Fri, Jul 24th 2020 11:45 am
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced the Legislature advanced legislation to limit the immunity that was granted in the state fiscal year 2020-21 budget. The new legislation (S.8835/A.10840) will narrow that scope to certain health care professionals who treat patients during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
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Wed, Jul 22nd 2020 08:00 pm
With rates of COVID-19 spiking in certain regions and different parts of the country in various stages of reopening, America's emergency physicians and nurses have a message to the nation's patients: Do not delay care if you think you're having a medical emergency.
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Wed, Jul 22nd 2020 07:40 pm
Public parks and outdoor spaces have become increasingly cherished and frequented during the ongoing pandemic, but a recent visit to Buffalo's Outer Harbor left Congressman Brian Higgins wondering why the public is being locked out of so many outdoor destinations.
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Wed, Jul 22nd 2020 01:25 pm
Democrat New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan are calling on the federal government to provide funding to states in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Wed, Jul 22nd 2020 01:15 pm
With the number of COVID-19 cases decreasing in the Western New York area, there has been a decrease in testing availability - as well as a longer turnaround times for test results, with available test supplies being redirected to areas considered to be hotspots.
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Wed, Jul 22nd 2020 12:05 pm
On Wednesday, July 29, the Niagara Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will present two live webinars focusing on eCommerce for small business success.
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Tue, Jul 21st 2020 05:10 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said young adults congregating in bars is a surefire recipe for the spread of the coronavirus.
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Tue, Jul 21st 2020 03:20 pm
Walter Sendzik, vice president of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and mayor of St. Catharines, announced support for the new Government of Canada agreement to fund a "safe economic restart" plan, which includes funding for Canadian municipalities.
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Tue, Jul 21st 2020 03:20 pm
As lawmakers consider additional legislation to address the ongoing health crisis and economic fallout from COVID-19, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) sent a letter to Congress calling for additional help in several areas, including extending the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for severely impacted businesses and their employees, creating targeted lending facilities and liquidity measures to help hoteliers meet debt service, and passing tax reforms to benefit both hotel employees and employers. Together, these provisions would help ensure hotels can retain and rehire employees, protect employees and guests, keep hotel doors open, and incentivize Americans to travel again when it's safe.
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Tue, Jul 21st 2020 01:50 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced 10 additional states meet the metrics to qualify for the travel advisory requiring individuals who have traveled to New York from those states, all of which have significant community spread, to quarantine for 14 days.
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Tue, Jul 21st 2020 01:50 pm
The Buffalo History Museum will reopen to the public with new operational and safety procedures on Saturday, Aug. 1. Members will be invited back for exclusive "Member Days" July 29-31. Guests will be able to experience Buffalo's unique history with free admission for the remainder of 2020.
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Tue, Jul 21st 2020 01:40 pm
As the province has announced, casinos are permitted to reopen in stage three, but with significant restrictions in place. We are currently reviewing the reopening requirements and how the capacity restrictions will impact the reopening of our casino properties. For this reason, Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara will not be reopening on Friday, July 24.
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Tue, Jul 21st 2020 01:35 pm
On July 10, the New York Department of Health issued a health advisory allowing for limited visitation to begin for assisted living communities. Eager to reunite residents with their loved ones, ESAAL immediately began working with its 300 members to begin implementing all of the previsitation requirements, including submitting a safety plan to the New York State Department of Health and developing a formal visitation plan to share with families and the public.
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Mon, Jul 20th 2020 04:30 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced New York will establish two testing sites in COVID-19 hotspots in Savannah, Georgia. The sites, located in Temple of Glory Community Church and Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship, will provide up to 500 tests per day. Both sites are located in highly impacted minority communities. The governor made today's announcement with Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson II.
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Mon, Jul 20th 2020 12:20 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo offered the following comments in a press conference Monday morning in New York City.
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Mon, Jul 20th 2020 12:00 pm
Spectrum Health, a certified community behavioral health center providing mental health, addiction and 24/7 crisis services throughout the Western New York Region, began offering treatment using telephone and videoconferencing as an alternative to in-person sessions, as well as going to client homes, if needed.
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Mon, Jul 20th 2020 11:50 am
Coronavirus stats for July 20
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Mon, Jul 20th 2020 10:05 am
The New York State Office for the Aging is urging older New Yorkers and their family members to take precautions in extreme heat, as high temperatures and humidity, coupled with COVID-19, can create hazardous conditions for older adults. Exposure to extreme heat can cause a variety of health problems, including heat stroke and death.
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Mon, Jul 20th 2020 09:50 am
Schoellkopf Health Center Administrator John Durno announced last week the center had met the state's requirements for the resumption of visitation - including having no new COVID-19 cases for 28 days - and would allow limited visitation by appointment.
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Mon, Jul 20th 2020 09:50 am
New York State United Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers have demanded school districts follow school reopening guidance issued by the governor and state Department of Health that mandates social distancing, reduced occupancy and the use of masks, among other safety measures.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 05:10 pm
In a letter to the U.S. coronavirus testing czar, Congressman Brian Higgins is seeking answers to new indications that supplies needed to test for coronavirus are being redirected outside of the Western New York area.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 04:30 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in a Friday conference call, reiterated his stance on limiting bar service.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 11:20 am
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic spreading fast in many states across the country, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday launched the national "Mask Up America" education and awareness campaign to urge all Americans to wear a mask while in public to help stop the spread of the virus.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 11:05 am
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the state is again renewing, for the fourth time, an order to halt the collection of medical and student debt owed to the state of New York that has been specifically referred to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for collection for an additional 30-day period.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 11:00 am
The "Tourism Task Force to Reopen Buffalo," under the guidance of Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Patrick Kaler, has created a communitywide customer confidence program designed to reassure meeting, group and sporting event customers that "Buffalo is determined to do what it takes to remain competitive as the tourism industry begins its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic."
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 11:00 am
Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, announced the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee passed the fiscal year 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, which included report language requested by Higgins related to essential traveler exceptions at the northern border.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 10:45 am
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has released the "Safe Stay Guest Checklist" for guests on how to travel safely while also creating a standardized safety experience nationwide. This checklist is part of AHLA's "Safe Stay" guidelines, an industrywide, enhanced set of health and safety protocols designed to provide a safe and clean environment for all hotel guests and employees.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 10:25 am
The New York State Department of Health and State Office for the Aging announced a five-point plan to help long-term-care residents and their families access services through the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, provide additional resources to residents and families appealing involuntary discharges, expand the ombudsman volunteer program, "reimagine" a multiagency workgroup to enhance services, and provide up to $1 million in funding for long term care facilities to purchase tablets, webcams, headphones or other accessories to help residents stay connected with family and LTCOP during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 09:55 am
In a conference call Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New Yorkers are "outraged" at bar and restaurant establishments where people are gathering together and not abiding by safety measures designed to limit the spread of the coronavirus. He said it is "a question of public health, and New Yorkers paid a dear price for COVID and they are equally upset with these violations."
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Thu, Jul 16th 2020 07:10 pm
Consistent with New York state guidelines for phase four low-risk indoor arts and entertainment venues, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center will reopen Saturday, July 18. The Heritage Center has adopted new policies to help contain the spread of COVID-19 while allowing visitors into the space once again.
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Thu, Jul 16th 2020 02:25 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on a conference call on Thursday, announced new regulations for bars and restaurants to ensure they are complying with state social distancing and face covering orders.
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Thu, Jul 16th 2020 12:25 pm
Residents at the Schoellkopf Health Center are able to receive visitors for the first time since mid-March.
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Thu, Jul 16th 2020 09:40 am
The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) on Wednesday announced more than $100 million in additional emergency food assistance for New Yorkers adversely affected by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. About 700,000 low-income individuals and families enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive the maximum allowable benefit for July to help them avoid food insecurity.
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Thu, Jul 16th 2020 09:40 am
In mid-March, human service agencies were among the many facilities that New York required to close their doors to prevent people from gathering and thereby stem the spread of the coronavirus. While they have continued to serve people with disabilities by phone, email and the internet, now that the state has entered phase four, the Buffalo offices of Western New York Independent Living have reopened on a limited basis, observing strict rules for everyone's safety:
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 03:35 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced the special enrollment period for uninsured New Yorkers will be extended for another 30 days, through Aug. 15, as the state continues to provide supportive services during the COVID-19 public health crisis. New Yorkers can apply for coverage through NY State of Health, New York State's health insurance marketplace, or directly through insurers.
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 03:25 pm
The Global Surgical and Medical Support Group (GSMSG) sends U.S.-trained physicians to conflict zones to treat patients in places like Iraq and Syria and provide medical care and training when local health care systems are overwhelmed.
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 02:50 pm
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 02:50 pm
In late August, University at Buffalo students, faculty and staff will return to campus for the start of the 2020-21 academic year. The global COVID-19 pandemic has made planning for this annual ritual more important than ever.
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 10:15 am
The Empire State Association of Assisted Living (ESAAL) has been leading New York assisted living communities in advocating for outdoor visitation, and is pleased the Department of Health has finally allowed indoor and outdoor visitation across the state.
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Wed, Jul 15th 2020 09:40 am
The New York State Department of Labor on Tuesday announced that, so far this year, nearly 2,600 businesses have joined the state's shared work program, which allows companies to avoid layoffs by connecting workers with partial unemployment benefits. In total, these companies have leveraged the program to retain or rehire nearly 45,500 New Yorkers — the majority of them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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