Tue, Apr 27th 2021 04:15 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced New York state will adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new guidance on mask use for fully vaccinated people. The guidelines state fully vaccinated people - defined as two or more weeks after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine - no longer need to wear masks outdoors, except in certain crowded settings and venues.
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Tue, Apr 27th 2021 02:30 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced that, beginning Thursday, April 29, all New York state mass-vaccination sites will be open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first-come, first-served basis for all.
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Tue, Apr 27th 2021 01:45 pm
SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced the U.S. Small Business Administration will begin registrations at 9 a.m. EDT Friday, April 30, and open applications at noon Monday, May 3, for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted.
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Mon, Apr 26th 2021 05:05 pm
The U.S. Small Business Administration recently launched a new round of Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) assistance - called supplemental targeted advances - to provide $5 billion in additional assistance to 1 million small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have been most severely affected by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Mon, Apr 26th 2021 02:55 pm
It's looking better and better for outdoor summer festivals.
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Mon, Apr 26th 2021 02:55 pm
After securing a supply of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine late last week, the Erie County Department of Health has scheduled three COVID-19 vaccination PODs especially for 16- and 17-year-olds and their families on May 1.
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Sat, Apr 24th 2021 11:45 am
The Centers for Disease Control released this press release on Friday:
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Fri, Apr 23rd 2021 04:15 pm
The U.S. Small Business Administration will reopen the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal at 12:30 p.m. EDT Saturday for operators of live venues, live performing arts organizations, museums and movie theaters, as well as live venue promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives to apply for critical economic relief.
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Fri, Apr 23rd 2021 03:40 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Western New York's state-leading percentage of new coronavirus cases is a direct result of resident behavior. Speaking to the press Friday, he echoed a statement made earlier this week by Erie County leaders.
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Fri, Apr 23rd 2021 01:20 pm
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the first round of technology partners participating in a new initiative for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) - a program that will allow eligible restaurants and other food establishments to access the RRF application or data they need to fill out the application through their trusted point-of-sale (POS) service providers. SBA announced a partnerships with Clover, NCR Corp., Square and Toast in this effort to provide a customer-centric approach to the delivery of relief funds.
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Thu, Apr 22nd 2021 04:45 pm
The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) announced that it will provide over $100 million in funding in support of the state's effort to rebuild and bolster the nonprofit arts and culture sector in the post-COVID-19 era.
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Thu, Apr 22nd 2021 07:00 am
Will large-scale outdoor festivals and concerts be back this summer - and if so, what will the safety requirements look like?
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Wed, Apr 21st 2021 07:35 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced that, beginning Friday, April 23, 16 mass vaccination sites will accept walk-in appointments for individuals age 60 and older.
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Tue, Apr 20th 2021 02:00 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins, co-chair of the northern border caucus, addressed the renewed shutdown of the border between the U.S. and Canada in remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives.
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Tue, Apr 20th 2021 01:30 pm
Speaker Carl Heastie, Labor Committee Chair Latoya Joyner and Assembly member Karines Reyes announced the New York State Assembly passed the Hero Act, which will establish health and safety standards to protect New Yorkers from airborne infectious diseases in the workplace (A.2681-B, Reyes).
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Tue, Apr 20th 2021 12:40 pm
The Niagara County Department of Health will hold its COVID-19 point-of-dispensing vaccine clinic this week at the Transit Drive-In located in Lockport. New first-dose vaccine appointments for eligible individuals 18 years of age and older are now available.
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Tue, Apr 20th 2021 10:15 am
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He announced movie theater capacity will increase to 33% starting April 26. Also on that day, low-risk, indoor and outdoor arts and entertainment - including museums, aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens - will increase to 50% capacity.
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Mon, Apr 19th 2021 05:10 pm
Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt penned a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's counsel "demanding the executive publicly post the need for the extension of his arbitrary executive orders - in particular, the restaurant curfew and the mandate that food be purchased along with alcoholic beverages - as is required by law."
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Mon, Apr 19th 2021 01:15 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday announced applications are being accepted for the $26.6 million available to support essential workers and first responders through the Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund.
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Fri, Apr 16th 2021 01:40 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday signed legislation establishing the first-in-the-nation requirement for affordable internet for qualifying low-income families, as proposed in the 2021 State of the State.
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Wed, Apr 14th 2021 09:10 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced the curfew for food and beverage establishments will be moved from 11 p.m. to midnight effective Monday, April 19. The curfew for catered events will move from midnight to 1 a.m.
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Tue, Apr 13th 2021 04:50 pm
The Erie County Department of Health has launched an online system for scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments at county-run sites.
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Tue, Apr 13th 2021 12:15 pm
International advocacy organization Global Citizen announced "VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World," a global broadcast and streaming special that aims to inspire vaccine confidence worldwide and help get the COVID-19 vaccines to everyone, everywhere.
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Tue, Apr 13th 2021 11:20 am
On Tuesday, Centers for Disease Control Principal Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat and Federal Drug Administration Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director Dr. Peter Marks released the following statement on the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen ) coronavirus vaccine:
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Mon, Apr 12th 2021 04:35 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday singled out Western New York for its high rate of new coronavirus cases. As was often the case in 2020, this region is tops.
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Mon, Apr 12th 2021 04:25 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced new updated guidance for graduation and commencement ceremonies organized by schools, colleges and universities. Effective May 1, indoor and outdoor graduation and commencement ceremonies will be allowed with limited attendee capacity, depending on the event size and the location (e.g., stadium, arena, arts and entertainment venue).
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Mon, Apr 12th 2021 04:10 pm
The state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announced all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for April. Additionally, those households already near or at the maximum benefit level now will receive a supplemental payment of at least $95 per month for as long as the supplemental payments continue.
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Mon, Apr 12th 2021 02:10 pm
As more COVID-19 vaccine is beginning to arrive in WNY, volunteers are needed to assist with distribution efforts throughout the region. Vaccinate Western New York (VAXWNY), the local hub responsible to for ensuring the safe, efficient and equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, is issuing a call for volunteers across all five WNY counties (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara) to help in this historic effort.
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Mon, Apr 12th 2021 01:45 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced New York state will provide a new, separate allocation of 35,000 vaccines to address the college student population at SUNY schools and private colleges. This initial allocation will include 21,000 vaccines to be administered to SUNY students and 14,000 vaccines to be administered at private colleges. The vaccines will be administered to residential and non-commuter students who are leaving for the summer.
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Sat, Apr 10th 2021 04:15 pm
On Friday, the New York State Department of Health updated its interim guidance for in-person instruction at pre-K to grade 12 schools during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Changes related to physical distancing and use of barriers. That document can be read HERE.
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Fri, Apr 9th 2021 09:00 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins announced new federal relief available to help restaurants struggling due to the pandemic. A $28.6 billion restaurant revitalization fund was included in the American Rescue Plan supported by Higgins.
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Fri, Apr 9th 2021 04:35 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday announced 16 community-based pop-up vaccination sites are coming online over the next week in locations picked to ensure the COVID-19 vaccine is distributed equitably throughout New York. These sites are expected to vaccinate 7,100 people throughout the week.
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Fri, Apr 9th 2021 04:00 pm
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert to remind New Yorkers that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are free of charge, and urged any resident of the state who has been charged a fee to report it to her office immediately.
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Fri, Apr 9th 2021 08:55 am
Congressman Brian Higgins announced help is available for arts, museums and performance venues that had to close their doors or saw drastically reduced business due to the pandemic. Over $16 billion was provided through legislation supported by Higgins for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program.
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Fri, Apr 9th 2021 08:50 am
The Erie County Department of Health has learned two COVID-19 samples from residents were identified as containing the COVID-19 B.1.351 "South Africa variant of concern."
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Wed, Apr 7th 2021 06:20 pm
Mayor Byron Brown announced the City of Buffalo received a donation of 13,500 masks from the Ford Motor Co. and Local 897 of the United Auto Workers to help protect residents against the coronavirus.
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Wed, Apr 7th 2021 06:20 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday directed the Department of Financial Services to extend the emergency regulation requiring all health insurers to waive co-pays for the COVID-19 vaccine until April 30. The extension of this regulation and guidance will help to ensure there are no barriers to New Yorkers accessing the vaccine as the state continues to implement its vaccine administration plan and get every New Yorker vaccinated.
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Wed, Apr 7th 2021 06:00 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins announced $8,448,851 in federal COVID-19 relief for Western New York airports.
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Mon, Apr 5th 2021 08:35 pm
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday announced the start of the statewide "Roll Up Your Sleeve" ad campaign to encourage all New Yorkers, especially those from neighborhoods where COVID-19 was most devastating, to get vaccinated. The ads will be shown on television and online statewide beginning April 7.
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Mon, Apr 5th 2021 12:40 pm
Over the weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced more than 10 million total COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered across New York.
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