Mon, Dec 21st 2020 02:25 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced that, in the wake of a new, highly contagious variant of the COVID-19 virus found in the United Kingdom, British Airways, Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic have voluntarily agreed to require a COVID-19 test before allowing passengers to board planes traveling from the U.K. to New York.
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Mon, Dec 21st 2020 01:40 pm
On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the New York State Department of Health has granted Santa Claus a waiver to travel to New York for Christmas. While DOH has granted the waiver, Santa will be required to wear a mask this year.
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Mon, Dec 21st 2020 01:15 pm
The Niagara USA Chamber has broken down details of a new coronavirus relief bill set to be approved this week by Congress:
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Mon, Dec 21st 2020 10:40 am
Stephen Hanse, president and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association and the New York State Center for Assisted Living (NYSHFA/NYSCAL), a statewide association representing over 425 long-term care facilities, issued the following statement in response to the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations to nursing home residents and staff beginning Monday, Dec. 21.
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Mon, Dec 21st 2020 09:50 am
Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced he signed an executive order providing additional support for two of the groups hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic: vulnerable homeowners and the restaurant industry.
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Fri, Dec 18th 2020 05:40 pm
At the start of snowmobiling season, New York state urges riders to keep safety in mind, both when operating and during any breaks with fellow riders.
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Fri, Dec 18th 2020 05:15 pm
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center on Friday began administering COVID-19 vaccine to front-line hospital caregivers and residents and staff members at its nursing home, the Schoellkopf Health Center.
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Fri, Dec 18th 2020 02:45 pm
At the end of his press conference on Friday afternoon, Gov. Andrew Cuomo was asked whether or not fans would be allowed to watch the playoff-bound Buffalo Bills in person this season.
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Fri, Dec 18th 2020 09:50 am
University at Buffalo leadership on Thursday announced the university's plans for the spring semester, which will mirror operations in the fall in that UB will follow a modified in-person format. That means courses will be delivered using a mix of in-person (and physically distanced) instruction, as well as remote learning.
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Fri, Dec 18th 2020 09:00 am
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas announced the COVID-19 rent relief program will be reopened for application with expanded eligibility criteria in an effort to serve New Yorkers who may have not had the opportunity to initially apply and those who may have been previously ineligible. HCR will accept applications from households starting at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 18, and running through Monday, Feb. 1, 2021.
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Thu, Dec 17th 2020 04:45 pm
On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced New York will advance $1.5 billion to organizations that need cash flow until February or March 2021, as the state awaits a federal stimulus package that helps America's state and local governments. The step will be taken amid media reports that Congress will pass a stimulus package that does not include funding for state and local governments.
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Thu, Dec 17th 2020 04:45 pm
The Erie County Department of Health is announcing an update to its COVID-19 information line hours, and changes to its hours of operation for upcoming holiday dates.
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Thu, Dec 17th 2020 09:40 am
On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a hub approach to implementing the state's COVID-19 vaccination administration plan. He named Catholic Health the western region hub lead.
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Wed, Dec 16th 2020 08:00 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination administration plan and the establishment of regional vaccination hubs to help facilitate vaccinations once phase two of the state's plan begins in early 2021.
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Wed, Dec 16th 2020 07:50 pm
At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this region is improving, in terms of new positive coronavirus cases. Most of Erie County is in an "orange" micro-cluster zone, with restrictions on gatherings, businesses permitted to open and houses of worship. This week, Cuomo placed most of Niagara County into a "yellow zone," with less-cumbersome restrictions.
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Wed, Dec 16th 2020 07:45 pm
New York State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker on Wednesday issued a letter to hospital administrators to detail directives issued by the Department of Health with regard to expanding hospital capacity as New York continues to fight COVID-19. On Dec. 7, hospitals were directed to expand capacity by 25%. Four days later, they were directed to expand by an additional 25% or cancel elective surgeries.
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Wed, Dec 16th 2020 07:45 pm
An executive order approved Dec. 13 by Gov. Andrew Cuomo will waive the 90-day waiting period for pharmacists and pharmacy interns to administer COVID-19 vaccines after their approval, allowing pharmacists across the state to play a greater role in ending the pandemic, say University at Buffalo experts Karl Fiebelkorn and Christopher Daly, both in the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
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Wed, Dec 16th 2020 02:40 pm
Kaleida Health received its first supply of COVID-19 vaccines on Monday and began vaccinations late that afternoon for physicians, nurses and staff who work in high-risk areas across the health system.
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Wed, Dec 16th 2020 02:30 pm
Erie County Medical Center Corp. on Wednesday commenced vaccination of its frontline caregivers, following New York State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
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Wed, Dec 16th 2020 02:25 pm
Local government sales tax collections declined by 7.1% in November compared to the same month last year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. November's sales tax collections totaled $1.3 billion for local governments statewide, $102 million less than in November 2019.
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Tue, Dec 15th 2020 02:25 pm
The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announced more than $100 million in additional emergency food assistance to help New Yorkers avoid food insecurity during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For a 10th consecutive month, about 700,000 low-income individuals and families enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive additional food benefits to bring them up to the maximum allowable amount for December.
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Tue, Dec 15th 2020 02:20 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, is leading an effort to see that Americans receive the full COVID-19 relief payment they are entitled to under the CARES Act. Millions of individuals are still waiting for economic impact payments.
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Tue, Dec 15th 2020 02:20 pm
Jonathan Schultz, director of the Niagara County Department of Emergency Services, has been recognized by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) as being among the group of professionals who have maintained their Certified Emergency Manager designation. Only 2,000 men and women globally in the emergency management profession presently hold CEM.
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Tue, Dec 15th 2020 02:20 pm
President-elect Joe Biden's emphasis on national unity as part of his administration's messaging surrounding the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is an effective tool that can help minimize the influence of political ideology on the public perception of scientific conclusions, according to a University at Buffalo professor of communication.
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Mon, Dec 14th 2020 05:25 pm
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will conduct community testing for COVID-19 from 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at the Doris W. Jones Family Resource Center, 3001 Ninth St., Niagara Falls.
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Mon, Dec 14th 2020 03:45 pm
VA Western New York Healthcare System (VA WNYHS) announced it has been selected as one of 37 VA sites to receive initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Mon, Dec 14th 2020 03:40 pm
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz updated residents on the coronavirus vaccine during a press conference Monday afternoon.
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Mon, Dec 14th 2020 02:10 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced Niagara County areas including Lewiston and Niagara Falls are moving into his micro-cluster action initiative "yellow precautionary zone." The following restrictions will be put into place:
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Mon, Dec 14th 2020 12:40 pm
A recent national survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) shows nearly two-thirds (69%) of Americans will not travel for Christmas.
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Mon, Dec 14th 2020 12:40 pm
On Monday morning, Gov. Andrew Cuomo virtually joined Northwell Health President and CEO Michael Dowling, Northwell Health Director of Employee Health Services Dr. Michelle Chester, and Long Island Jewish Medical Center ICU Nurse Sandra Lindsay for the first administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.
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Mon, Dec 14th 2020 10:45 am
The Niagara County Department of Health (NCDOH) is preparing to oversee distribution of its portion of the coronavirus vaccine.
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Mon, Dec 14th 2020 10:00 am
Statement from 1199SEIU President George Gresham:
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Fri, Dec 11th 2020 06:50 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday said he is tweaking what goes into his micro-cluster action zones, and will look at available date this weekend to determine if more restrictions will be levied on any or all of New York's regions.
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Fri, Dec 11th 2020 04:20 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday announced the second phase of New York's Empire State Digital initiative to support the state's restaurants and food service industry affected by COVID-19 has launched.
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Fri, Dec 11th 2020 11:45 am
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has received a NUAIRE minus-86-degree Celsius (minus-122.8 Fahrenheit), ultra-low temp freezer ahead of next week's anticipated delivery of 975 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
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Fri, Dec 11th 2020 10:20 am
Congressman Brian Higgins announced community health centers in Western New York will receive over $3.5 million in federal dollars. The funding, awarded to Community Health Center of Buffalo and Neighborhood Health Center, is provided through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Thu, Dec 10th 2020 09:15 pm
Though Erie County has made statewide headlines over the past month for its high number of coronavirus cases, more attention is starting to shift to neighboring Niagara County - where 11.5% of people tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday were positive. The seven-day average at that point was 8.6%, which was second in New York (only trailing Allegany County's 9.1%).
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Thu, Dec 10th 2020 08:25 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced the launch of the "New York Forward" small business lease assistance partnership. Recognizing the economic impact of COVID-19, this program will provide small businesses and their landlords with informational resources and pro bono assistance to help both parties reach mutually beneficial lease workout agreements.
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Wed, Dec 9th 2020 08:20 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination distribution plan as the FDA is expected to authorize Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine this week. The state's vaccination distribution effort will focus on battling skepticism, include outreach to Black, brown and poor communities, as well as expedited distribution and administration. New York could receive its initial allocation of 170,000 vaccines as soon as this weekend, and expects further allocations in the following weeks.
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Wed, Dec 9th 2020 03:10 pm
As negotiations continue on the next COVID-19 relief package, Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, is pressing for the legislation to include a moratorium on evictions and rental assistance for property owners.
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