Evening News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on April 16, 2021
Did you get both your COVID shots yet or have an appointment to get them? You aren’t done yet. Modern and Pfizer CEO’s have announced booster shots for both vaccines that will need to be administered within 12 months of getting the second shot. Researchers in Rochester have found both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to be over 90 percent effective in preventing the coronavirus over the course of six months and are studying efficacy over 9 months. University of Rochester Medical Center has begun testing booster shots in a select group of participants who took part in the initial Pfizer trial there. Rollout for the general population is expected to begin in the fall.
Governor Cuomo announced a new law today that requires internet providers to provide access to high speed internet for low income families for 15 dollars a month. Cuomo signed the Affordable Broadband Bill into law at the Northland Workforce Training Center in Buffalo. High-speed Internet will include the Internet access itself, as well as any equipment such as a modem and router. This applies to companies including Spectrum, Altice, Verizon, Frontier, Windstream, and Greenlight Networks. No word yet on when this goes into effect.
COVID Update: Genesee county has 10 new cases and 8 people have recovered. Orleans county has 14 new cases and 9 people have recovered. There are 86 active cases in Genesee county and 76 in Orleans. Genesee county has nearly 14 thousand people who have completed their vaccine series and Orleans county has 8 thousand people who have had both shots. In New York State 26.4 percent of the population have had both vaccine doses. New York is 11th in the country in rate of vaccination.
On Sunday April 25th Los Samaritanos and the Country Neighbors churches of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley would like to invite anyone who wishes to help to come to the North Bergen Presbyterian Church to put together bags of comfort items for released detainees from the Buffalo Federal Detention center. The bags are basic necessities and other useful items for the newly freed. The packing party starts at 12:30 pm. They are also collecting supplies. They need, backpacks, warm clothes, snacks, travel size toiletries, flashlights, water bottles, large envelopes and 20 dollar bills.
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Washington Capitals 5 to 2 last night. Their next game is on Saturday at 3 versus the Pittsburg Penguins.
