Morning News Briefing
Written by Dan Fischer on May 11, 2020
The pressure is on at the Villages of Orleans Nursing and rehabilitation Center in Albion. Another resident there died over the weekend from COVID-19 related illness.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley of Batavia, whose district includes Albion, says a number of agencies are now involved in the investigation of the nursing home. Among them, Hawley said, is the Orleans County District Attorney and Sheriff’s Department.
Hawley said the State Department of Health that has regulatory control over nursing homes in the state, conducted a surprise inspection in April and found the Villages of Orleans in compliance with state guidelines.
Hawley described the situation at the privately owned nursing home as, “out of control.”
Governor Cuomo has announced that hospitals cannot discharge patients to nursing homes if they’ve tested positive for the disease.
Staff members at nursing homes also need to be screened twice a week for the virus.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul says Western New York is making progress towards reopening its economy. Hochul says while the region has reached several benchmarks laid out by Governor Cuomo, progress is still needed in some areas. She says people can help out by wearing masks in public and taking part in social distancing.
Starting today, all Amtrak customers will be required to wear masks onboard trains. The company says its part of an effort to keep people safe as it increases service to meet customer demand in the Northeast. In addition to masks, travelers must also follow proper social distancing protocols while onboard, in stations and at ticket counters.
In the next few days all registered voters will be receiving an absentee application in the mail from the Genesee County Board of Elections.
This allows voters to use “temporary illness” due to the COVID-19 pandemic to apply and mail in your application with a prepaid envelope.
After the application is received, the board of elections will mail your ballot.
This application is good only for the June 23rd Primary Election.
Western New York drivers are continuing to find consistent prices at the pump. Gas Buddy-dot-com shows an average price of a gallon of regular in Batavia at $2.27.On the reservation in Basom, a gallon of regular is $1.55.
