P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 3-4-21

Delaware County officials announced that, Effective immediately the construction of the new Delaware County Behavioral Medicine building in Walton is being shut down as a precautionary measure, after 2 contractors working on the building have tested positive for COVID-19 and several coworkers are now quarantined.  The shutdown is in effect through March 15, the delay is not expected to impact the timeline for completion.

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Chenango County Public Health had 9 COVID 19 positive tests announced today.  They report  62 Active Cases, 245 Active Quarantines, 6 are hospitalized and there have been a Total of 2452 Confirmed Cases since the start of the pandemic in New York State a year ago.

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Bassett Healthcare Network is continuing partial visitation for inpatients at its hospitals, including A.O. Fox Hospital, Bassett Medical Center and O’Connor Hospital, with new hours beginning March 8th.   Visitation hours will be 3:00 to 7:00 PM daily, including weekends, Visitors may present 1 at a time, with a maximum of 2 persons per patient each day and a total of 4 hours per patient. All visitors must be screened for admittance, including temperature checks and a short questionnaire & all visitors must wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including a mask.  Visitation remains suspended at A.O. Fox Nursing Home in Oneonta, Valley Health Services in Herkimer, and all outpatient locations across the network. More information is available at bassett.org/covid-19.

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COVID 19 testing continues statewide, with over 270,000 tests conducted Wednesday, with 7593 positives, for a 2.8% Positivity Rate, the Lowest Since November 21st, there were 5,177 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide; the Lowest Since December 9th, there were 1,043 Patients in the ICU; the Lowest Since December 13 & 712 were on ventilators, the Lowest Since December 29th.  There were 60 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Wednesday.

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The state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance announced that all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or “SNAP” will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for March. Roughly half of all households participating in SNAP will receive the supplemental allotment later this month, which will result in an infusion of roughly $100 million into the state’s economy.  More information is available at otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19 or mybenefits.ny.gov.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 3-4-21

Delaware County Public Health reported 10 new COVID cases Wednesday out of 376 tested.  They report 97 positive cases with 11 hospitalized & 401 quarantined.

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Delaware County Public Health reported that a raccoon in the Town of Middletown has tested positive for rabies. One person was bitten by the rabid raccoon and has begun Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis.  Raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bats are considered a primary carrier of the rabies virus in the United States.  More information is available at 832-5200 or delawarecountypublichealth.com

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Bassett Hospital has just announced a two-day clinic this weekend to administer 1,200 doses of anti-COVID vaccines the county Health Department received for people over 65.  Vaccination clinics will be on Saturday, March 6, and Sunday, March 7, at the Clark Sports Center.  To make an appointment, call 1-833-697-4829 or go to the State Health Department website.

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The Sidney Central School District was notified that a 1st grade, 2nd grade and 8th grade student have tested positive for COVID-19. The students have not been on campus since February 26th, Delaware County Health Department conducted an investigation and contact tracing, there will be no change to the instructional model at this time.

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Rural Health Network of South Central New York’s mobility management program, Get-there, has provided transportation assistance to 7000 individuals for health related needs since 2013.  On February 5th, a UHS Wellness Coordinator phoned Get-there looking for a way to get a 59 year old Endicott resident with Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio today.  Get there Spokesman Bill Wagner explains:

(Bill Wagner 3-4-21)

Wagner said that Wings Pilot and founder Joe DeMarco, Sr. will fly the plane to Cleveland & back, he also has a similar plan to bring another patient to Philadelphia & back prior to the Cleveland flight.

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