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COVID-19: CDC Now Recommending Indoor Mask-Wearing In 12 NY Counties; Here's Rundown COVID-19: CDC Now Recommending Indoor Mask-Wearing In 12 NY Counties; Here's Rundown
Covid-19: CDC Now Recommending Indoor Mask-Wearing In 12 NY Counties; Here's Rundown The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending mask-wearing in 12 New York counties amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases. The CDC displays counties in orange, yellow, or green on a color-coded map shown in the image above to guide local residents and authorities: Counties shown in orange are where the CDC advises wearing masks indoors.  Counties shown in yellow are places in which those at high risk for severe disease should be cautious. In green counties, indoor masking is not necessary. As of Thursday, Oct. 13, these New York counties were in the “orange” zone:…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Popular Italian Restaurant In Hudson Valley To Close After '37 Wonderful Years,' Owner Says Popular Italian Restaurant In Hudson Valley To Close After '37 Wonderful Years,' Owner Says
Popular Italian Restaurant In Hudson Valley To Close After '37 Wonderful Years,' Owner Says A popular Italian restaurant in the Hudson Valley is set to close after decades in business. Marcello’s Ristorante in the Rockland County village of Suffern will celebrate its last full day in business with a gala on New Year's Eve, Chef Marcello Russodivito announced on Saturday, Oct. 1. Following the gala, for two-and-a-half weeks the restaurant, located at 21 Lafayette Ave., will offer family-style dinners for $19.86 per person. Russodivito said he previously planned to retire in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his plans.  He said once the restaurant closes, he still pla…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Flu Season is Already Widespread Across New York, Health Department Says Flu Season is Already Widespread Across New York, Health Department Says
Flu Season is Already Widespread Across New York, Health Department Says As cooler weather has moved in across New York state, cases of flu have already become widespread. State health officials say the pesky, and sometimes deadly, virus is rapidly ramping up with 44 counties reporting flu cases in the first weeks of October. Statewide, 596 cases of the flu have been confirmed, compared to only 150 in the same time period a year ago. The regions reporting the highest number of cases include the New York City area, the Capital Region, and central New York with 57 percent of the confirmed flu cases being reported in those regions, the state Department of Hea…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: Westchester County Health Dept. To Distribute 5,600 Air Purifiers To Area Schools COVID-19: Westchester County Health Dept. To Distribute 5,600 Air Purifiers To Area Schools
Covid-19: Westchester County Health Dept. To Distribute 5,600 Air Purifiers To Area Schools Health officials in Westchester County are set to distribute thousands of air purifiers to area school districts this month in an effort to protect students, teachers, and staff from COVID-19. The Westchester County Department of Health will distribute more than 5,600 air purifiers to 31 school districts in October, county officials announced on Tuesday, Oct. 4. The health department purchased Fellowes AeraMax Pro AM3S PC Air Purifiers, which health officials reported are "proven to remove over 99.99% of COVID-19 particles from the air." The department used $5.2 million in federal fun…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: CDC Now Recommending Indoor Mask-Wearing In 9 NY Counties; Here's Rundown COVID-19: CDC Now Recommending Indoor Mask-Wearing In 9 NY Counties; Here's Rundown
Covid-19: CDC Now Recommending Indoor Mask-Wearing In 9 NY Counties; Here's Rundown The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending mask-wearing in some New York counties for the first time in months as a result of an uptick in COVID-19 cases. The CDC displays counties in orange, yellow, or green on a color-coded map shown in the image above to guide local residents and authorities: Counties shown in orange are where the CDC advises wearing masks indoors.  Counties shown in yellow are places in which those at high risk for severe disease should be cautious. In green counties, indoor masking is not necessary. These New York counties are in the “or…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Here's Name Of New Booster Targeting Omicron Strain, What To Know, How To Get Vaccine COVID-19: Here's Name Of New Booster Targeting Omicron Strain, What To Know, How To Get Vaccine
Covid-19: Here's Name Of New Booster Targeting Omicron Strain, What To Know, How To Get Vaccine Health experts are recommending the use of updated COVID-19 booster vaccines to protect people from the most prevalent subvariants of the virus currently circulating. The newly-approved boosters are officially named "bivalent vaccines" that target the original strain of COVID-19 and what is now the predominant subvariant of Omicron, BA.5., according to a report from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center with Dr. David Tweardy, the head of the Department of Infectious Diseases. “The updated COVID-19 boosters are formulated to better protect against the most recently circulating C…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: NY Announces Change For Mass Transit Masking Policy COVID-19: NY Announces Change For Mass Transit Masking Policy
Covid-19: NY Announces Change For Mass Transit Masking Policy It is now optional to wear a mask when riding mass transit in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced. Hochul said at a news conference that the new masking policies are in effect immediately, as of Wednesday, Sept. 7. She said the decision was made after tracking the data and stabilization of COVID-19 cases in the state over time. Starting today, masks will be optional in some places where they had previously been required, including on mass transit. pic.twitter.com/5zTT4uRB6h — Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) September 7, 2022 "I want to thank everyone who has been complying o…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: New Booster Shots Targeting Omicron Variant Approved By FDA COVID-19: New Booster Shots Targeting Omicron Variant Approved By FDA
Covid-19: New Booster Shots Targeting Omicron Variant Approved By FDA It’s time to roll up your sleeve and get another COVID-19 vaccine. On Wednesday, Aug. 31, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated versions of COVID booster shots made by Pfizer and Moderna that target the highly contagious BA.5 Omicron subvariant. The updated vaccine boosters are designed to give people broad protection against COVID and can help protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, the FDA said in a statement. Pfizer’s modified booster was authorized for people ages 12 and older, while Moderna’s shot was approved for those 18 and up. People who…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
COVID-19: 'No More Quarantining,' Hochul Says, Outlining New Guidelines For NY Schools COVID-19: 'No More Quarantining,' Hochul Says, Outlining New Guidelines For NY Schools
Covid-19: 'No More Quarantining,' Hochul Says, Outlining New Guidelines For NY Schools Schools across New York State will ease their COVID-19 restrictions this fall to be more in line with federal guidelines, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced. During a public health briefing in New York City Monday, Aug. 22, Hochul said the state health department will advise school districts to enact new measures that are meant to keep kids in the classroom. Earlier Report: COVID-19: CDC Announces Sweeping New Guidance, Including For Schools, Quarantines That includes ending the “test to stay” policy, which previously required that students who had close contact with COVID-19 show a negative tes…

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Morgan Taylor, Renowned Kids Musician, Cartoonist From Region Dies At Age 52 Morgan Taylor, Renowned Kids Musician, Cartoonist From Region Dies At Age 52
Morgan Taylor, Renowned Kids Musician, Cartoonist From Region Dies At Age 52 If you aren’t familiar with Morgan Taylor’s music, that’s okay given you most likely are not in the New York musician's target demographic. But chances are some kids you know have jammed out to the Columbia County singer, songwriter, and cartoonist’s work while watching his award-winning Gustafer Yellowgold video series, or at one of his many live performances around the country. The two-time Grammy nominee, who lived in Chatham with his wife and two sons, died Thursday, Aug. 11, at the age of 52 following a brief illness, according to his obituary. Born in Kettering, Ohio on Sept. 5, 19…

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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 Announces Sweeping New Guidance, Including For Schools, Quarantines COVID-19: CDC Announces Sweeping New Guidance, Including For Schools, Quarantines
Covid-19: CDC Announces Sweeping New Guidance, Including For Schools, Quarantines Federal health officials have announced sweeping new COVID-19 guidelines, including for schools and quarantines for those infected. In the updated guidance unveiled on Thursday, Aug. 11, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it was no longer recommending that unvaccinated people quarantine after possibly being exposed to the virus. Instead, the CDC said they should wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested five days after they were exposed. The agency had previously said unvaccinated people and those who haven't received their booster shots should q…

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by Michael Mashburn