Thu, Mar 17th 2022 04:30 pm
On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul extended her executive order declaring a state of emergency in New York to April 15. This is in response to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
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Thu, Mar 17th 2022 03:10 pm
A little more than two years after the first pandemic restrictions came into effect, in letters to the U.S. and Canadian governments, Congressman Brian Higgins is calling on leaders to remove all pandemic-imposed border restrictions. His request comes as Canada is preparing to announce plans to drop the existing testing requirement for vaccinated travelers entering the country through airports and land ports, effective April 1.
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Wed, Mar 16th 2022 02:05 pm
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following statement Tuesday in response to Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's audit of the New York State Department of Health's response to the coronavirus, which affirmed some of the findings of her January 2021 nursing homes report, most notably that DOH misrepresented the true number of deaths that occurred at nursing homes:
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Wed, Mar 16th 2022 02:05 pm
The New York State Department of Health was unprepared to respond to infectious disease outbreaks at nursing homes, even before the coronavirus pandemic hit New York, an audit released Tuesday by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli found.
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Tue, Mar 15th 2022 01:00 pm
On Tuesday, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, directed the SBA to provide additional deferment of principal and interest payments for existing COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program borrowers. That makes a total of 30 months deferment from inception on all approved COVID-19 EIDL loans.
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Mon, Mar 14th 2022 03:25 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the availability of $2.5 million over five years to create and support a Mental Health Resource and Training Technical Assistance Center for Schools. The center will support all New York state public and private schools, and assist them in providing mental health education as part of the K-12 health curricula.
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Thu, Mar 10th 2022 08:40 am
For a limited time, the American Red Cross has resumed testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for coronavirus antibodies. Plasma from routine donations that have high levels of antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to help meet the needs of COVID-19 patients with weakened immune systems.
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Wed, Mar 9th 2022 02:55 pm
Niagara County Legislator Irene Myers, left, delivers coronavirus test kits to Marlene Wessel and Karen Johnson of the Youngstown Free Library. The kits are available to any resident, free of charge, during the library's regular business hours.
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Fri, Mar 4th 2022 02:10 pm
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on Friday issued the following statement regarding the ongoing state of emergency in Erie County, which has been in place since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in mid-March 2020 - and, his team said, "has allowed Erie County's response to the virus and its variants to be as flexible, quick and targeted as possible throughout each stage of the public health response."
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Fri, Mar 4th 2022 02:10 pm
Niagara County Legislator Rick Abbott announced Niagara County has tens of thousands of coronavirus tests kits from New York state that it is making available to not-for-profits and businesses. The tests are available through the Niagara County Department of Emergency Services.
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Wed, Mar 2nd 2022 04:35 pm
In accordance with the changes in guidelines from Erie County, New York state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, masks are no longer required for Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra performances at Kleinhans Music Hall. That said, the BPO stated, "We strongly encourage all patrons to continue to wear masks at all times while in the venue."
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Wed, Mar 2nd 2022 04:05 pm
New York State Senate Republican Leader Ortt on Tuesday "demanded" to know why the Senate Democratic Conference refused to take up his resolution to nullify Gov. Kathy Hochul's Feb. 14 executive order declaring a "disaster" emergency in the state of New York.
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Wed, Mar 2nd 2022 03:00 pm
University at Buffalo Provost A. Scott Weber announced via email to campus this morning that UB will lift its mask mandate effective March 5.
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Tue, Mar 1st 2022 03:35 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins, who serves as co-chair of the Northern Border Caucus and the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group, says the U.S. and Canada should follow guidance implemented by its health agencies and lift remaining pandemic-related border restrictions.
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Mon, Feb 28th 2022 12:35 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced nearly $2 million in federal funding is available for the New York Great Lakes Fisheries Relief Program, provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
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Mon, Feb 28th 2022 12:35 pm
Following Gov. Kathy Hochul's announcement on Sunday related to mask requirements in New York state schools, as of Wednesday, March 2, students and school staff will not be required to wear masks in school settings.
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Mon, Feb 28th 2022 11:25 am
On Friday, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced the mask mandate currently in effect in all Erie County-owned buildings would be lifted as of Monday, Feb. 28. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website now includes information on COVID-19 community levels nationwide, a measure of the impact of COVID-19 illness on community health and health care systems, and lists Erie County in the "medium" category.
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Sun, Feb 27th 2022 05:25 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday announced plans to end the state mask requirement in schools starting on Wednesday, March 2.
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Fri, Feb 25th 2022 05:35 pm
Effective Monday, Feb. 28, Niagara County Community College is removing the mandatory masking requirement on campus for those fully compliant with the coronavirus vaccine mandate as defined by the Centers for Disease Control, New York state, the State University of New York and the Niagara County Department of Health. While masks will no longer be required, it is encouraged that individuals wear them when in close proximity to others.
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Wed, Feb 23rd 2022 03:30 pm
The Niagara County Department of Health today released its weekly COVID-19 update.
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Wed, Feb 23rd 2022 03:05 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced 39 new #VaxForKids pop-up sites to increase vaccination rates among children and adolescents. Hochul and the state's Department of Health continue to urge parents and guardians to ensure their children get fully vaccinated and boosted when eligible.
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Tue, Feb 22nd 2022 04:25 pm
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on Tuesday issued the following statement regarding the potential for lifting the mask mandate currently in effect for Erie County-owned buildings and facilities.
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Fri, Feb 18th 2022 05:45 pm
The Niagara County Department of Health continues to promote coronavirus vaccination for all eligible individuals, with vaccination of children ages 5 and older a top priority.
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Fri, Feb 18th 2022 02:55 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced the availability of up to $1.5 million in federal funding under the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) to allow providers to expand telehealth services for addiction treatment.
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Thu, Feb 17th 2022 08:05 pm
New York State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt on Thursday announced he will introduce a resolution to immediately end the "statewide disaster emergency" declared by Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this week.
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Thu, Feb 17th 2022 12:35 pm
The following is a joint statement from Niagara County Legislature Majority Leader Randy Bradt and Minority Leader Chris Robins regarding mask mandates in Niagara County Schools:
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Wed, Feb 16th 2022 01:00 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced 29 new #VaxForKids pop-up vaccination sites to increase vaccination rates among children and adolescents. The new sites support the state's goal of ensuring New York children 5 years and older get vaccinated and keep up with all recommended coronavirus vaccine doses, including the booster.
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Wed, Feb 16th 2022 01:00 pm
The Erie County Department of Health is reminding Erie County residents they can seek free coronavirus testing. ECDOH has updated its procedures to make rapid (ID Now) testing available to any resident on request. Previously, rapid testing was only available from ECDOH for individuals with COVID-19 symptoms or those with a known exposure.
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Tue, Feb 15th 2022 01:30 pm
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has welcomed two guardsmen to Schoellkopf Health Center as part of the National Guard's COVID-19 mission: Staff Sgt. Robert Badendyck, with Bravo Troop 2-101 CAV, U.S. Army; and Lt. Cpl. Wayne Bayle from 6 Comm, U.S. Marine Corps.
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Tue, Feb 15th 2022 11:05 am
On Monday, New York State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and members of the Senate Republican Conference called for an end to what they called "unconstitutional mandates promulgated by Gov. Kathy Hochul and her Department of Health." The Republicans announced they would force a vote on the New York Senate floor to end the mandates.
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Sat, Feb 12th 2022 07:00 am
Students who are participating in the school system's "test to stay" program are now permitted to engage in extracurricular activities, said School Superintendent Dr. Brian Graham at the Feb. 7 Grand Island Central School District Board of Education meeting.
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Fri, Feb 11th 2022 01:15 pm
The City of Niagara Falls will distribute at-home coronavirus test kits at the Niagara Falls Fire Department Administration Building (3115 Walnut Ave.) from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15. There will be a second distribution from 5-8 p.m., while supplies last.
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Wed, Feb 9th 2022 04:25 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced 63 new #VaxForKids pop-up vaccination sites to increase vaccination rates among children and adolescents.
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Wed, Feb 9th 2022 02:15 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced New York's new "winter toolkit" for the new phase of the coronavirus pandemic, aiming to keep New York safe, open and moving forward. The "winter toolkit" focuses on five core areas: protecting the most vulnerable New Yorkers, increasing vaccinations and boosters, strengthening the health care system, empowering local leaders, and supporting individuals facing the long-term effects of COVID-19.
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Wed, Feb 9th 2022 11:50 am
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced her order requiring masks to be worn indoors throughout New York state will end on Thursday. Her "mask mandate" was implemented Dec. 10 in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus - particularly the delta and omicron variants. Hochul said infection numbers and related hospitalizations are now back to a pre-"winter surge" level, allowing a lessening of the restrictions.
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Tue, Feb 8th 2022 04:55 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday held meetings with New York state teachers, superintendents and parents to thank them for their work to keep schools safe and open, and hear their input on how to continue smartly protecting against the coronavirus.
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Tue, Feb 8th 2022 04:50 pm
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on Tuesday issued the following statement regarding the potential for relaxing or rescinding the mask mandate currently in effect for Erie County businesses. As coronavirus infection rates and hospitalizations continue to decrease, Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to make an announcement concerning such mandates on Wednesday.
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Tue, Feb 8th 2022 04:50 pm
The Niagara County Department of Health (NCDOH) announced free rapid coronavirus testing will be available for all Niagara County residents. Starting, Wednesday, Feb. 9, testing will be offered at the Doris W. Jones, Family Resource Center at 3001 Ninth St., Niagara Falls. Testing will be available from 9 a.m. noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
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Mon, Feb 7th 2022 04:50 pm
The organization is distributing complimentary coronavirus home test kits to many of the thousands of people with disabilities it serves. WNYIL expects to distribute more than 7,000 kits over the next few weeks.
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Mon, Feb 7th 2022 12:15 pm
A University at Buffalo researcher is among the co-authors on a recent paper that reveals how loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected American women over the age of 70.
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