Midday News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on October 28, 2021
New York Governor Kathy Hochul held a COVID-19 update Wednesday and said a possible COVID-19 vaccine mandate in public schools in the state is “on the table.” Tuesday, a Food and Drug Administration panel voted to formally recommend the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 5 and a CDC committee will meet next week to discuss granting approval. When asked if she will put a mandate for children 5 and up in place the governor said if there is not adequate compliance, or COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations among children begin to rise, she will have “no choice.”
The New York State Health Department has announced new guidelines for COVID protocols in schools. Currently, any unvaccinated student who was exposed to COVID is required to quarantine. The new guidance suggests the “test to stay” method could be used. This strategy allows students who have been exposed to COVID to stay in school without having to quarantine – if they test negative.
New divorce legislation has now been signed and it changes how pets are treated by the courts. The new bill signed into law Monday makes pets able to be disputed in Family Court. What this means is that instead of the family dog or cat or other domesticated companion animal, excluding livestock, being treated as property, the judge must now consider the best well being of the animal in nearly the same way as a child during a divorce proceeding. The Bill Takes effect immediately.
