Morning News Briefing
Written by Dan Fischer on April 29, 2020
Two more residents of the Village of Orleans nursing facility in Albion have died from Coronavirus related illness. This brings the death toll in that one facility to nine since the outbreak began.
Two new positive cases of the virus were reported in Genesee County yesterday – one lives in Batavia, one in the Town of Alabama. This brings Genesee County’s total positive cases to 149 since the outbreak began.
A minor fire in the home of WBTA associate Howard Owens, owner and publisher of the Batavian.
The fire was traced to a faulty nightlight in a downstairs bathroom.
City fire responded around 2 this morning. Howard, wife Billie and pets are all fine – including Rocky, the news hound.
There was no structural problems, but considerable smoke damage.
Governor Cuomo has unveiled the required benchmarks regions will have to achieve if they want to reopen their economies.
Businesses will also reopen in phases and must have a plan to protect customers and employees.
The governor’s plan also includes several guidelines such as a 14-day decline in hospitalizations and a requirement hospitals have enough beds available should there be a second wave of coronavirus.
Students, teachers and parents will not have to wait long to find out if school will be back in session anytime soon.
Governor Cuomo says a decision on the rest of the academic year can be expected by the end of the week
It looks like there will be no New York State Fair in Syracuse this summer.
The Governor says the popular event likely won’t be held unless the coronavirus situation improves dramatically.
The governor explained that unless the entire state is back open, there’s a chance people would travel from regions that are still closed, which could put fair attendees at risk.
