Mostly Cloudy 42°
News
COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Nears 19 Percent; Here Are Communities Seeing Most Cases COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Nears 19 Percent; Here Are Communities Seeing Most Cases
Covid-19: Long Island Infection Rate Nears 19 Percent; Here Are Communities Seeing Most Cases Long Island is being hit harder by the Omicron COVID-19 variant than any other region in New York as both Nassau and Suffolk recorded more than 5,500 new cases. Over the past three days, Long Island has recorded the highest positive infection rate of those tested for the virus, spiking to 18.78 percent on Wednesday, Dec. 29. The infection rate has risen by more than 1 percent daily since Monday, Dec. 27. Statewide, the infection rate also rose similarly, from 13.36 percent to 16.21 percent as of Dec. 29. Only two other regions - New York City (16.90 percent) and the Hudson Valley (15.39 p…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Business
Here's How Much, When Minimum Wage Will Increase In Westchester Here's How Much, When Minimum Wage Will Increase In Westchester
Here's How Much, When Minimum Wage Will Increase In Westchester Workers in downstate New York are all getting a holiday bonus this year, as minimum wage rates get bumped for the third straight year. As of Friday, Dec. 31, minimum wage workers in Westchester, Suffolk, and Nassau counties will see a bump in their paychecks as their hourly wages will rise to a minimum of $15, putting them on par with employees at large firms in New York City, which has been at that benchmark for three years. Minimum wage employees in those counties had previously been getting $14 an hour. Fast-food workers across New York also make $15 an hour, regardless of location, wh…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Soars Past 10 Percent As Cases Increase COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Soars Past 10 Percent As Cases Increase
Covid-19: Long Island Infection Rate Soars Past 10 Percent As Cases Increase Long Island's COVID-19 infection rate in New York as the region, already the highest in New York, spiked past 10 percent while other parts of the state have seen some relief from the winter surge of the virus. In the past three days, Long Island has seen its seven-day average positive infection rate rise a full percentage point, to 10.32 percent of those tested, according to the latest update from the state Department of Health.  Statewide, the infection rate also rose similarly, from 6.88 percent to 7.88 percent as of Monday, Dec. 20.  No other region in the state has a positive…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Two New Pop-Up Sites For Vaccines, Boosters Open On Long Island COVID-19: Two New Pop-Up Sites For Vaccines, Boosters Open On Long Island
Covid-19: Two New Pop-Up Sites For Vaccines, Boosters Open On Long Island A pair of new COVID-19 vaccination sites are being set up on Long Island as the state and country continue to contend with new variants and outbreaks of the virus. In Suffolk County, the First Baptist Church of Riverhead on Northville Turnpike will be open to walk-in appointments from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 20. In Nassau, on Monday afternoon, the vaxmobile is making a stop a Baldwin High School from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. “The winter surge is in full force, but we are not defenseless. We have the tools to fight this virus and its variants: Get vaccinated, get the booster and wear a mas…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Long Island Sees New Climb In Cases As Infection Rate Tops 8 Percent COVID-19: Long Island Sees New Climb In Cases As Infection Rate Tops 8 Percent
Covid-19: Long Island Sees New Climb In Cases As Infection Rate Tops 8 Percent After coasting through the summer and fall, the holiday spike of COVID-19 cases on Long Island has led to it being among the hottest beds for the virus in New York. Long Island now has the second-highest seven-day average positive infection rate of the state's 10 regions, as it spiked past 8 percent to 8.19 percent, with only Western New York (9.24 percent and trending downward) reporting worse numbers. Statewide, the positive infection rate is also on the rise, from 4.83 percent to 5.73 percent in the past three days, according to the latest update from the New York State Department of Hea…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Climbs Past 7.5 Percent With New Increase In Cases COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Climbs Past 7.5 Percent With New Increase In Cases
Covid-19: Long Island Infection Rate Climbs Past 7.5 Percent With New Increase In Cases More than 3,500 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported on Long Island, which saw its positive infection rate spike above 7.5 percent in the latest update from the state Department of Health. According to health officials, Long Island's seven-day average percentage of positive test results rose from 6.77 percent on Monday, Dec. 13, up to 7.12 percent the following day, rising to 7.53 percent of those tested on Wednesday, Dec. 15. Statewide, the infection rate statewide also rose, up above 5 percent to 5.11 percent according to the latest update. Each of the state's 10 regions now have…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Long Island Sees New Increases In Cases, Infection Rate COVID-19: Long Island Sees New Increases In Cases, Infection Rate
Covid-19: Long Island Sees New Increases In Cases, Infection Rate More than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Long Island, which is approaching a 6.5 percent positive infection rate as variants of the virus are spreading. In the latest update from the state Department of Health, Long Island's seven-day average percentage of positive test results rose from 6.20 percent to 6.49 percent in the past three days. Only the Hudson Valley (4.55 percent) and New York City (2.70  percent) are among the state's 10 regions below a 6 percent positivity rate. Statewide, the positive infection rate dipped slightly, from 4.66 percent to 4.61, according to t…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Climbs Past 6 Percent As Number Of Cases See New Increase COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Climbs Past 6 Percent As Number Of Cases See New Increase
Covid-19: Long Island Infection Rate Climbs Past 6 Percent As Number Of Cases See New Increase More than 1,500 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Long Island as the region roared past the 6 percent positive infection rate as variants of the virus are spreading. In the latest update from the state Department of Health, Long Island's seven-day average percentage of positive test results rose from 5.89 percent to 6.04 percent in the past three days.  Only the Hudson Valley (4.63 percent) and New York City (2.35 percent) are among the state's 10 regions below a 6 percent positivity rate. Statewide, the positive infection rate dipped slightly, from 4.87 percent to 4.75, according t…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: LI Sees New Increases In Cases, Positive-Test Rate; Latest Breakdown By Community COVID-19: LI Sees New Increases In Cases, Positive-Test Rate; Latest Breakdown By Community
Covid-19: LI Sees New Increases In Cases, Positive-Test Rate; Latest Breakdown By Community New cases of the Omicron variant have been reported on Long Island as the region is on the cusp of crossing an unsettling line as the positive COVID-19 rate inches ever closer to 6 percent. While some parts of New York are making progress in the fight against the virus, Long Island has been trending in the wrong direction, with the seven-day average positive infection rate rising to 5.98 percent, according to the latest update from the state Department of Health.  After seeing a slight downtick, the positivity rate statewide is also on the rise, up to 4.87 percent of those tested on Mo…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Long Island's Number Of Cases, Infection Rate Both Increase Again COVID-19: Long Island's Number Of Cases, Infection Rate Both Increase Again
Covid-19: Long Island's Number Of Cases, Infection Rate Both Increase Again There have now been more than 7,000 COVID-19-related fatalities on Long Island since the pandemic began as the average positive infection rate of those tested for the virus inches closer to 6 percent. Over the weekend, the average seven-day positive infection rate on Long Island continued climbing, from 5.83 percent on Thursday, Dec. 2 to 5.95 percent in the latest update from the state Department of Health on Sunday, Dec. 5. Statewide, the positivity rate dipped slightly,  down to 4.84 percent during the same time period. More than 2,000 new infections were confirmed on Long Island i…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Climbs Over 5 Percent As Number Of Cases Keeps Climbing COVID-19: Long Island Infection Rate Climbs Over 5 Percent As Number Of Cases Keeps Climbing
Covid-19: Long Island Infection Rate Climbs Over 5 Percent As Number Of Cases Keeps Climbing Long Island hit a concerning milestone in its fight against COVID-19 as the positive infection rate rose above 5 percent as New York contends with variants of the virus. The average seven-day positive infection rate on Long Island rose .23 percent overnight, according to the latest update from the New York State Department of Health, up to 5.17 percent, leaving New York City (1.94 percent) and the Hudson Valley (3.73 percent) as the only regions to remain under a 4 percent positivity rate. Statewide, the positivity rate continues to spike, up from 4.12 percent to 4.37 percent in the past th…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Long Island Sees New Increases In Number Of Cases, Infection Rate; Latest Breakdown COVID-19: Long Island Sees New Increases In Number Of Cases, Infection Rate; Latest Breakdown
Covid-19: Long Island Sees New Increases In Number Of Cases, Infection Rate; Latest Breakdown The positive COVID-19 infection rate of those tested for the virus on Long Island is rapidly approaching a dubious milestone. After remaining at or below 3 percent for most of the summer and early fall, Long Island has seen weeks of new waves of COVID-19 infections, with the average seven-day positivity rate jumping from 4.43 percent to 4.78 percent in the past three days, according to the state Department of Health. Statewide, the positivity rate also has been spiking, from 3.95 percent to 4.12 percent during the same timeframe, with the numbers expected to continue trending in the wrong d…

SHARE

by Zak Failla