Thu, Oct 21st 2021 08:00 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins announced passage of H.R. 3635, the Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2021, which provides federal funding to help maintain and expand the nation's reserve of medical supplies and equipment for use during public health emergencies.
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Thu, Oct 21st 2021 07:55 pm
Nineteen months into the pandemic, the need for antiviral drugs targeted against COVID-19 is clear, given the global persistence of the virus, its ability to rapidly mutate into new variants, and the possibility that it could potentially develop strains resistant to existing drugs or vaccines.
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Thu, Oct 21st 2021 03:50 pm
The Niagara County Department of Health will participate in Gov. Kathy Hochul's #VaxToSchool initiative at upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
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Tue, Oct 19th 2021 06:50 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced 25 new #VaxtoSchool pop-up vaccination sites to increase vaccination rates among school-aged New Yorkers. On Sept. 21, she announced a total of 120 sites will take place over a 12-week period statewide. To date, 86 sites have been established.
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Tue, Oct 19th 2021 06:20 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the launch of a new centralized website for New York state COVID-19 data. This website includes new data as well as a reorganization of previously released data designed to make it easier for the public to access, read and understand. In addition, more COVID-19 data is now being made available on Health Data NY.
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Mon, Oct 18th 2021 02:45 pm
The Office of New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has created a new online tool to monitor spending of federal recovery aid and COVID-19 relief programs in the state, including funds for excluded workers, child care providers, emergency rental and homeowner assistance, and small business recovery.
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Sat, Oct 16th 2021 02:00 pm
Following a request for clarity by Congressman Brian Higgins, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated guidance relative to recognizing people as fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the eyes of the U.S. government.
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Fri, Oct 15th 2021 01:35 pm
The global race to develop new stem cell-based COVID-19 treatments during the pandemic was filled with violations of government regulations, inflated medical claims and distorted public communication, say the authors of a new perspective published Oct. 14 in the journal Stem Cell Reports.
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Fri, Oct 15th 2021 12:55 pm
With reopening of the U.S. border to Canadians just weeks away, questions remain about which vaccines the U.S. will accept as proof of vaccination. In an effort to resolve confusion, Congressman Brian Higgins's team said Friday. He is seeking answers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Thu, Oct 14th 2021 08:40 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins expressed his support to extend the expanded Child Tax Credit for the next five years through the Build Back Better Act, which builds on the success of the American Rescue Plan and invests in the American people.
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Wed, Oct 13th 2021 02:45 pm
The American Red Cross continues to experience an emergency blood and platelet shortage that has caused the blood supply to drop to the lowest post-summer level in at least six years.
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Wed, Oct 13th 2021 08:25 am
Congressman Brian Higgins on Wednesday night announced the United States is planning to reopen its land border to Canadians in November.
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Tue, Oct 12th 2021 04:25 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for October. All households participating in SNAP - including those already at the maximum level of benefits - will receive a supplemental allotment later this month, which will result in an infusion of about $230 million in federal funding into the state's economy.
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Mon, Oct 11th 2021 02:05 pm
The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is partnering with Grand Island Central School District for a COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 2-6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25. Organizers will offer Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine; if supply is available, Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will be offered to people ages 18 and older.
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Fri, Oct 8th 2021 09:45 pm
Business and community leaders in Niagara Falls are calling on the U.S. government to reopen its land border to Canadians.
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Fri, Oct 8th 2021 01:55 pm
Seven months after it began, a Niagara County Woman's journey in the shadows of COVID-19 came to a happy conclusion when she was discharged from the specialized ventilator care unit at Elderwood at Williamsville on Friday.
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Fri, Oct 8th 2021 11:25 am
The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) and its division of emergency medical services are monitoring emergency department census reports from hospitals and ambulance traffic in Erie County. Local emergency departments are experiencing high volumes and longer-than-usual wait times.
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Fri, Oct 8th 2021 11:20 am
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced $125 million in state funding is available to help landlords who couldn't participate in the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program due to a federal requirement for tenants to participate in the application process.
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Thu, Oct 7th 2021 09:10 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins and Canadian Member of Parliament Randy Hoback released the following joint statement Thursday concerning the ongoing closures along the U.S.-Canada border:
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Thu, Oct 7th 2021 12:45 pm
The University at Buffalo School of Management will honor the co-leaders of the Western New York Vaccination Hub and several alumni at the school's annual awards ceremony this fall.
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Wed, Oct 6th 2021 02:55 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced eight new #VaxtoSchool pop-up vaccination sites to increase vaccination rates among school-aged New Yorkers.
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Tue, Oct 5th 2021 05:40 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the plan to expand the health care worker coronavirus vaccine mandate to include employees who work in certain facilities offering health care to individuals served by the Office of Mental Health and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.
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Tue, Oct 5th 2021 05:35 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced New York state's Excelsior Pass scanner app - a free companion app for businesses - has been updated to enable the validation of SMART Health Cards from trusted issuers outside of New York based on federal and state COVID-19 guidance.
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Tue, Oct 5th 2021 10:10 am
WellNow Urgent Care announced that, in response to increased demand for COVID-19 testing in the region, its newest center on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo has opened as a dedicated COVID-19 PCR testing center for asymptomatic patients.
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Sat, Oct 2nd 2021 10:00 am
Erie County recently chose to abandon its strict guidelines concerning quarantining in favor of New York State Department of Health guidelines, according to School Superintendent Brian Graham, who spoke at the Sept. 27 meeting of the Grand Island Board of Education.
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Thu, Sep 30th 2021 10:45 am
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman on Wednesday announced the SBA began supplemental award notifications to eligible applicants this week, through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program.
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Wed, Sep 29th 2021 02:40 pm
Gov. Kathy on Wednesday provided an update on staffing in hospitals and other health care facilities, following the implementation of New York's vaccination mandate. Zero health care facilities across the state have been reported closed since the mandate went into effect.
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Wed, Sep 29th 2021 02:40 pm
Gov. Kathy on Wednesday announced Mary T. Bassett, M.D., M.P.H., was appointed commissioner of the Department of Health. With more than 30 years of experience devoted to promoting health equity and social justice, both in the U.S. and abroad, Bassett's career has spanned academia, government, and not-for-profit work. Her appointment is effective Dec. 1.
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Wed, Sep 29th 2021 02:35 pm
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will begin holding weekly community COVID-19 vaccine booster shot clinics this week.
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Wed, Sep 29th 2021 12:25 pm
The Erie County Department of Health and Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services distributed supplies to school districts and non-public schools on Wednesday, to aid in their COVID-19 prevention activities.
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Tue, Sep 28th 2021 08:25 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will see their level of benefits increase next month resulting from a federal cost adjustment aimed at providing low-income individuals and families better access to healthy foods.
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Tue, Sep 28th 2021 08:25 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced health care staff vaccination rates continue to rise throughout New York, according to the latest data reported by health care facilities to the Department of Health. This new information comes as the vaccination mandate for health care staff in hospitals and nursing homes is now in effect.
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Tue, Sep 28th 2021 10:00 am
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday night signed an executive order to alleviate potential staffing shortages in hospitals and other health care facilities statewide. Her team said, "The executive order significantly expands the eligible health care workforce and allows additional health care workers to administer COVID-19 testing and vaccinations."
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Mon, Sep 27th 2021 07:10 pm
Wegmans Pharmacy locations are now offering Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to eligible individuals by appointment only. The following groups are eligible to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series:
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Mon, Sep 27th 2021 07:05 pm
Catholic Health on Monday announced that, as of 7 a.m., it is 100% in compliance with the New York state COVID-19 vaccine mandate - between staff who have been vaccinated, applied for religious exemptions, received medical exemptions or deferrals, or been put on 30-day unpaid leaves of absence.
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Mon, Sep 27th 2021 07:05 pm
With support from approximately $18.5 million in federal funding, the Erie County Department of Health is coordinating COVID-19 testing for K-12 students and school staff.
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Mon, Sep 27th 2021 01:15 pm
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, Villa Maria College will open its doors to the general public for a Health and Wellness Fair. Held in partnership with the college's on-campus food pantry, the Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry, the Health and Wellness Fair offers attendees the opportunity to receive COVID-19 vaccinations through Erie County, and flu shots through Rite-Aid.
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Mon, Sep 27th 2021 01:05 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced a "robust" implementation of booster doses into the state's COVID-19 vaccination program, ensuring what her team called "an efficient, equitable and effective distribution of booster doses to eligible New Yorkers statewide."
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Sat, Sep 25th 2021 10:40 am
In preparation for Monday's vaccination deadline, Gov. Kathy Hochul released what her team called "a comprehensive plan to address preventable staffing shortages in hospitals and other health care facilities statewide."
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Fri, Sep 24th 2021 07:00 am
Back in July, I wrote about the terrible storms and flooding that did tremendous property damage across Niagara County. The torrential rainfall hit in a line from Lewiston to Lockport, wreaking havoc on many areas below the escarpment. Thank you to everyone who took time to file damage reports with Niagara County Emergency Services.
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