Tue, Mar 24th 2020 11:00 am
The Erie County Department of Health has confirmed an additional five cases of COVID-19 in Erie County residents since yesterday, March 23. This brings our case total to date to 101.
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Tue, Mar 24th 2020 10:05 am
Local leaders are working to establish a community watch program within the River Region as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and businesses are working with reduced staff.
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 06:15 pm
As of this afternoon, ECDOH is aware of 87 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Erie County residents; 379 Erie County residents have tested negative; and tests for 171 people are pending as of this afternoon.
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 05:00 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins, New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and New York State Sen. Tim Kennedy are asking President Donald Trump to immediately commence national coordination of emergency supply production, authorized under the Defense Production Act. New York is home to 50% of the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S.
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 04:55 pm
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced an initial delivery of hospital supplies to the Jacob K. Javits Center where FEMA has started to build a 1,000-bed temporary hospital that will help increase New York's hospital capacity to combat COVID-19.
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 03:35 pm
Niagara County Public Health Director Daniel J. Stapleton on Monday said the county has received three new positive test results from the New York State Department of Health. As of this morning, Niagara County now has 12 positive results, 64 people quarantined, 12 in isolation and still four pending test results from last week.
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 02:55 pm
Elderly caregivers play a vital role in the community and in individuals' lives. Amidst the angst and uncertainty of the COVID-19 epidemic, their jobs are even more essential and likely more stressful. Follow some of these simple tips to make things easier on yourself and your patient.
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 02:55 pm
On Monday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo urged Americans to be "socially distanced, but spiritually connected" during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 01:35 pm
"As we continue to best serve our community, beginning 3/24/20, all Tops pharmacies will open at 7 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to be in alignment with our new "senior only hours." On those days, pharmacies will also close at 8 p.m. or their normal closing time, whichever is earlier."
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 01:00 pm
Today, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza announced changes to help borrowers still paying back SBA loans from previous disasters. By making this change, deferments through Dec. 31, 2020, will be automatic. Now, borrowers of home and business disaster loans do not have to contact SBA to request deferment.
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 12:55 pm
Due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 20th anniversary Buffalo Marathon Weekend, presented by the Buffalo-Erie Marathon Association Inc., is being postponed.
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 12:40 pm
Margo Sue Bittner of The Winery at Marjim Manor (7171 E. Lake Road) offered the following:
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 08:00 am
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Sunday accepted the recommendation of the Army Corps of Engineers for four temporary hospital sites in New York state in an effort to address imminent capacity issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor visited the four sites - the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and locations at SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Old Westbury and the Westchester Convention Center — Saturday, and said New York is ready for the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction immediately.
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 07:50 am
Niagara County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski on Sunday announced an update to the operations of his office based on executive order 202.8 of Gov. Andrew Cuomo that is in effect until April 19, 2020. The order includes:
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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 07:45 am
Kaleida Health continues to prioritize testing its own workforce to ensure it maintains the health and well-being of its staff. It has been conducting its own COVID-19 employee testing for the past few days.
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Sun, Mar 22nd 2020 05:40 pm
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz today joined with local grocery stores Tops Markets and Wegmans to inform residents of continuing efforts to keep store shelves stocked and shopping environments safe for all. Grocery stores have been classified as essential businesses during the coronavirus pandemic and are working to ensure that all patrons have access to the supplies they need for the health and well-being of themselves and their families.
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Sat, Mar 21st 2020 07:20 pm
The Erie County Department of Health online case mapping tool is reporting 56 positive cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday evening.
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Sat, Mar 21st 2020 05:10 pm
The New York State Department of Health has instructed hospitals across the state to update their recently submitted "surge" pandemic plans. The goal is to increase hospital inpatient bed capacity by 50% to help fight the ongoing coronavirus health crisis.
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Sat, Mar 21st 2020 12:55 pm
Attorney General Letitia James today issued the following statement asking any employee who believes that their employer is in violation of labor laws or official directives set forth by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office to contact the New York State Office of the Attorney General's labor bureau and file a complaint:
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Sat, Mar 21st 2020 12:40 pm
Amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, WellNow Urgent Care has expanded its telehealth platform, WellNow Virtual Medical. Beginning today, Western New York patients can use any web-enabled device to receive a virtual consultation with a registered WellNow provider from any location within New York - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Sat, Mar 21st 2020 12:30 pm
Niagara County Public Health Director Daniel J. Stapleton on Saturday said that, since Friday night, the county has received five new positive test results from the New York State Department of Health.
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Sat, Mar 21st 2020 08:20 am
Award-winning singer/songwriter Matthew West has released the first of six songs recorded in front of a live audience at the YouTube Space in New York City to celebrate the release of his album "Brand New." "Hope Returns" is the first song released, with a powerful message in this time of uncertainty across the globe.
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Sat, Mar 21st 2020 07:00 am
Monday morning, Town of Grand Island Supervisor John Whitney issued a proclamation to address the COVID-19 threat and declared a local state of emergency within the Town of Grand Island.
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Sat, Mar 21st 2020 07:00 am
Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Pauly organized a conference call Thursday morning with Lewiston Police Department Chief Frank Previte, Lewiston Fire Co. No. 1 Chief Les Myers, Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick, Village of Lewiston Mayor Anne Welch, chamber staff and board members.
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Sat, Mar 21st 2020 07:00 am
The Grand Island Memorial Library will be closed to the public through Tuesday, March 31, at 8 p.m. as per recommendations from the county executive in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
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Sat, Mar 21st 2020 07:00 am
In the interest of public safety, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has severely curtailed the ways in which people can gather together. Restaurants and bars are limited to takeout and delivery; movie theaters, bowling alleys, shopping malls and hair salons are temporarily closed; events are cancelled; and nonessential businesses have to reduce workforce 100%.
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 06:00 pm
The Erie County Department of Health is releasing results of reports from COVID-19 testing on individuals in Erie County. There are currently 36 lab confirmed cases in Erie County residents as of noon today. Additional tests are being run by our Public Health Lab and commercial labs and results will be released when available.
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 05:25 pm
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the 15th annual Colvin Cleaners "Gowns for Prom" distribution event is postponed until further notice.
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 05:00 pm
Greetings from Community Missions. I wanted to pass along an update as to what we are seeing within our programs at this time related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For nearly a century, Community Missions has been an outlet for the community to help one another to get through difficult times. Already in the first few days of this situation, we have seen this generosity of spirit in many ways!
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 04:55 pm
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has temporarily suspended all elective surgery procedures effective at the close of business Friday. The action aims to make more inpatient beds available in anticipation of an increase in the number of patients with COVID-19 who are expected to present to the medical center.
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 04:55 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday announced he is signing the "New York State on PAUSE" executive order, a 10-point policy to "assure uniform safety for everyone."
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 03:20 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted the following: "I will sign an Executive Order mandating that 100% of workforce must stay home, excluding essential services. This order excludes pharmacies, grocery stores, and others."
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 03:15 pm
Thousands of their doctors, nurses, ancillary and support staffs are working tirelessly to care for patients. Their efforts are nothing short of heroic. As they know better than anyone, flattening the curve is crucial to managing hospital surge.
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 03:10 pm
ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES OR ENTITIES, including any for profit or non-profit, regardless of the nature of the service, the function they perform, or its corporate or entity structure, are not subject to the in-person restriction. (Essential Businesses must continue to comply with the guidance and directives for maintaining a clean and safe work environment issued by the Department of Health).
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 02:50 pm
Things have escalated very quickly since I last wrote this column, and much more may change by the time you read this.
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 01:30 pm
On Thursday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released guidance to help state and local jurisdictions and the private sector identify and manage their essential workforce while responding to COVID-19.
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 11:55 am
The Niagara County Department of Social Services today announced it has been working to identify open child care slots for public and private sector employees who are deemed essential and are having child care issues.
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 11:50 am
Congressman Brian Higgins reported Friday on new restrictions at the border between the United States and Canada, which will be put into place by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security effective 11:59 p.m. today, in a binational response to limit the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 11:30 am
Congressman Brian Higgins on Friday announced U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reported the IRS tax filing deadline for this year is being moved to July 15, 2020.
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Fri, Mar 20th 2020 11:30 am
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