Fri, Jan 7th 2022 12:40 pm
The Erie County Department of Health is coordinating a distribution of nearly 40,000 COVID-19 at-home antigen test kits to Erie County village, town and city emergency managers. Each test kit box includes two antigen tests, for a total of about 80,000 tests.
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Thu, Jan 6th 2022 03:25 pm
The New York State Department of Health issued significant changes to its isolation and quarantine guidance late in the evening on Tuesday, Jan. 4. As the Erie County Department of Health's epidemiology office began to review this documentation, it was quickly determined that ECDOH needed additional time to make significant changes to the Erie County "test to stay" protocols to prepare for the all-school meeting scheduled on Wednesday afternoon.
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Thu, Jan 6th 2022 01:20 pm
Both counties report large jumps over holiday week.
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Wed, Jan 5th 2022 05:35 pm
With the potential for winter weather to impact travel and road conditions on Thursday, the Erie County Department of Health made the following announcement about COVID-19 testing, vaccine clinic and information line operations.
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Wed, Jan 5th 2022 05:35 pm
WellHealth has partnered with the state of New York to roll out sites in strategic locations to support testing expansion across the state.
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Wed, Jan 5th 2022 04:40 pm
Niagara County Legislature Chairwoman Becky Wydysh announced Niagara County received a shipment of COVID-19 at-home test kits from New York state. The county will hold three simultaneous drive-thru events to distribute the kits to the public this Saturday, Jan. 8. Each at-home test kit contains two COVID-19 tests.
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Wed, Jan 5th 2022 02:50 pm
Patient visitation changes began this week at the VA Western New York Healthcare System (VAWNYHS) Buffalo and Batavia campuses. These changes will remain in place until further notice.
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Tue, Jan 4th 2022 07:45 pm
University at Buffalo scientists who do the genomic sequencing of the SARS-CoV2 virus in Erie County are seeing omicron cases increase, an indication that the region is exhibiting a similar trajectory to national trends.
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Tue, Jan 4th 2022 07:45 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced 10 SUNY campus-based COVID-19 test sites will open beginning Jan. 6. Additionally, the governor announced the second round of sites slated to open the week of Jan. 10.
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Tue, Jan 4th 2022 03:30 pm
Northland Workforce Training Center and the Erie County Department of Health will hold a coronavirus vaccine clinic from 1-5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, at 683 Northland Ave., Buffalo. Use entrance A. First, second and booster shots will be available. Walk-ins are welcome; however, preregistration is encouraged.
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Tue, Jan 4th 2022 03:15 pm
Since the arrival of the omicron variant, there's been an increase in testing for COVID-19. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned people of fraudulent coronavirus tests, vaccines and treatments as the pandemic continues.
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Mon, Jan 3rd 2022 05:10 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced a partnership with SUNY and Syracuse University in which 10 new testing sites will be opening on State University of New York campuses across the state and at Syracuse University this week. More campus sites will open in the coming weeks as the project expands.
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Mon, Jan 3rd 2022 02:25 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced applications are now being accepted for the New York State Homeowner Assistance Fund (NYS HAF), a program that will provide up to $539 million in aid or other direct assistance to help eligible homeowners who are at risk of default, foreclosure or displacement due to financial hardship caused by the pandemic. New York was the first state in the nation to receive U.S. Department of the Treasury approval to launch its program.
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Mon, Jan 3rd 2022 11:10 am
The Niagara County Department of Emergency Services and the Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce are cohosting a free drive-thru mask giveaway for businesses on Thursday, Jan. 6, at the county's Public Safety Training Facility in Lockport. Masks and signage about state masking requirements are available for any Niagara County business, though supplies are limited.
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Mon, Jan 3rd 2022 09:00 am
The substantial volume of COVID-19 case reports in recent days has exceeded the ECDOH and New York state contact tracing capacity to individually contact every Erie County resident with a positive COVID-19 test result.
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Mon, Jan 3rd 2022 08:55 am
The significant increase in recent COVID-19 cases means that proper, consistent mask use is even more important as a protective measure for Erie County residents, regardless of vaccination status.
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Sat, Jan 1st 2022 12:20 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced "Winter Surge Plan 2.0," a new targeted effort to bolster New York's fight against the winter surge.
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Sat, Jan 1st 2022 12:15 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced a new partnership between the New York State Department of Health and the New York National Guard that will train soldiers to become certified EMTs, resulting in additional service members eligible for clinical deployments at health care facilities in need of staff due to the winter surge of COVID-19.
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Sat, Jan 1st 2022 12:15 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced issuance of spring semester reopening guidance for SUNY and CUNY campuses, which includes the continuation of the student vaccine mandate as well as requiring all students regularly accessing campus to receive the COVID-19 booster for the spring semester.
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Wed, Dec 29th 2021 04:50 pm
Due to an increasing inpatient census caused by the omicron coronavirus variant, Erie County Medical Center Corp. will suspend all inpatient visitation except when medically necessary, or for family members or legal representatives of patients in imminent end-of-life circumstances, beginning this Friday, Dec. 31.
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Wed, Dec 29th 2021 04:50 pm
The Niagara County Department of Health issued the following weekly update on positive COVID-19 cases in Niagara County from Dec. 23-29. Reports are made each Wednesday.
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Wed, Dec 29th 2021 12:20 pm
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday issued a statement to employers following new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) isolation periods:
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Mon, Dec 27th 2021 09:20 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the following on Monday:
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Mon, Dec 27th 2021 10:55 am
Gov. Hochul has signed an executive order to help support vulnerable homeowners amid the current surge of COVID-19 cases. The executive order allows local governments to lift an in-person renewal requirement for property tax exemptions for low-income senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
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Thu, Dec 23rd 2021 01:15 pm
During the current surge of COVID-19 cases in Western New York, a dedicated team of University at Buffalo scientists has been busy sequencing and analyzing as many as 1,000 viral samples every week.
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Thu, Dec 23rd 2021 01:10 pm
New York Attorney General Letitia James recently issued a consumer alert to New Yorkers concerning potential price-gouging of over-the-counter coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing products for at-home use, as well as other in-demand essential products. This alert, her office stated, "comes in light of a surge of COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant, which has resulted in the rise of New Yorkers seeking to use at-home testing kits before gathering with friends and loved ones for the holidays."
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Thu, Dec 23rd 2021 01:10 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed a package of legislation designed to improve New York's response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This legislative package will "take a major step forward in the state's efforts to increase vaccination rates and study the effects this pandemic has had on our economy and health care system," her office stated.
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Wed, Dec 22nd 2021 06:45 pm
The Niagara County Department of Health issued the following weekly update on positive COVID-19 cases in Niagara County from Dec. 16-22. Reports are made each Wednesday.
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Wed, Dec 22nd 2021 05:15 pm
The highly transmissible omicron variant of the novel coronavirus has been detected in Erie County, University at Buffalo scientists and Erie County health officials reported Wednesday. The variant was found in virus samples, analyzed by a UB team that has been sequencing the virus in the region, of Western New Yorkers who tested positive this month.
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Tue, Dec 21st 2021 11:25 am
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for December. All households participating in SNAP - including those already at the maximum level of benefits - will receive a supplemental allotment later this month, bringing in roughly $230 million in federal funding into the state's economy this month, and more than $2.4 billion since January.
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Tue, Dec 21st 2021 11:25 am
Corey Gray, Ed.D., school administrator, consults with Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center pharmacist Andrea Jaenecke prior to receiving his COVID-19 vaccine booster shot during a clinic held Monday at the Niagara Falls Community Education Center, formally 60th Street Elementary School.
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Tue, Dec 21st 2021 11:20 am
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced she is making $65 million available to counties across New York to help with the costs associated with administering vaccines and boosters, and enforcing the mask-or-vaccine mandate for indoor public places that went into effect statewide last week.
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Mon, Dec 20th 2021 05:35 pm
The New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) updated its work to educate consumers on their rights and protections regarding utility shutoffs, programs to assist with utility arrears, and information for those seeking heating assistance this winter.
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Mon, Dec 20th 2021 05:30 pm
The Erie County Public Health Lab has added testing for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to the COVID-19 PCR testing offered through the Erie County Department of Health.
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Mon, Dec 20th 2021 11:20 am
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the deployment of more than 40 new pop-up vaccination sites across New York to fight the winter surge and rapidly spreading coronavirus omicron variant.
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Fri, Dec 17th 2021 01:20 pm
Over the past year, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has been at the forefront of the effort to vaccinate our community against COVID-19. Leading this charge is Memorial's director of pharmacy services, Michelle Lewis, Pharm.D., MHA, BCACP.
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Fri, Dec 17th 2021 10:20 am
The Erie County Department of Health and Live Well Erie are extending an offer to houses of worship countywide to place orders for masks for use at holiday services and distribution to their worship communities.
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Thu, Dec 16th 2021 09:35 pm
On Tuesday, Dec. 21, the Erie County Department of Health and Live Well Erie will start a weekly health initiative, "Curbside Care," offering health screenings, harm reduction supplies, and flu and COVID-19 vaccines from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Thu, Dec 16th 2021 08:50 pm
As COVID cases surge, the American College of Emergency Physicians is very concerned that nursing shortages in emergency departments can complicate patient access to care and add to incredible levels of stress already on physician-led care teams.
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Tue, Dec 14th 2021 09:00 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $100 million is available for counties to help homeless individuals and families leave the shelter system for a permanent home by providing rental assistance. The funds may also help very-low-income New Yorkers pay their rent and increase their housing security.
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