P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 1-29-21

State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker addressed the report released Thursday by State Attorney General Letitia James that implied that the state health department undercounted the number of Deaths in Nursing homes from COVID 19:

(Zucker 1-29-21)

Governor Cuomo said that the federal & state health officials did everything they could to manage the COVID 19 crisis since it began last spring:

(Cuomo 1-29-21)

The Governor announced during his briefing today that the positivity rate for COVID tests performed Thursday went below 5% for the 1st time since Thanksgiving week, the number of those hospitalized went down by 160 to 8357, and there were 151 COVID deaths Thursday.

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Chenango County Public Health reported another death from COVID 19 today, bringing the number up to 39 since the pandemic began.  Chenango County has 17 hospitalized, 187 active cases, 507 are quarantined; they have had 2001 total cases, with 1762 recoveries.

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Chenango County, like many other counties, has experienced a rise in COVID 19 deaths, and Chenango County Director of Public Facilities Julie Gates was asked if she could put something together to remember those lost to COVID 19, she told WCDO News what has been decided:

(Julie Gates 1-29-21)

Gates said that in February & March, the lighted ribbon will be displayed on the county Office Building at 5 Court Street in Norwich.

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Local Communities are wrapping up their work on their Police Reform & Collaboration Committees, in order to submit their plans to the state in the coming months, Sidney Mayor Andy Matviak comments:

(Andy Matviak 1-29-21)

Bainbridge Mayor Phil Wade also comments about their efforts:

(Phil Wade 1-29-21)

Communities with police departments were tasked with reforming their police departments, if they deemed that necessary, and they have to submit their plans to the state by April 1st or risk losing State aid.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 1-29-21

State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker responded to Attorney General Letitia James report & said that there was no undercount of the total death toll in hospitals and nursing homes.   Zucker said that the Department of Health reported the number of fatalities within hospitals regardless of the residence of the patient,  The word “undercount” wrongly implies more total fatalities than have been reported.  The Attorney General’s initial findings of wrongdoing by certain nursing home operators is why his Department asked for the Attorney General to investigate & they will continue to work with the Attorney General,  Zucker said that the report’s findings that nursing home operators failed to comply with the State’s infection control protocols are consistent with his Departments own investigation.

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Governor Cuomo recently announced that effective February 1st, participants in higher-risk sports may participate in individual or distanced group training and organized no or low-contact group training, competitions and tournaments.  Delaware County Public Health is advising school districts that they cannot resume high-risk winter sports until the Delaware County’s 7-day rolling positivity for coronavirus is at or below 4% & activities must be restricted to individual or distanced group training or organized no or low-contact group training. Delaware County’s rolling 7-day positivity is 5.9% as of Thursday; they reported 10 new COVID cases, with 17 hospitalized, 147 active cases & 319 quarantined.

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