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COVID-19: NY Hospitalizations Well Above Same Period Last Year Amid Increase In Virus Activity COVID-19: NY Hospitalizations Well Above Same Period Last Year Amid Increase In Virus Activity
Covid-19: NY Hospitalizations Well Above Same Period Last Year Amid Increase In Virus Activity As new highly contagious COVID-19 variants emerge, authorities are reporting that statewide hospitalizations in New York have significantly increased compared to the same period last summer. With social gatherings increasing during the summer months and high temperatures forcing people indoors, New York Gov. Kathy Hocul stated on Saturday, July 6, that New Yorkers should get tested if they have symptoms.  In addition, they should also follow the usual precautions, including current CDC guidance, stay current with COVID vaccines, and seek appropriate treatments if necessary. “While we …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: New LB.1 Variant Sees Climb In Infections Amid Nationwide Uptick In Cases COVID-19: New LB.1 Variant Sees Climb In Infections Amid Nationwide Uptick In Cases
Covid-19: New LB.1 Variant Sees Climb In Infections Amid Nationwide Uptick In Cases Cases of a new COVID-19 variant are on the rise nationally as the spread of the virus overall is climbing, according to brand-new data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). The highly contagious variant, LB.1, now accounts for 17.5 percent of US cases in the two weeks ending Saturday, June 22. LB.1 cases have more than doubled since May, and some experts think it could be on a path to surpass two offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron variant who are part of the so-called "FLiRT" group: KP.3 and KP. 2. Combined, those two subvariants account for mo…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Pandemic Has Caused 'Collective Trauma' Among US Adults, New Poll Reveals COVID-19: Pandemic Has Caused 'Collective Trauma' Among US Adults, New Poll Reveals
Covid-19: Pandemic Has Caused 'Collective Trauma' Among US Adults, New Poll Reveals Adult Americans are still experiencing "collective trauma" nearly four years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a brand-new poll. The long-term stress sustained since the outbreak began has had a significant impact on well-being, evidenced by a significant increase in reported mental health conditions and chronic illnesses, according to the results of the nationwide survey conducted by The Harris Poll for the American Psychological Association (APA) among more than 3,000 US adults age 18 and older. Those ages 35 to 44 reported the most significant increase in chroni…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: New Variant With 30 Mutations May Cause Breakthrough Infections, CDC Warns COVID-19: New Variant With 30 Mutations May Cause Breakthrough Infections, CDC Warns
Covid-19: New Variant With 30 Mutations May Cause Breakthrough Infections, CDC Warns A newly identified COVID-19 strain with around 30 mutations may cause breakthrough infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The BA.2.86 strain, now known as Pirola, has been identified in three states: Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio. The Michigan case, the first in the US, was an older woman who had recently returned from Japan. "BA.2.86 may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines," the CDC said in a Risk Assessment Summary. "Scientists are evaluating the effectiveness of the f…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Brand-New Eatery Open For Business In Westchester Brand-New Eatery Open For Business In Westchester
Brand-New Eatery Open For Business In Westchester A new eatery has opened for business in Westchester County.  Bagel Girl in North White Plains, located at 731 North Broadway, is now serving patrons.  The menu includes a variety of bagels, house-made spreads, and other baked items including muffins, croissants, and English muffins, according to the eatery's website.  The shop also sells breakfast sandwiches to-go, salads, yogurt, coffee, and tea.  Owner Lauren Bucci, who grew up in White Plains, said on the shop's website that starting Bagel Girl was her dream and that the pandemic gave her an opportunity to fulf…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Around 2 Million NYers To Get Nearly $500M In Tax Relief Checks: Here's Who Qualifies Around 2 Million NYers To Get Nearly $500M In Tax Relief Checks: Here's Who Qualifies
Around 2 Million NYers To Get Nearly $500M In Tax Relief Checks: Here's Who Qualifies New Yorkers may want to keep an eye on their mailbox in the coming weeks as the state has begun sending out tax relief checks to some families in an effort to alleviate rising costs of living.  The New York Department of Taxation and Finance announced that it started sending out $475 million worth of checks to 1.8 million residents who received at least $100 in Empire State child credits or the state’s earned income credit on their 2021 state tax return. Payments will average $270 per eligible recipient. Checks are being mailed automatically and recipients don’t need to do anything in orde…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Upcoming Hudson Valley Blood Drive Announced Amid 'Severe' Summer Shortage Upcoming Hudson Valley Blood Drive Announced Amid 'Severe' Summer Shortage
Upcoming Hudson Valley Blood Drive Announced Amid 'Severe' Summer Shortage The New York Blood Center is urging local residents to attend an upcoming blood drive amid a "severe" summer shortage.  The organization announced plans for a blood drive on Friday, July 29, in Putnam County at 112 Old Route 6 in Carmel. The blood drive is set to take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lisa Starzyk, an account manager at NYBC, said there are a number of reasons for the current shortage, including the continued impact of the pandemic on blood drives and donations. "Our attendance at blood drives is just not back to pre-pandemic levels," she said. Other reasons for the…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: New Wave With 'Worst Version' Of Omicron Starting, Leading NY Doctor Says COVID-19: New Wave With 'Worst Version' Of Omicron Starting, Leading NY Doctor Says
Covid-19: New Wave With 'Worst Version' Of Omicron Starting, Leading NY Doctor Says A new COVID-19 wave with the strongest strain of the Omicron variant appears to have started in New York, one of NYC's top epidemiologists in the city is saying. Dr. Jay Varma, who was former Mayor Bill de Blasio's top public health advisor during the pandemic, said the infection rate appears to have stabilized at a high level rather than subsiding as summer starts to get into full swing. "This is likely the beginning of a BA.5 wave," Varma stated in a Tweet.  "Reported cases are at a high plateau, which means actual transmission is very high when you account for the &g…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Increases In Infection Rate, Number Of Cases; Latest Breakdown COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Increases In Infection Rate, Number Of Cases; Latest Breakdown
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Increases In Infection Rate, Number Of Cases; Latest Breakdown With the holidays approaching, the Hudson Valley continues to see a rise in new COVID-19 infections as the region saw its positive infection rate climb over 3.50 percent after plateauing earlier in 2022. The average seven-day COVID-19 positive infection rate in the region rose more than .20 points, up to 3.61 percent of those tested on Tuesday, April 5, though it remains one of the lowest rates of New York's 10 regions. Statewide, the positivity rate is also on the rise, up to 3.22 percent on April 5 after hovering below 2 percent for several weeks, according to the most recent update from …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Audit Cites 'Distortion, Suppression Of Facts' In Nursing Home Reporting Under Cuomo COVID-19: Audit Cites 'Distortion, Suppression Of Facts' In Nursing Home Reporting Under Cuomo
Covid-19: Audit Cites 'Distortion, Suppression Of Facts' In Nursing Home Reporting Under Cuomo The state Health Department intentionally “misled the public” regarding the number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes under former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration, according to a scathing audit from the Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. When the COVID-19 pandemic swept through New York, the Department of Health was not prepared to respond to the infectious disease outbreaks in nursing homes, according to the audit, which helped lead to the inaccurate virus-related death count in facilities. Auditors found that health officials undercounted the death toll in nursing homes by at le…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New Studies Shed Light On How Pandemic May Have Started COVID-19: New Studies Shed Light On How Pandemic May Have Started
Covid-19: New Studies Shed Light On How Pandemic May Have Started New clues about how the COVID-19 pandemic started have been detailed in studies that have just been released by scientists on Saturday, Feb. 26. Two studies, conducted by United States scientists, trace the original of the SARS-CoV-2 novel strain of the coronavirus to the large market in Wuhan, China that sold live animals.  The studies are based on genetic analyses of COVID-19 samples from the market and from those who were infected in the first two months after the initial strain was identified. “When you look at all of the evidence together, it’s an extraordinarily clear picture th…

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by Joe Lombardi
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: US Exiting 'Full-Blown' Phase Of Pandemic, Restrictions Could End Soon, Fauci Says COVID-19: US Exiting 'Full-Blown' Phase Of Pandemic, Restrictions Could End Soon, Fauci Says
Covid-19: US Exiting 'Full-Blown' Phase Of Pandemic, Restrictions Could End Soon, Fauci Says The light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel may be fast approaching, according to infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. With the number of new infections and hospitalizations plummeting over the past several weeks, Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, said that the US is almost past the “full-blown” pandemic phase. If Fauci’s prediction holds true, it could lead to a rollback of virus-related restrictions and mandates sooner than later, including an end to mandatory mask wearing by the end of 2022. 
“As we get out of the full-blown pandemic phase of COVID-19,” Fauci s…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Say ‘We Just Need To Get On With Our Lives' COVID-19: Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Say ‘We Just Need To Get On With Our Lives'
Covid-19: Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Say ‘We Just Need To Get On With Our Lives' The majority of Americans are ready to move on from the COVID-19 pandemic and simply accept it as a part of everyday life and move on, according to a newly released national poll. Monmouth University released the results of a new study, which found that seven in 10 Americans agree with the sentiment “it’s time that we accept that COVID-19 is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives.” Of that 70 percent, 78 percent of those polled reported that they had previously contracted COVID-19, and 65 percent of whom have not been infected. The largest divide came between conservatives…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Here's Percentage Of US Workers Who Plan To Quit Their Jobs This Year, New Report Reveals Here's Percentage Of US Workers Who Plan To Quit Their Jobs This Year, New Report Reveals
Here's Percentage Of US Workers Who Plan To Quit Their Jobs This Year, New Report Reveals A new survey found that nearly one-quarter of workers in the United States plan to find a new job this year. ResumeBuilders.com said in a report on Monday, Jan. 3, that it surveyed 1,250 American adults who are currently employed, and found that 23 percent plan to find a new job in 2022. Nine percent of those respondents also said they had already secured a new job. The survey found the turnover will be the highest among the following fields: Retail Food and hospitality Education Office and administrative support The website reported that 31 percent of retail workers and 26 percent of fo…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: First Cases Of Double-Infection Florona Disease Identified COVID-19: First Cases Of Double-Infection Florona Disease Identified
Covid-19: First Cases Of Double-Infection Florona Disease Identified While all eyes are on the Omicron COVID-19 variant, a new public health threat has emerged as the country enters the heart of flu season amid the second year of the pandemic. The first cases of Florona disease - a combination of the flu and coronavirus infections - have been reported, causing concern for some as the double infection looms large in parts of the world. In Israel, the first reported case of the disease was identified on Friday, Dec. 31 in a woman who went into labor and was not vaccinated against COVID-19, officials said. Another case was also identified in a pregnant woman. A…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Hochul Proposes Bringing 'To-Go Drinks' Back To New York Restaurants COVID-19: Hochul Proposes Bringing 'To-Go Drinks' Back To New York Restaurants
Covid-19: Hochul Proposes Bringing 'To-Go Drinks' Back To New York Restaurants Have a drink on her? In her first “State of the State" address, Gov. Kathy Hochul called for the return of “to-go drinks” for restaurants as New York deals with the latest surge of COVID-19 cases that have struck the region. “We're going to do something bars and restaurants have been asking for, to once again allow the sale of to-go drinks,” she said. “Cheers, New York.” During the initial COVID-19 outbreak, “to-go drinks” became a popular item for New Yorkers until former Gov. Andrew Cuomo rescinded the policy when the number of new cases began plateauing in June. New York Gov. Ka…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Two New Schools In Hudson Valley Shift To Remote Learning COVID-19: Two New Schools In Hudson Valley Shift To Remote Learning
Covid-19: Two New Schools In Hudson Valley Shift To Remote Learning At least two more schools in the Hudson Valley will be joining several others throughout the region to go remote due to the post-holiday surge of COVID-19 cases. In Orange County, Monroe-Woodbury Schools Superintendent Elsie Rodriguez announced that both the high school and middle school would be transitioning to their distance learning model beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 4. It becomes the latest district to go remote in the region, including Yonkers Public Schools, Mount Vernon Schools, the New Rochelle School District, and Ossining Union Free School District, among others in the Hudson Vall…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees Post-Christmas Spike In Cases As Infection Rate Hits 12.5 Percent COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees Post-Christmas Spike In Cases As Infection Rate Hits 12.5 Percent
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Sees Post-Christmas Spike In Cases As Infection Rate Hits 12.5 Percent The Hudson Valley has seen an increase in new COVID-19 cases following the holiday weekend. New York State officials reported 40,780 new COVID-19 cases and 210,996, with a test positivity rate of 19.33 percent, in the daily update posted on Tuesday, Dec. 28. Officials also reported 77 deaths from COVID-19 in the update. As of Monday, Dec. 27, seven-day average percentage of positive test results in the mid-Hudson region was 12.53 percent, an increase from 11.55 percent as of Sunday and 11.04 percent as of Saturday. The statewide seven-day average was 13.…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
New Bars, Restaurants In NYC To Open More Quickly Under Legislation Signed By Hochul New Bars, Restaurants In NYC To Open More Quickly Under Legislation Signed By Hochul
New Bars, Restaurants In NYC To Open More Quickly Under Legislation Signed By Hochul New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed new legislation in an effort to make it easier for new bars, restaurants and breweries to open quickly. The new legislative package allows temporary retail permits to be issued to bars and restaurants opening in New York City, officials announced on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Officials said the current law prevents businesses in the city to be granted temporary liquor licenses, and the State Liquor Authority can only provide the permanent licenses after a lengthy review process. The new legislation allows the State Liquor Authority to grant temporary liquor l…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: NY Breaks Single-Day Record For Cases By 30 Percent Over Previous Mark COVID-19: NY Breaks Single-Day Record For Cases By 30 Percent Over Previous Mark
Covid-19: NY Breaks Single-Day Record For Cases By 30 Percent Over Previous Mark New Yor has just set a new single-day high for newly confirmed COVID-19 cases for the fifth time in a week. In her latest update on Wednesday, Dec. 22, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the state recorded 28,924 confirmed COVID-19 cases out of more than 270,000 tests that were administered for a 10.66 percent daily positive infection rate. The new single-day high marked a 30-percent jump from the record that was set earlier this week, according to data released by the state Department of Health. Hospitalizations in New York are also on the rise, with 124 new COVID-19 patients admit…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Soars Past 6 Percent As Cases Continue To Climb COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Soars Past 6 Percent As Cases Continue To Climb
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Soars Past 6 Percent As Cases Continue To Climb The Hudson Valley's COVID-19 infection rate has increased past 6 percent in the most recent update from state officials.  New York State officials reported a total of 22,478 additional COVID-19 cases and 267,422 tests in its update on Sunday, Dec. 19. The state also reported 58 deaths from COVID-19 in the past two days, with New York now surpassing 60,000 deaths during the pandemic, with the new total 60,253. State officials said the seven-day average number of cases per 100,000 people in the mid-Hudson region increased from 58.04 cases on Thursday, Dec. 16, to 63.…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Climb In Cases As Infection Rate Nears 5.5 Percent COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Climb In Cases As Infection Rate Nears 5.5 Percent
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Climb In Cases As Infection Rate Nears 5.5 Percent The positive COVID-19 infection rate in the Hudson Valley took another jump as the state continues to see a surge of new cases as new variants are spreading. In the past three days, the average positive infection rate in the Hudson Valley rose nearly a full percentage point, from 4.65 percent on Tuesday, Dec. 14 to 5.48 percent of those tested for the virus on Thursday, Dec. 16. 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 Health. Sixty new viru…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Hospitalizations In New York Up 70 Percent Since Thanksgiving COVID-19: Hospitalizations In New York Up 70 Percent Since Thanksgiving
Covid-19: Hospitalizations In New York Up 70 Percent Since Thanksgiving The post-Thanksgiving surge of new COVID-19 infections in New York has led to a fresh spike of holiday hospitalizations as part of what Gov. Kathy Hochul called “a war against the unvaccinated.” Since Thanksgiving, there has been a 70 percent rise in the number of new hospitalizations, while the seven-day average number of cases per 100,000 New Yorkers has spiked 58 percent during the same timeframe. Eighty-nine new COVID-19 patients were administered to New York hospitals, according to the latest update from the Department of Health on Tuesday, Dec. 14, as the total rose to 3,772 being t…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Café That Opened Just Before Start Of Pandemic To Permanently Close COVID-19: Hudson Valley Café That Opened Just Before Start Of Pandemic To Permanently Close
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Café That Opened Just Before Start Of Pandemic To Permanently Close A café that opened in the Hudson Valley just months before the COVID-19 pandemic began will soon permanently close. The owners of the Trolley Stop Café in Highland, a hamlet of Ulster County, said in a Facebook post on Monday, Dec. 6, that after two years in business, they will close by mid-January. The café is located at 58 Vineyard Ave. "Having opened only a few months before the Global COVID-19 Pandemic was unfortunate and made things hard for us," the announcement reads. "We made it through the pandemic but find ourselves in a world that has changed. Food and material prices are skyroc…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: 'This Time, Unlike Last Year, We’re Not Defenseless,' Hochul Says Of New Variant COVID-19: 'This Time, Unlike Last Year, We’re Not Defenseless,' Hochul Says Of New Variant
Covid-19: 'This Time, Unlike Last Year, We’re Not Defenseless,' Hochul Says Of New Variant Gov. Kathy Hochul cautioned that New York is bracing for the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, declaring that the state will be ready for it when it does. Hochul said during a COVID-19 briefing this week that the new variant is being closely monitored by state health officials, including the state testing center at Wadsworth Labs in Albany, and while Omicron is a concern, New York now has more tools to combat it than at the outset of the pandemic in March 2020. Earlier story - COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States “We’re fully monitoring it - but the diff…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees Surge Of New Cases; Latest Breakdown By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees Surge Of New Cases; Latest Breakdown By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Sees Surge Of New Cases; Latest Breakdown By County The days after the Thanksgiving holiday have seen a new surge of new cases of the virus in the Hudson Valley, which continues to see its infection rate spike. The average seven-day positive infection rate of those tested in the Hudson Valley has been on the rise through the fall, up to 3.39 percent in the latest update from the state Department of Health, after it sat below 3 percent for months. Statewide, the positive infection rate is also surging, up past 4 percent to 4.05 percent in the latest update. Sixty-nine new virus-related deaths were reported in New York in the latest update fr…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Cuomo Was Serial Sex Harasser Who Misused Resources To Write Book, NY Assembly Report Says Cuomo Was Serial Sex Harasser Who Misused Resources To Write Book, NY Assembly Report Says
Cuomo Was Serial Sex Harasser Who Misused Resources To Write Book, NY Assembly Report Says Embattled former Gov Andrew Cuomo was found to be complicit as a serial sexual abuser who misused state resources while writing a book about leadership during the pandemic, according a report from the New York State Assembly. The Assembly Judiciary Committee released a 46-page report on Cuomo that took the former governor to task for alleged sexual harassment, miscounting COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, and his book, which net him millions of dollars. According to reports, the Judiciary Committee determined that Cuomo engaged in multiple instances of sexual harassment, created a hostile w…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: US Sees Surge Of Cases Among Children; Here's Latest Data COVID-19: US Sees Surge Of Cases Among Children; Here's Latest Data
Covid-19: US Sees Surge Of Cases Among Children; Here's Latest Data With children back in the classroom and activities moving indoors as the calendar turns to the holiday season, the US has seen a spike in new COVID-19 cases among children that are causing concerns. According to a new report, in the past week, more than 122,000 COVID-19 cases were reported among minors, marking a 22 percent increase from approximately two weeks ago. The numbers represent the 14th straight week that child COVID-19 cases topped 100,000, despite the vaccine becoming more readily available for those between the ages of 5 and 12, though the number has dropped since peaking at 25…

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by Zak Failla
News
Hochul Names New State Health Commissioner Hochul Names New State Health Commissioner
Hochul Names New State Health Commissioner New York Gov. Kathy Hochul continues making personnel changes from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s previous administration, this time with a new health commissioner. Hochul announced that she has chosen longtime healthcare professional Dr. Mary T. Bassett, to take over as the Commissioner of the Department of Health, replacing former top Cuomo aide Howard Zucker, who announced his resignation earlier this month. Original story - New York State Health Commissioner Resigns, Hochul Announces Bassett, who will be stepping down as the director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center for Health …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Brand-New Poll Reveals Who's Most Comfortable Returning To The Office By Age Group COVID-19: Brand-New Poll Reveals Who's Most Comfortable Returning To The Office By Age Group
Covid-19: Brand-New Poll Reveals Who's Most Comfortable Returning To The Office By Age Group Gen Z is the age group least comfortable returning to the office in the current state of the pandemic, according to a new poll. The Harris Poll separated respondents into categories Gen Z (ages 18 to 24), Millenials (ages 25 to 40), Gen X (ages 41 to 56) and Baby Boomers and older (ages 57 and older). The results found that 33 percent of Gen Z respondents said they would be uncomfortable returning to the office. Millennials were the most comfortable returning to the office, with just 25 percent of respondents saying they would be uncomfortable to return.  The poll found that 28 perce…

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by Nicole Valinote