Tag:

Pandemic Response

COVID-19: Both NY, CT Get Poor Scores For Preventing Prisoners From Getting Virus, Study Says COVID-19: Both NY, CT Get Poor Scores For Preventing Prisoners From Getting Virus, Study Says
Covid-19: Both NY, CT Get Poor Scores For Preventing Prisoners From Getting Virus, Study Says New York and Connecticut both received low grades for their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in state prisons, according to a criminal justice group. WSHU Public Radio reported that both states received a score of F+, higher than the average of states graded by the Prison Policy Initiative.  The news outlet said most states received a grade of F. New Jersey received a C, the highest score.  The Prison Policy Initiative graded states on about 30 metrics, including vaccination efforts, WSHU reported. Wanda Bertram, a member of the organization, told WSHU that Connecticut and…
COVID-19: Cuomo Got Seven-Figure Advance For His Controversial Book Now Pulled From Publication COVID-19: Cuomo Got Seven-Figure Advance For His Controversial Book Now Pulled From Publication
Covid-19: Cuomo Got Seven-Figure Advance For His Controversial Book Now Pulled From Publication New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reportedly received a seven-figure advance for his much-maligned book about leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic that was written while the virus was still surging across the country. Cuomo, who has come under fire for underreporting COVID deaths in nursing homes and then attempting to have his administration cover it up, was paid handsomely for his controversial book touting the state’s response to the pandemic, according to a new Vanity Fair story. That report comes just as Crown Publishing announced it has stopped promoting and printing new copies of Cuomo'…
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of NYers Who Think Cuomo Is Providing Accurate Info, New Poll Says COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of NYers Who Think Cuomo Is Providing Accurate Info, New Poll Says
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of NYers Who Think Cuomo Is Providing Accurate Info, New Poll Says Despite the controversy surrounding Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling and reporting of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, the majority of New Yorkers still believe he’s providing accurate information to the public, according to a new Siena College poll. Voters in the latest poll found that 61 percent of New Yorkers approve the job Cuomo is doing during the pandemic, down slightly, while 34 percent do not approve. The poll also determined that 67 percent of New Yorkers give Cuomo a positive grade for communicating with the public, while 61 percent said that they believe he is providing accurate in…
COVID-19: New CDC Director Gives Guidance On Schools Reopening COVID-19: New CDC Director Gives Guidance On Schools Reopening
Covid-19: New CDC Director Gives Guidance On Schools Reopening With President Joe Biden seeking to open all elementary and middle schools for in-person learning within his first 100 days in office, the CDC has provided new guidance on getting students back into the classroom. The CDC is now saying that it is possible to return to the classroom without fully vaccinating all educators beforehand. “There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated in order to reopen safely," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Wednesday, Feb. 3. "Vaccination of teachers is not…
COVID-19: Two New Cases Of UK So-Called 'Super Strain' Variant Detected In Westchester COVID-19: Two New Cases Of UK So-Called 'Super Strain' Variant Detected In Westchester
Covid-19: Two New Cases Of UK So-Called 'Super Strain' Variant Detected In Westchester New mutated COVID-19 cases involving the so-called "Super Strain" "that got on a plane in the United Kingdom and flew to New York” have been reported in the Hudson Valley. Two new cases were reported of the UK strain, which is more transmittable, though no more lethal, were reported in Westchester, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday, Jan. 22. “The UK strain has been spreading,” he said during a COVID-19 briefing on Friday. “It should have never been here. If the federal government did the testing and quarantine mandates that other countries did it wouldn’t have been, but we are …
COVID-19: New Areas In Westchester, Putnam, Orange Counties Now On Track To Be Cluster Zones COVID-19: New Areas In Westchester, Putnam, Orange Counties Now On Track To Be Cluster Zones
Covid-19: New Areas In Westchester, Putnam, Orange Counties Now On Track To Be Cluster Zones New communities in the Hudson Valley are on the verge of seeing new restrictions put in place due to new and rising COVID-19 cases. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday, Nov. 23 that some portions of Westchester, Orange, and Putnam counties are on track to earn “yellow,” “orange,” or “red” zone distinctions due to the rise in infection rate. In Westchester, Cuomo said that Yonkers, Port Chester, Ossining, New Rochelle, Tarrytown, and Peekskill are on track to become either “orange” or “red” zones. Earlier story - COVID-19: New Westchester Communities Designated As 'Yellow Z…
COVID-19: Village In Westchester Named As NY Yellow Cluster Zone Due To Case Increases COVID-19: Village In Westchester Named As NY Yellow Cluster Zone Due To Case Increases
Covid-19: Village In Westchester Named As NY Yellow Cluster Zone Due To Case Increases A Westchester village has become the first in the county to be designated as a COVID-19 “yellow zone,” due to the recent rise in cases in recent weeks. Like the rest of the country, New York has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, prompting Gov. Andrew Cuomo to declare part of Port Chester as a warning zone near the Connecticut border as the village has sustained an average positive infection rate above 2.5 percent. Cuomo said that in response to the uptick in positive cases, the Westchester County Department of Health coordinated to provide rapid testing at Open Door on Grace C…
COVID-19: These 'High Risk' Fall HS Sports Moved To Spring In New York COVID-19: These 'High Risk' Fall HS Sports Moved To Spring In New York
Covid-19: These 'High Risk' Fall HS Sports Moved To Spring In New York Some “high-risk” high school sports may still have a season during the COVID-19 outbreak. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announced that football, volleyball, and competitive cheerleading fall seasons will be postponed until March due to the virus. Low-risk sports still have the green light to begin practicing on Monday, Sept. 21, with games beginning in October. Those sports are cross country, field hockey, swimming, soccer and tennis. “We’ve spent two days speaking with nearly 500 athletic directors across the state and it’s clear that administe…
COVID-19: Families Want Independent Investigation Of Cuomo's Handling Of Nursing Homes COVID-19: Families Want Independent Investigation Of Cuomo's Handling Of Nursing Homes
Covid-19: Families Want Independent Investigation Of Cuomo's Handling Of Nursing Homes Families in New York are calling for an independent investigation into the state’s handling of nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, before the outbreak peaked and projections were daunting, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an order to send recovering COVID-19 patients from hospitals into nursing homes to free up beds for potential patients. That move has drawn criticisms from many, with some who lost family members joining some elected officials in calling for an independent probe into that decision, something Cuomo has rebuffed. “If Gov. Cuomo’s administration had spent …
COVID-19: All NY Restaurants, Bars Will Close Again If Measures Aren't Enforced, Cuomo Says COVID-19: All NY Restaurants, Bars Will Close Again If Measures Aren't Enforced, Cuomo Says
Covid-19: All NY Restaurants, Bars Will Close Again If Measures Aren't Enforced, Cuomo Says All restaurants and bars in New York could potentially be forced to close again after mass gatherings of non-socially distanced patrons amid the COVID-19 pandemic were reported over the weekend,  Gov. Andrew Cuomo is warning. If crowds continue congregating pandemic, failing to socially distance or wear face coverings, "the bad restaurant and bar owners are going to make it worse for the good ones," Cuomo said. "We did the impossible as New Yorkers - we stepped up and conquered the COVID-19 virus and now we have to protect the progress that we have made," Cuomo said.  "…
COVID-19: Here's Rundown Of Cases As Ulster, Sullivan  Counties Start Phase 3 COVID-19: Here's Rundown Of Cases As Ulster, Sullivan  Counties Start Phase 3
Covid-19: Here's Rundown Of Cases As Ulster, Sullivan Counties Start Phase 3 There are less than a total of 350 novel coronavirus cases in Ulster and Sullivan counties as the Hudson Valley prepares to enter Phase 3 of the four-phase reopening of the economy. Phase 3 begins on Tuesday, June 23. Since the pandemic began, there have been a total of 1,786 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ulster County, with 308 still active. There have been 85 COVID-19-related fatalities, with 1,393 being treated and recovering from the virus. In Ulster County, the breakdown is as follows: Ulster: 224 confirmed COVID-19 cases (75 active); Lloyd: 159 (44); City of Kingston: 252 (41); Wawar…
COVID-19: Clorox In 'Catch-Up Mode' After Seeing 500 Percent Spike In Demand During Pandemic COVID-19: Clorox In 'Catch-Up Mode' After Seeing 500 Percent Spike In Demand During Pandemic
Covid-19: Clorox In 'Catch-Up Mode' After Seeing 500 Percent Spike In Demand During Pandemic The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced Clorox, one of the country’s largest manufacturers of cleaning products, to go into “catch-up mode.” With cleaning and disinfecting items flying off store shelves during the pandemic, Clorox has reportedly produced 40 million more items in the first quarter of 2020 than it did in the same time frame last year, leaving it scrambling to meet the demand. According to an NBC News report, the company has seen a 500 percent increase in demand since the outbreak began in March, and has sold as much in a week as it typically would in a month. C…
COVID-19: Half Of Americans Have Lost Job, Or Work Hours, Due To Pandemic, New Poll Says COVID-19: Half Of Americans Have Lost Job, Or Work Hours, Due To Pandemic, New Poll Says
Covid-19: Half Of Americans Have Lost Job, Or Work Hours, Due To Pandemic, New Poll Says Half the country has taken a financial hit due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and most don’t believe they’ll be heading back to work soon, according to a newly released Marist College poll. According to the poll, 50 percent of Americans said they or someone in their household has lost their jobs or hours due to the virus, up from 18 percent from a previous poll just a month ago. "There are few households in the country that haven't been affected by this crisis, through health, through school, through jobs, from all walks of life, from all backgrounds," Barbara Carvalho, direc…
COVID-19: 35 NY Counties Now Cleared To Have Hospitals Resume Elective Surgery COVID-19: 35 NY Counties Now Cleared To Have Hospitals Resume Elective Surgery
Covid-19: 35 NY Counties Now Cleared To Have Hospitals Resume Elective Surgery A total of 35 counties in New York State have now been approved to have hospitals resume elective outpatient treatments amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo previously announced that the state will allow elective outpatient treatments to resume in counties and hospitals without significant risk of COVID-19 surge in the near term.  The counties now eligible (also shown in the image above) are:  Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chenango, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Mad…
COVID-19: Here's One Bright Spot In Record March Retail Sales Decline COVID-19: Here's One Bright Spot In Record March Retail Sales Decline
Covid-19: Here's One Bright Spot In Record March Retail Sales Decline Though the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has wreaked havoc on retail stores in the entire nation, grocery and beverage store sales skyrocketed to new heights, according to newly released data. While retailers have seen businesses plummet, grocery stores and beverage depots have seen sales increase by more than 25 percent since the outbreak began in early March, according to a new report from the National Retail Federation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the overall retail business was down 8.7 percent from February to March, and down 6.2 percent at the same point last year. Th…
COVID-19: Initial Antibody Study Reveals Percentage Of Randomly Tested NYers Who Are Positive COVID-19: Initial Antibody Study Reveals Percentage Of Randomly Tested NYers Who Are Positive
Covid-19: Initial Antibody Study Reveals Percentage Of Randomly Tested NYers Who Are Positive The first phase of random testing of New Yorkers statewide found that nearly 14 percent tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) antibodies, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced. During his daily COVID-19 news briefing on Thursday, April 23, Cuomo said that 3,000 New Yorkers had been randomly tested at grocery and box stores in the first phase of antibody testings, and 13.9 percent had been infected by the virus. The majority of cases were in New York City (21.2 percent), Long Island (16.7 percent), Westchester and Rockland (11.7 percent). Just 3.6 percent of cases were reported in the rest …
COVID-19: $500M New Legoland Location In Hudson Valley Scraps Planned July 4th Opening COVID-19: $500M New Legoland Location In Hudson Valley Scraps Planned July 4th Opening
Covid-19: $500M New Legoland Location In Hudson Valley Scraps Planned July 4th Opening The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) isn't only causing havoc with just about every American's life, it's also doing the same to their planned getaways. On Tuesday, March 31, Legoland New York announced that its planned opening for Saturday, July 4 has been delayed until sometime in 2021, due to the pandemic. “Nothing is more important to us than the health, safety, and security of our team, the partners we work with, and the communities we serve,” said Legoland New York Resort divisional director Stephanie Johnson.  Johnson said the pandemic has affected businesses worldwide, and by waiting,…
COVID-19: 'We Face A Long Road Ahead - Stay Hopeful,' Obama Says, Sharing Inspiring Stories COVID-19: 'We Face A Long Road Ahead - Stay Hopeful,' Obama Says, Sharing Inspiring Stories
Covid-19: 'We Face A Long Road Ahead - Stay Hopeful,' Obama Says, Sharing Inspiring Stories Former President Barack Obama is urging Americans to stay hopeful amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. "The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing us to make sudden, drastic shifts to our way of life to keep ourselves and our communities healthy and safe," Obama said in a statement. "But even in this uncertain time, we can still find reasons for hope.  "People from every corner of the globe are carrying out selfless acts in times of need. While staying safe, they’re discovering creative, wholehearted ways to look out for others.  "And they’re demonstrating a value that guides th…
COVID-19: What Does Virus Do Inside Your Body? Can You Get It Twice? COVID-19: What Does Virus Do Inside Your Body? Can You Get It Twice?
Covid-19: What Does Virus Do Inside Your Body? Can You Get It Twice? While the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) has proven deadly to many, a larger portion of the population that contracts the disease will only experience moderate symptoms, health officials said. It has been established that the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus is spread person-to-person within a six-foot range when a person coughs or sneezes. It is also possible for the virus to live on hard surfaces, which can then be spread by touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes. Earlier story: COVID-19 - Coronavirus Can Remain In Air 3 Hours, Live On Some Surfaces 2-3 Days, Tests Show According to …