Morning News Brief
Written by Michael Baldwin on February 10, 2021
Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced New York’s 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped to 4.38 percent, its lowest since December 1. Cuomo said the post-holiday surge reduction is continuing, and that is the direct result of the toughness of New Yorkers who have sacrificed and done what is needed to beat back this invisible enemy. As of today, the number of people in the Finger Lakes region hospitalized with COVID has dropped to 398. Deaths statewide on Tuesday were 138.
Genesee County reports 28 new COVID positive cases. Thirty of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list. Seventeen of the current positive individuals are hospitalized. Just three new cases were reported in Orleans County, with three individuals hospitalized. In Wyoming County, two new cases were reported since Monday. One additional death was also reported.
Congressman Tom Reed, State Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt, and other regional lawmakers have joined together to…as they say…highlight their efforts to secure justice for the families of New Yorkers who lost loved ones due to what they call Governor Cuomo’s dangerous mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic in our state’s nursing homes. During the press conference, the group reaffirmed their call for the Biden Administration and Department of Justice to provide the public with answers and accountability through a full, independent, and fair federal investigation. He said they demonstrated, in one clear voice, that there are leaders at the state and federal level who will not relent until they’ve secured justice for the people of New York. They urge the Biden Administration and Department of Justice — do what is right.
The Batavia Police Department has received a number of calls regarding people allegedly fraudulently filing for unemployment benefits. These cases are investigated directly by NYS Department of Labor – Office of Special Investigations and not by local law enforcement. Citizens who are victims of this type are fraud are asked to contact the Department of Labor.
From Genesee County Board of Elections…Any party enrollment change requests must be received at the Board of Elections office by close of business Friday in order to be eligible to vote in the Primary on June 22nd or the Early Voting dates beginning June 12th. You can find a voter registration form to print off from Board’s website.
Downstate Democratic State Assemblyman John McDonald is pushing Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office to have a statewide COVID vaccine preregistration system in which people would fill out the questionnaire and turn in all the necessary paperwork just once. People would then wait for a call from the state or county health department when an appointment becomes available. Local Republican Assemblyman Steve Hawley says preregistration would not solve the biggest issue of all: limited supply.
