State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker announced today\nthat the number of Coronavirus cases has increased by 432 cases, bringing the\nstatewide total to 1374 cases, with new positive tests in 10 counties. Governor Cuomo announced that they should be\nable to test thousands a day for the coronavirus, probably by next week, with\nthe help of automated testing systems. \nAlso, the Governor announced a three-way agreement with the Legislature\non a bill guaranteeing job protection and pay for New Yorkers who have been\nquarantined as a result of the coronavirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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State Police announced today that if residents are\nexperiencing an emergency, they should still call 911, but when placing an\nemergency call, please advise dispatchers if any members of your household are\nexperiencing flu-like symptoms so that 1st responders can prepare to prevent\nthe spread of any illnesses. Also, until further notice, the State Police are\nsuspending employment fingerprinting & child safety seat checks at their\nstations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Governor Cuomo signed an executive order delaying village\nelections statewide until the April 28th presidential primary. The Governor said that Public health\nofficials have been clear that reducing density is one of the most effective\nways to stop the spread, and delaying village elections will help ensure poll\nworkers and voters are not potentially exposed to the virus and at the same\ntime maintain integrity in our election system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Bassett Healthcare announced that for the health and safety\nof patients, employees, and the communities that they serve, they are\nimplementing new visitation restrictions across all network facilities. Access to clinic buildings and outpatient\nservice areas at all Bassett Healthcare Network facilities will be limited to\nonly those patients with scheduled appointments or required business, such as a\nprescription pick up. FoxCare Fitness in\nOneonta is also closed until further notice. \nBassett has set up a central phone number; 607-547-5555, for those who\nare concerned they may have symptoms of upper respiratory illness, patients\ndetermined to need an in-person visit will be given an appointment and directed\nto next steps. Also Telemedicine\ncapabilities are being expanded to be able to screen more patients remotely;\nVisitation has been suspended to all inpatient units at the 5 hospitals across\nthe network and the network\u2019s long-term care facilities. More information is available at bassett.org.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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UHS Chenango Memorial is restricting visitors at the\nhospital & all off-site locations. \nAll patients and visitors will be screened upon arrival, Only 1 healthy\nvisitor will be allowed per patient at a time, Patients coming for medical\nappointments or testing may only be accompanied by 1 healthy individual, and\nChildren under the age of 18 are restricted from visiting. Visitors experiencing cough, sore throat,\nfever, or any other flu-like symptoms will not be permitted. Individuals who are asymptomatic but who have\nan international travel history, or who have recently been in a community with\nactive cases of COVID-19, or have been in contact with someone who has tested\npositive for the virus, will be screened. \nThose with symptoms should call their provider\u2019s office or emergency\nroom before arriving. Patients and\nvisitors are asked to enter through the Main Rear Entrance, except for patients\ngoing to the Emergency Room or patients of the UHS Women\u2019s Health Center. More information is available at 337-4111 or\nat nyuhs.org.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due\nto an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations in response to the\ncoronavirus outbreak. Healthy\nindividuals can schedule an appointment to give blood at RedCrossBlood.org;\nusing the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or enabling the\nBlood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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David Thomas of Oneonta Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Murder\nin Otsego County Court, for a December 2018 incident in which he injured a\nwoman’s neck by strangulation. Thomas\nwill be sentenced on the charge on June 5th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Chenango County Sheriff\u2019s Office arrested 34 year old\nLance Barnhart of McDonough for 3rd degree Burglary, Petty Larceny and Criminal\nMischief. Barnhart is accused of\nentering a town of Norwich residence by cutting a window screen to steal an\nanimal. Barnhart was released on appearance tickets and schedule to appear in\nthe Town of Norwich at a later date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The City of Norwich Common Council meeting scheduled for\ntonight will be a closed meeting due to COVID-19 concerns. Attendance will be for the Mayor, Common\nCouncil members, Department Heads and the Deputy City Clerk ONLY. No one else\nshall be admitted, the meeting will be streamed live on the City of Norwich\nFacebook page beginning at 6:30 pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The State-run Department of\nMotor Vehicles locations are moving to an appointment only system to help stop\nspread of the coronavirus. The DMV is\nencouraging all New Yorkers to complete routine transactions on its website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Governor Cuomo signed an executive order directing all\nschools in New York to close by Wednesday, for 2 weeks ending April 1, at that\ntime, the state will reassess whether to extend the school closures further and\ncontinue to suspend the 180-day instructional requirement. Schools that exceed the closure period\nwithout state authorization will not be exempted from the 180-day rule. School districts are required to develop a\nplan for alternative instructional options, including distance learning;\ndistribution and availability of meals; and daycare, with an emphasis on\nchildren of parents of first responders and healthcare workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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NY State of Health announced that a Special Enrollment\nPeriod is available to New Yorkers during which eligible individuals will be\nable to enroll in insurance coverage through NY State of Health and directly\nthrough insurers. The open enrollment\nperiod for coverage in 2020 had previously ended on February 7, Individuals who enroll in Qualified Health\nPlans now through April 15th, will have coverage effective starting April 1,\nconsumers can apply for coverage on-line at nystateofhealth.ny.gov, by phone at\n855-355-5777, and working with enrollment assistors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Former area Congressman Richard Hanna of Barneveld has died\nat the age of 69. Hanna died Sunday at a\nhospital in Oneida County surrounded by loved ones after a battle with\ncancer. Hanna served 3 terms in\nCongress, retiring in 2016. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig Announced that as of today, all\nCity buildings will be closed to the public. Persons requiring emergency\nassistance from the Oneonta Police Department can do so by entering the lobby\nat the Public Safety Building, all essential services will still be provided,\nbut all non-essential services and activities will be curtailed. At 7:00 pm\ntonight, Mayor Herzig will conduct a live broadcast on the City of Oneonta\u2019s\nFacebook page of the Common Council Meeting where the changes will be discussed\nin more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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An American Red Cross blood drive will be hosted today by\nthe Sidney Elks Lodge 104 River St. Sidney. \nThe drive will run from 2:00 to 6:00 pm, appointments are requested at\nRegister online at redcrossblood.org, call 1-800-redcross, walk ins welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Commerce Chenango Notary Public Prep Workshop is still\nscheduled for this morning in Norwich. \nThe meeting will be held in the Commerce Chenango Community Room, 15\nSouth Broad Street in downtown Norwich, the event will run from 9:00 AM to 3:00\nPM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce announced that they will\nhold their regular membership meeting this morning. The meeting will begin at 7:30 at the back of\nBob’s Diner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker announced today that the number of Coronavirus cases has increased by 432 cases, bringing the statewide total to 1374 cases, with new positive tests in 10 counties. Governor Cuomo announced that they should be … Continue reading