President Joe Biden pushing to have all students back in the classroom within his first 100 days in office, and no later than the fall, the Centers for Disease Control is evaluating its guidance on socially distancing inside schools. Currently, students are advised to stay at least six feet apart while wearing facial coverings, however, a new study found that the number could possibly be dropped to three feet of social distance while still maintaining the safety of students and staff. A study recently published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, looked at 242 school districts…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools COVID-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools
Covid-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging schools and school districts to reopen safely and has just released new guidance for doing just that. On Friday, Feb. 12, the CDC unveiled the new science-based plan. “It is critical for schools to open as safely and as soon as possible, and remain open, to achieve the benefits of in-person learning and key support services,” health officials said. “To enable schools to open safely and remain open, it is important to adopt and consistently implement actions to slow the spread of COVID in schools and in the community.” The…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: CDC Outlines Mask Practices That Can Cut Transmission 96.5 Percent COVID-19: CDC Outlines Mask Practices That Can Cut Transmission 96.5 Percent
Covid-19: CDC Outlines Mask Practices That Can Cut Transmission 96.5 Percent The CDC has laid out new guidance on mask-wearing that could help dramatically curtail the spread of COVID-19. According to health officials, wearing any mask will reduce the risk of contracting or spreading the virus, but more tightly fitted surgical masks, or double-masking can vastly improve protection for both the wearer and others. New research found that transmission of the virus can be reduced by up to 96.5 percent if tightly-fitted surgical masks or a combination of fitted surgical masks with a cloth covering are worn, officials said. Rochelle Walensky, the new director of the CDC…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Wearing Two Masks Better Than One, Creates Obstacle Course For Virus, CDC Says COVID-19: Wearing Two Masks Better Than One, Creates Obstacle Course For Virus, CDC Says
Covid-19: Wearing Two Masks Better Than One, Creates Obstacle Course For Virus, CDC Says Face masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19, but you could be getting more protection out of them by wearing two. Research shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC) recently noted the increased effectiveness of multi-layered masks or wearing two masks compared to a single-layer or just one mask. Multi-layer cloth masks can block up to 50-70 percent of fine droplets and particles and limit the forward spread of those captured. The message is pressing in the United States where more than 400,000 people have died due to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. T…

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by Kristin Palpini
Politics
COVID-19: Biden, Harris Call For '100 Days To Mask' After Taking Office COVID-19: Biden, Harris Call For '100 Days To Mask' After Taking Office
Covid-19: Biden, Harris Call For '100 Days To Mask' After Taking Office President-elect Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office will be symbolically marked by all Americans wearing masks if he has his way. During a CNN interview on Thursday night, Dec. 3 with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris - the pair's first joint interview since winning the election - Biden decreed that in an effort to curtail the further spread of COVID-19, he will be asking Americans to mask-up following his inauguration on Wednesday, Jan. 20. “Just 100 days to mask, not forever; 100 days and I think we will see a significant reduction,” Biden said. “I think we'll see a significant reductio…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Planning A Big Thanksgiving COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Planning A Big Thanksgiving
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Planning A Big Thanksgiving Nearly 40 percent of Americans are planning to eschew COVID-19 safety protocols and host large Thanksgiving celebrations, despite the new surge in cases, according to a new national survey. Despite the pandemic, 38 percent of respondents surveyed by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center said that they are planning a holiday gathering with more than 10 people, which is against the guidance of most health officials. The survey also found that 27 percent do not plan to socially distance, and a third said they are unlikely to ask guests to wear masks. Despite the severity of the virus…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Here's How Many Say They'll Go To Sports, Concerts, Broadway If Open In September COVID-19: Here's How Many Say They'll Go To Sports, Concerts, Broadway If Open In September
Covid-19: Here's How Many Say They'll Go To Sports, Concerts, Broadway If Open In September Some previous attendees will not head to the ballpark, concerts, or Broadway shows if they reopen in September amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a new poll. The Siena College Research Institute and New York Times released a new poll that found many Americans are unwilling to engage in large social gatherings unless certain safeguards are put in place. According to the poll, which was administered between Sunday, May 17, and Thursday, May 21, many expressed wariness of attending live events if they were to resume at or around Sept. 1. The poll involved 796 voters,…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
COVID-19: Four Weston Police Officers Test Positive COVID-19: Four Weston Police Officers Test Positive
Covid-19: Four Weston Police Officers Test Positive Weston residents can rest easy that they have adequate police coverage even after four of the town's officers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Weston First Selectman Chris Spaulding said there has been no gap in coverage with other officers filling shifts. In addition to the police officers, one person in the department's communications center tested positive for COVID-19 as well. After the first signs of symptoms, potentially exposed staff have been tested, Spaulding said. "Weston is an incredibly resilient town with amazing staff and citizenry," Spaulding said.…

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by Kathy Reakes