Morning News Briefing

Rain or shine, the Genesee County Master Gardeners will once again be hosting their annual Spring Garden Gala on Saturday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County office, located at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia. This annual plant sale features a variety of perennials, many of which are from the gardens of Master Gardeners. There will also be a selection of house plants. Plant sale starts promptly at 10 a.m. on the front lawn of the Extension office.

More than 15 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in New York State, and approximately one in three New Yorkers are now fully vaccinated. As of now, all New York State mass vaccination sites are open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first come first serve basis for all. The walk-in appointments are reserved for first doses only with second doses to be scheduled automatically after administration of the initial shot.

Genesee County reports seven new COVID cases and nine new hospitalizations. Thirteen more cases have been confirmed in Orleans County with three more people admitted to the hospital. Meanwhile, in Wyoming County, a dozen more cases were confirmed.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is warning of seasonal asphalt paving and sealing scams. As the weather warms, paving projects will soon begin. Residents should be cautious if they are solicited by who appears to be a contractor offering to pave or seal a driveway. The Sheriff’s Office has already fielded one recent complaint in the county.

Governor Andrew Cuomo defending his position on how his office counted nursing home deaths during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuomo is accused of withholding the numbers of people who died in nursing homes, for fear that it would be politicized by the Trump Administration. Cuomo says he doesn’t deny that the deaths would have been politicized by the former President, but also says the way to count nursing home deaths is more nuanced than people think, especially if a nursing home resident died in a hospital.

The SUNY system announced Thursday it will be adopting the new CDC masking guidelines. Under those guidelines, people who are fully vaccinated can gather outdoors without wearing masks, except in certain crowded settings and venues. Masking is still required for students and instructors in all classroom settings, as well as during commencement events, as they are still considered large gatherings. The new rule goes into effect immediately.