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COVID-19: All NY Health Care Workers Will Be Required To Get Vaccines COVID-19: All NY Health Care Workers Will Be Required To Get Vaccines
Covid-19: All NY Health Care Workers Will Be Required To Get Vaccines All health care workers in New York State will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, with only limited exceptions for those with religious or medical exemptions. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that staff at hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, adult care, and other congregate settings will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than Monday, Sept. 27. To date, 75 percent of the state’s estimated 450,000 hospital workers, 74 percent of the state’s 30,000 adult care facility workers, and 68 percent of the state’s 145,500 nursing home workers have compl…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: FDA Aims To Give Final Approval To Pfizer Vaccine Next Month COVID-19: FDA Aims To Give Final Approval To Pfizer Vaccine Next Month
Covid-19: FDA Aims To Give Final Approval To Pfizer Vaccine Next Month The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to determine whether or not to give full approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine as soon as next month. As the Delta variant rapidly rages through the country, causing spikes in new COVID-19 cases, the FDA is reportedly accelerating its timeline to fully approve the Pfizer vaccine, which was the first shot available. Currently, the Pfizer - as well as the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna - vaccines have been given emergency use authorization. Under the current timeline, the FDA hopes to have full approval by Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 6). It…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: 33 NY Counties Reach CDC 'High' Level For Community Spread COVID-19: 33 NY Counties Reach CDC 'High' Level For Community Spread
Covid-19: 33 NY Counties Reach CDC 'High' Level For Community Spread Two weeks ago at this time, just two counties in New York State -- Nassau and Suffolk -- were rated as having "high" COVID-19 transmission levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Now, the number is 33 amid an outbreak of cases connected to the highly contagious Delta variant. The CDC announced late in July that people should return to wearing masks indoors in areas with “substantial” and “high” COVID-19 transmission. That means masks should now be worn in a total of 54 counties. With a total of 62 counties, only eight have "moderate" spread. As of Saturda…

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by Joe Lombardi
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COVID-19: Mount Sinai Announces Vaccine Requirement For Employees COVID-19: Mount Sinai Announces Vaccine Requirement For Employees
Covid-19: Mount Sinai Announces Vaccine Requirement For Employees Mount Sinai Health System announced its faculty and staff will be required to have their first COVID-19 vaccine shot by Monday, Sept. 13. The organization made the announcement on Thursday, Aug. 12, saying the decision was made in an effort to protect employees due to the increase in cases of the delta variant. President and CEO of Mount Sinai Health System Kenneth Davis said there will be limited exceptions for those with religious and medical reasons. Those who receive medical or religious exemption will be required to undergo weekly testing. The requirement also does not apply…

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by Nicole Valinote
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COVID-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Rises Again; New Breakdown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Rises Again; New Breakdown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Rises Again; New Breakdown By County Variants and mutations of the COVID-19 virus continue to cause trouble for health officials in New York as the Hudson Valley saw another jump in its positive infection rate. In the past week, since Friday, Aug. 6, the seven-day average COVID-19 infection rate among those tested in the Hudson Valley has climbed from 2.86 percent to 3.10 percent as of Friday, Aug. 13.  Two weeks ago, the infection rate was closer to 2 percent. Statewide, the positive infection rate jumped from 2.86 percent to 3.10 percent in that same time frame, the first time New York has been above the 3 percent thre…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Stays Steadily High; Latest Breakdown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Stays Steadily High; Latest Breakdown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Stays Steadily High; Latest Breakdown By County The positive COVID-19 infection rate in the Hudson Valley dipped slightly but the number of new cases in the region continues to soar as the summer surge of the variants of the virus continue spreading. In the past week, since Friday, Aug. 6, the seven-day average COVID-19 infection rate among those tested in the Hudson Valley has climbed from 2.86 percent to 3.11 percent on Tuesday, Aug. 10, and down to 3.06 on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Two weeks ago, the infection rate was closer to 2 percent. Statewide, the positive infection rate jumped from 2.86 percent to 3.05 percent in that same time fra…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: FDA Expected To Authorize Booster Shots For Immunocompromised People COVID-19: FDA Expected To Authorize Booster Shots For Immunocompromised People
Covid-19: FDA Expected To Authorize Booster Shots For Immunocompromised People The US Food and Drug Administration is expected to move forward quickly with authorization of COVID-19 booster shots for some Americans who are immunocompromised, according to reports. Health officials said that the third shot of the current two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccine could be authorized within the next 48 hours, though no official timetable has been set as variants of the virus and COVID-19 mutations continue to cause a surge in new cases. Before a vaccine can be used in new ways outside existing authorization it requires new approval from the FDA. Currently, the Moderna, Pfizer…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Nation's Largest Teachers Union Calls For Educators To Be Required To Get Vaccinated COVID-19: Nation's Largest Teachers Union Calls For Educators To Be Required To Get Vaccinated
Covid-19: Nation's Largest Teachers Union Calls For Educators To Be Required To Get Vaccinated The president of the largest teachers union in the United States has released a statement announcing the association's support for a requirement for educators to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular testing. National Education Association President Becky Pringle released the statement on Thursday, Aug. 12, said the union wants students to safely return to the classroom, and more vaccinations will help combat rising cases of the delta variant.  "NEA has said from the beginning that we need to follow the science, and evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines, combined wi…

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by Nicole Valinote
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COVID-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Sees New Increase; Latest Breakdown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Sees New Increase; Latest Breakdown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Sees New Increase; Latest Breakdown By County The COVID-19 infection rate in the Hudson Valley has surged past 3 percent as variants of the virus continue to confound local, state, and federal health officials. Since Friday, Aug. 6, the seven-day average COVID-19 infection rate among those tested in the Hudson Valley has climbed from 2.88 percent to 3.11 percent on Tuesday, Aug. 10 as the numbers continue to rise. Two weeks ago, the infection rate was closer to 2 percent. Statewide, the positive infection rate jumped from 2.86 percent to 3,01 percent in that same time frame, the first time New York has been above the 3 perce…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: CDC Issues Strong Endorsement For Vaccines During Pregnancy COVID-19: CDC Issues Strong Endorsement For Vaccines During Pregnancy
Covid-19: CDC Issues Strong Endorsement For Vaccines During Pregnancy The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging pregnant people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 amid the rise in cases of the delta variant in the United States. The CDC released new data regarding the vaccine's safety among pregnant people on Wednesday, Aug. 11, and recommended that everyone ages 12 and older get the vaccine. “CDC encourages all pregnant people or people who are thinking about becoming pregnant and those breastfeeding to get vaccinated to protect themselves from COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. “The vaccines are safe and effective, and …

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by Nicole Valinote
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COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Sees New Increase; Latest Breakdown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Sees New Increase; Latest Breakdown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Sees New Increase; Latest Breakdown By County The COVID-19 infection rate rose slightly from the previous day, but the region continues to be hit hard by the newly emerging variants of the virus that have become the dominant strains. The seven-day average positive COVID-19 infection rate of those tested in the Hudson Valley has now risen from 2.88 percent on Friday, Aug. 6 to 2.98 percent on Sunday, Aug. 8 up to 3.05 percent of those tested on Monday, Aug. 9. A week ago, the infection rate was under 2 percent. Statewide, the positive infection rate jumped from 2.86 percent to 2.97 percent in that same time frame. One new virus-relate…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Infection Rate Increase; Latest Case Breakdown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Infection Rate Increase; Latest Case Breakdown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Infection Rate Increase; Latest Case Breakdown By County The COVID-19 infection rate in the Hudson Valley is back on the rise after temporarily plateauing as the Delta variant continues to rage throughout the region and nation. Over the weekend, the seven-day average positive COVID-19 infection rate of those tested in the Hudson Valley has risen from 2.88 percent on Friday, Aug. 6, holding steady the following day before hitting 2.98 percent on Sunday, Aug. 8. Statewide, the positive infection rate jumped from 2.86 percent to 2.96 percent in that same time frame. No new virus-related fatalities were reported in the region, while other deaths we…

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by Zak Failla