Stamford, CT
News
COVID-19: Here's When Fully Vaccinated CT Residents Won't Be Required To Wear Masks Indoors COVID-19: Here's When Fully Vaccinated CT Residents Won't Be Required To Wear Masks Indoors
Covid-19: Here's When Fully Vaccinated CT Residents Won't Be Required To Wear Masks Indoors The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it is easing federal guidance on mask-wearing indoors, though it will be a few days until Connecticut follows suit. This week, the CDC issued new guidance that calls for continued mask-wearing in more crowded indoor spaces such as on mass transportation, hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters, but eases restrictions on workplaces and other similar locations. Earlier story - COVID-19: CDC Issues Brand-New Guidance On Mask-Wearing Indoors Gov. Ned Lamont said that Connecticut will be adopting that guidance, though not unti…

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by Zak Failla
White Plains, NY
News
COVID-19: Mask On? Mask Off? Cuomo Said State Is 'Reviewing' New CDC Guidance COVID-19: Mask On? Mask Off? Cuomo Said State Is 'Reviewing' New CDC Guidance
Covid-19: Mask On? Mask Off? Cuomo Said State Is 'Reviewing' New CDC Guidance Mask and facial covering restrictions may soon be eased up for fully vaccinated New Yorkers as the state and country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state is independently reviewing new CDC guidance on mask-wearing for vaccinated individuals indoors. The new guidance from the federal government calls for continued mask-wearing in more crowded indoor spaces such as on mass transportation, hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters, but eases restrictions on workplaces, schools, and similar locations. Earlier story - COVID-19: CDC Issues Brand-New Guida…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
News
COVID-19: NY Adopts New CDC Guidance On Mask Wearing COVID-19: NY Adopts New CDC Guidance On Mask Wearing
Covid-19: NY Adopts New CDC Guidance On Mask Wearing New York will be adopting the new, more flexible mask-wearing guidance that has been provided by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). The CDC announced on Tuesday, April 27 that people who are fully vaccinated - one shot of Johnson & Johnson or two doses of Pfizer or Moderna - will no longer have to wear masks while gathering in small groups outside. Earlier story - COVID-19: CDC Announces Major New Guidance On Mask Wearing During a COVID-19 briefing later that day in Johnson City, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed that the state will be following that guidance an…

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by Zak Failla
Pittsfield, MA
Politics
COVID-19: CDC Announces Major New Guidance On Mask Wearing COVID-19: CDC Announces Major New Guidance On Mask Wearing
Covid-19: CDC Announces Major New Guidance On Mask Wearing The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has just released major new guidance on mask-wearing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the new guidance, announced Tuesday afternoon, April 27, people who are fully vaccinated and who are outdoors no longer have to wear masks if they are gathered in small groups. Masks should still be worn at heavily attending outdoor gatherings, including concerts and sports events, where social distancing is not possible, the CDC said. It is also safe for those fully vaccinated to return to several activities inside, including attending religious ser…

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by Joe Lombardi
Massapequa, NY
News
COVID-19: With Vaccinations Ramping Up, Should You Still Wear A Mask Outdoors? Experts Weigh In COVID-19: With Vaccinations Ramping Up, Should You Still Wear A Mask Outdoors? Experts Weigh In
Covid-19: With Vaccinations Ramping Up, Should You Still Wear A Mask Outdoors? Experts Weigh In Wearing a mask in public has been a staple during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now that more than half of US adults -- about 135 million people 18 and older -- have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, many are ready to go maskless - at least when outdoors. In order to achieve herd immunity, though, medical experts say 70 percent of Americans must be fully -- not just partially --- vaccinated. In other words, we're not quite there yet. COVID-19: Here's Number Of Americans Who've Become Infected Despite Being Vaccinated, CDC Says That means people should continue to wear masks in pu…

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by Joe Lombardi
Brookfield, CT
Police & Fire
COVID-19: CT Releases Guidance For Proms, Graduations COVID-19: CT Releases Guidance For Proms, Graduations
Covid-19: CT Releases Guidance For Proms, Graduations As the end of the school year grows near and students are dreaming of proms and graduation ceremonies, Connecticut state officials have released guidelines on how to limit the spread of COVID-19. State officials from the Department of Education and Department of Public Health have released a three-page document, that stresses the importance of many of the key preventions that have been in place for the past year including mask-wearing, social distancing, hand sanitizing, and limiting groups size for events. They are also asking school districts to have rapid contact tracing in place an…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lewisboro, NY
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Remains NY's Highest; Latest County Case Breakdown COVID-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Remains NY's Highest; Latest County Case Breakdown
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Positive-Test Rate Remains NY's Highest; Latest County Case Breakdown There was a slight downtick in positive infection rate in the Hudson Valley for the first time in several days, but the region remains the hottest spot in New York for the virus. Hudson Valley counties were reporting a total of more than 1,000 newly confirmed COVID-19 infections on Friday, April 2, as the region continues contending with the latest spike of cases across the country. The average seven-day positive infection rate of those tested in the Hudson Valley dropped for the first time this week, modestly from 4.87 percent to 4.84 percent on Thursday, April 1. Statewide, the positive …

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by Zak Failla
Pittsfield, MA
News
COVID-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says COVID-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says
Covid-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says Five communities in western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, March 25, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the lates…

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by Zak Failla
Mamaroneck, NY
Schools
COVID-19: CDC Revisiting Guidance After Study Reveals New Safe Social DIstance For Students COVID-19: CDC Revisiting Guidance After Study Reveals New Safe Social DIstance For Students
Covid-19: CDC Revisiting Guidance After Study Reveals New Safe Social DIstance For Students With President Joe Biden pushing to have all students back in the classroom within his first 100 days in office, and no later than the fall, the Centers for Disease Control is evaluating its guidance on socially distancing inside schools. Currently, students are advised to stay at least six feet apart while wearing facial coverings, however, a new study found that the number could possibly be dropped to three feet of social distance while still maintaining the safety of students and staff. A study recently published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, looked at 242 school districts…

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by Zak Failla
Port Chester, NY
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate On Rise; New Breakdown Of Cases By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate On Rise; New Breakdown Of Cases By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate On Rise; New Breakdown Of Cases By County The positive COVID-19 infection rate in New York is on the rise, though the Hudson Valley saw less than 1,000 new cases, according to the latest data released by the state Department of Health. According to the state Department of Health, the average seven-day COVID-19 infection rate rose in the Hudson Valley for the third straight day, up from 4.49 percent on Friday, March 12 to 4.62 percent on Sunday, March 14, the highest rate in the nation, ahead of Long Island (4.40 percent), and New York City (4.15 percent).  A total of 833 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Hudson Valley ou…

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by Zak Failla
Fairfield, CT
Schools
COVID-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools COVID-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools
Covid-19: CDC Releases New Guidance, Strategies For Reopening Schools The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging schools and school districts to reopen safely and has just released new guidance for doing just that. On Friday, Feb. 12, the CDC unveiled the new science-based plan. “It is critical for schools to open as safely and as soon as possible, and remain open, to achieve the benefits of in-person learning and key support services,” health officials said. “To enable schools to open safely and remain open, it is important to adopt and consistently implement actions to slow the spread of COVID in schools and in the community.” The…

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by Zak Failla
Springfield, MA
Lifestyle
COVID-19: CDC Outlines Mask Practices That Can Cut Transmission 96.5 Percent COVID-19: CDC Outlines Mask Practices That Can Cut Transmission 96.5 Percent
Covid-19: CDC Outlines Mask Practices That Can Cut Transmission 96.5 Percent The CDC has laid out new guidance on mask-wearing that could help dramatically curtail the spread of COVID-19. According to health officials, wearing any mask will reduce the risk of contracting or spreading the virus, but more tightly fitted surgical masks, or double-masking can vastly improve protection for both the wearer and others. New research found that transmission of the virus can be reduced by up to 96.5 percent if tightly-fitted surgical masks or a combination of fitted surgical masks with a cloth covering are worn, officials said. Rochelle Walensky, the new director of the CDC…

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by Zak Failla