Governor Andrew Cuomo says it's not practical to add Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New Jersey to New York's travel advisory list. During a press briefing held in Albany Wednesday... Cuomo said there are so many roads that interconnect all three states that they cannot be checked at the border. However... he adds the state is looking at alternatives to better use technology in making such decisions. Meanwhile... Cuomo says New York's infection rate is at its highest level since June... 1.62 percent when including red zones. The Empire State's positivity rate remains the third lowest among states in the nation....
Governor Cuomo is easing restrictions slightly in some coronavirus hot spots in New York City, but adding them in areas along the Pennsylvania border as the state recorded more than 2,000 new infections in a single day for the first time since mid-May. The tweaks will mean that schools in parts of Brooklyn and Queens will be allowed to reopen, with boosted testing efforts, and houses of worship will be able to increase attendance. Restrictions in other areas will remain in place.
There are now 155 active case of the COVID-19 Virus in Chautauqua County... after eight new cases were confirmed on Wednesday afternoon. The county's Health Department reports five of those were reported in Dunkirk. The Health Department says those eight new cases brings the total number of cases to 912... while 744 have now recovered. In addition... officials say there are currently 12 active cases among employees of Tanglewood Manor... and, 78 active cases among residents there. Fourteen people associated with that outbreak have now recovered. As of the start to the week... 18 persons were hospitalized.
The Cattaraugus County Health Department announced their fourteenth and fifthteenth COVID-related deaths this week.. and, added 17 new positive cases. On Sunday, health officials reported the death of 65 year-old female who developed respiratory failure and was unable to overcomes her illness.... and, the fifthteenth death tied to the virus was an 86-year-old male who also developed respiratory failure. To date, there have been 375 COVID-19 cases in Cattaraugus County.
City lawmakers in Jamestown will vote next week on a new, four-year agreement with WCA Services to provide basic and advanced ambulance services from Alstar EMS. City Council members were updated Monday night on the Request for Proposals for new ambulance service in the city... which had been stalled for a while due to the COVID-19 Shut-down. However... Mayor Eddie Sundquist says Alstar came through new features that make their proposal the best.
Sundquist thanked Alstar EMS officials who were on hand for negotiating the first new agreement between Alstar and the city in more than 20 years. He says they're "very excited to have this..." and, is "supported by our fire department, and fire union as well." Officials say the city's last formal agreement with WCA Services for ambulance service ended in 1999... but, carried over until last year when WCA Services announced they were going to be cutting back on service in the city.
A city teen was arrested for allegedly driving recklessly and speeding through Jamestown while impaired by drugs Monday evening. City police say they saw a red sedan near Windsor and Bush Streets shortly before 9:30 PM.... and determined it was reported stolen from a different jurisdiction. Officers were able to pull over the vehicle at the intersection of Dover Street near Bowen Street... and, police identified the driver as 18 year-old Catherine Bindics. Further investigation revealed Bindics was operating the sedan impaired by drugs and she was taken into custody on charges including felony criminal possession of stolen property... OWAI-drugs.... open alcohol container in motor vehicle and speeding. Bindics was released with an appearance ticket for city court at a later date.
