P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 12-18-20
Governor Cuomo held a COVID 19 briefing earlier today, he said that he does not foresee shutdowns again in the state, but he said that people have to celebrate smart over the holidays so that the Hospitalizations do NOT spiral up again like they have since the Thanksgiving holidays & subsequent “Living Room” spread of the virus:
(Cuomo 12-18-20)
The state tested a record 249,000 people for COVID 19 on Thursday, with 12,694 positive tests or 5.09% of all tested. Hospitalizations went down Thursday for the 1st time in a few weeks, to 6,081, the number of patients in an ICU bed was at 1,068, the number of patients on Ventilators was 592, there 120 deaths from COVID Thursday.
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Chenango County Public Health reported another 11 Positive COVID 19 cases Friday. They have 126 active cases, 498 quarantined & 8 hospitalized. Chenango County has had 928 cases of the virus, with 770 recoveries & 16 deaths.
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NY State of Health announced New Yorkers applying for Qualified Health Plan coverage have until December 31 to sign up for health the coverage starting January 1st, 2021. Individuals who were unable to enroll by the December 15 deadline should enroll now by visiting the NY State of Health website. More information is available at nystateofhealth.ny.gov or 1-855-355-5777
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Governor Cuomo today announced that state and local law enforcement agencies throughout New York will be stepping up patrols to crack down on impaired driving during the holiday travel season. The enforcement campaign will run through Friday, January 1. This crackdown is part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” initiative designed to reduce alcohol and drug-related traffic crashes. It is sponsored by STOP-DWI with funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.
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Chenango Arts Council will have Santa Claus in Norwich Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 PM on the Martin W. Kappel stage at the Arts Council, at 27 West Main Street, Chenango Arts Council Executive Director Alecia O’Neill explains:
(Alecia O’Neill 12-18-20)
More information can be found at ChenangoArts.org, or the Council’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, or at 336-2787.
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The Sidney Chamber of Commerce announced that Santa Claus will appear in Downtown Sidney again this Saturday& the Sidney Chamber also will have their annual house decorating contest conclude this weekend, Chamber President Teri Schunk explains:
(Teri Schunk 12-18-20)
Schunk said that Santa Claus’s appearance will include masks & social distancing due to the ongoing pandemic.
A.M. NEWS Friday 12-18-20
Following the Winter Storm, Governor Cuomo Declared a STATE OF EMERGENCY in 18 Counties. The Disaster Emergency was declared in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, & Otsego Counties locally, there were over 600 accidents on the roads statewide Thursday, with 2 fatalities.
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Delaware County Public Health had 13 more COVID 19 positive cases Thursday, 79 cases are active & there are 3 people hospitalized & 318 in quarantine. Delaware County has had 553 total cases with 464 recoveries & 10 deaths.
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Otsego County Department of Health reported 14 new COVID cases reported Thursday, there are 16 hospitalized, 135 active cases & 1657 total cases & there have been 10 deaths & 840 cases associated with the 2 Oneonta colleges.
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Commerce Chenango, NBT Bank, The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce, SUNY Morrisville & others have teamed up to distribute complete holiday meals in 2 Chenango County locations today, Commerce Chenango President & CEO Kerri Green comments;
(Kerri Green 12-18-20)
Site #1 will be at SUNY Morrisville, Conkey Avenue in Norwich and pick-up time is 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, and Site #2 will be manned by the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce at General Clinton Park with a pick-up time of 2:00 to 3:00 PM, for those who pre-registered.
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Operation Merry Christmas will have their annual giveaway day this weekend, Spokesperson Dorene Ireland explains:
(Dorene Ireland 12-18-20)
This year’s event will be held at the AO Fox Hospital Tri Town Campus in Sidney.
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The Sidney Central School District has been notified by the Delaware County Public Health of 4 positive COVID-19 cases in the elementary school in grades K, 2, 3 and 5, Contact tracing has begun and the health department or school district officials will be in contact with any student and staff member impacted by the exposure. The Sidney elementary school grades K-6 will transition to full remote learning for next Monday & Tuesday due to continued contact tracing efforts. Teachers will be in contact to communicate instructional schedules, there will be no change to the 7-12 instructional schedules.
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