P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 2-4-21
The State Assembly Oversight, Analysis & Investigation committee may soon be looking into the controversial issue of COVID deaths in nursing home and hospitals, following Attorney General Letitia James’s report that the State Health Department undercounted the number of Nursing homes deaths, while state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker has used the location of deaths in his statistics. Assemblyman Joe Angelino is the ranking Republican on the Assembly Oversight Analysis & Investigation committee, and he said that the Attorney General’s report only dealt with 10% if the state’s nursing homes and more information is needed:
(Angelino 2-4-21)
Also, adding to the confusion last year was where to attribute the death of a nursing home resident while in an ambulance; Assemblyman Angelino said that people just need to get the truth from their state government regarding the death of their loved ones that resided in Nursing homes.
——————————————————————-
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will be joining the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator Gillibrand’s has also served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, she will also remain on the Agriculture Committee, & the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.
The State Health Department announced Wednesday’s COVID 19 statistics today. Over 169,000 Tests were conducted statewide, with over 7400 positives, a rate of 3.38%. Patient Hospitalizations went down by 115 to 7,967, the number of ICU patients was still around 1500, and the number of ventilators went down by 17 to 986. There were 135 COVID deaths Wednesday.
————————————————————
Chenango County Public Health reported 2 more deaths from COVID today, bringing their total to 47. Chenango County reports 24 hospitalizations, 138 active cases & 378 quarantines. They have had 2146 confirmed cases since the pandemic started, with 1931 Total Recoveries.
—————————————————-
The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce invites members to join them virtually on Thursday, February 18th from 8:30 to 9:30 AM for the Chamber’s Free 3rd Thursday. The featured speaker for this event is State Senator Peter Oberacker, register at delawarecounty.org or at 746-2281, once registered, a Zoom link will be emailed.
————————————————————
State Police are searching for 33 year old Carlos Smith, Formerly of Davenport, after troopers discovered Deceased dogs & Puppies in a crat outside his residence in December. Smith is accused of failing to provide sustenance & proper care to the dogs; he is described as a Black male, 5’9″ tall, about 130 pounds with black & Brown Hair & brown Eyes. Anyone with information should contact the state police at 432-3211 or crimetip@troopers.ny.gov.
A.M. NEWS Thursday 2-4-21
A state judge has ordered New York’s Department of Health to release records about nursing home residents who died of COVID-19 in hospitals; the order comes just a week after a report by Attorney General Letitia James’ office showed nursing home deaths in the state could have been under-counted by as much as 50%. State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker has categorized deaths by location, so if a nursing home resident died in a hospital, it was listed as a hospital death.
———————————————————–
Governor Cuomo reported a slight increase in COVID Hospitalizations Statewide to 8082, there were still 1,522 Patients in the ICU; 1,003 Intubated on ventilators. The state tested 126,489 with 5925 Positives for a Statewide Positivity Rate is 4.68%. There were 160 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday
———————————————————–
Delaware County Public Health reported 2 more people died of Covid-19 related complications. Delaware County had 9 new COVID cases Wednesday, they report 84 total cases, 278 quarantined, and they’ve had 38 deaths from COVID since last year.
——————————————-
Otsego County Health Department reported 23 new COVID cases Wednesday, with 1 more death reported. They report 18 hospitalized & 126 active cases.
—————————————
State Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect wanted for a break-in at the Balsam Inn in the town of Pharsalia. Surveillance video captured the male subject who is a heavier set, older white male wearing a grey long sleeve shirt, a hat and jeans. He’s accused of breaking into the business on November 26th and taking neon signs, bar lights, a table and bar stools. He is also caught on camera destroying several items, including ripping a camera off the wall; anyone with information should call Troop C in Sidney at 561-7400.
——————————————-
There will be a free “Get the Facts about Cancer” Zoom presentation at 2:00 pm. To receive the Zoom link, register at bassett.zoom.us, more information is available at 433-3703.
—————————————————————-