COVID-19: 'This Time, Unlike Last Year, We’re Not Defenseless,' Hochul Says Of New Variant COVID-19: 'This Time, Unlike Last Year, We’re Not Defenseless,' Hochul Says Of New Variant
Covid-19: 'This Time, Unlike Last Year, We’re Not Defenseless,' Hochul Says Of New Variant Gov. Kathy Hochul cautioned that New York is bracing for the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, declaring that the state will be ready for it when it does. Hochul said during a COVID-19 briefing this week that the new variant is being closely monitored by state health officials, including the state testing center at Wadsworth Labs in Albany, and while Omicron is a concern, New York now has more tools to combat it than at the outset of the pandemic in March 2020. Earlier story - COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States “We’re fully monitoring it - but the diff…
COVID-19: Here's How Much Longer Lamont Wants Executive Powers Extended COVID-19: Here's How Much Longer Lamont Wants Executive Powers Extended
Covid-19: Here's How Much Longer Lamont Wants Executive Powers Extended Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said that he expects to extend his emergency powers for another 90 days as he works with state lawmakers on certain COVID-19 mandates and protocols. With his emergency powers to expire on Thursday, Sept. 30, Lamont said he plans to extend his emergency powers 90 days further, saying that action through the General Assembly “takes too long.” The emergency powers would then be extended through Wednesday, Dec. 29. Lamont previously said that in order to continue issuing COVID-19-related executive orders, he would have to extend his emergency powers past Sept. 30. …
COVID-19: CT Requires All Long-Term Care Facility Employees To Get Vaccinated COVID-19: CT Requires All Long-Term Care Facility Employees To Get Vaccinated
Covid-19: CT Requires All Long-Term Care Facility Employees To Get Vaccinated All employees of Connecticut's long-term care facilities are required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 under a new executive order from Gov. Ned Lamont. Lamont announced on Friday, Aug. 6, that the employees will be required to receive at least their first vaccine dose no later than Tuesday, Sept. 7. The types of facilities impacted by this executive order include: Nursing homes Residential care homes Assisted living services agencies (i.e. agencies that provide staff to certain long-term care facilities) Intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities M…
COVID-19: Citing 'Huge Privacy Implications,' Florida Bans 'Vaccine Passports' COVID-19: Citing 'Huge Privacy Implications,' Florida Bans 'Vaccine Passports'
Covid-19: Citing 'Huge Privacy Implications,' Florida Bans 'Vaccine Passports' With more Americans receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and hoping to get back into a sense of normalcy, the idea of using “vaccine passports” to prove a person has been vaccinated for the virus has been picking up steam in many states. Florida is not one of those states, as Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis outright rejected the idea of them being used to restrict admissions to sites or events, while also citing “huge privacy implications.” On Friday, April 2, DeSantis signed an executive order that bans the "vaccine passports." Specifically, it prohibits government offices from issuing any "stand…
COVID-19: Paterson PD Tickets Local Bar Open After Hours COVID-19: Paterson PD Tickets Local Bar Open After Hours
Covid-19: Paterson PD Tickets Local Bar Open After Hours A Paterson lounge that illegally provided entertainment not only stayed open past the state-mandated curfew, authorities said: Neighbors told police it didn’t close some nights until 5 a.m. Members of the city Vice-Narcotics-ABC unit raided Mango’s Bar on Murray Street and found patrons and employees inside well past the mandated 10 p.m. closing time late Thursday, Police Director Jerry Speziale said. They issued summonses to the manager, Maria Guerra, 48, of Haledon and had her clear the place, the director said. Speziale reminded owners that all bars, restaurants, lounges and similar bus…
COVID-19: Lamont Weighs Mitigation Options Amid Rise In Cases, Hospitalizations COVID-19: Lamont Weighs Mitigation Options Amid Rise In Cases, Hospitalizations
Covid-19: Lamont Weighs Mitigation Options Amid Rise In Cases, Hospitalizations Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is weighing his options as he and his health officials attempt to curtail the spread of COVID-19, which has been surging during the fall. During his latest COVID-19 briefing, Lamont said that as the virus continues to rapidly spread throughout the state and country he is looking at every option available, including limits on elective surgery and rolling back the reopening of the economy. Related story - COVID-19: CT Ranks No. 1 Nationally In Cases Per Capita, According To New Data The move to mitigate comes as Connecticut has seen a spike in cases, infection ra…
COVID-19: New CT Executive Order On Substitute Teachers Takes Effect COVID-19: New CT Executive Order On Substitute Teachers Takes Effect
Covid-19: New CT Executive Order On Substitute Teachers Takes Effect Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has signed a new Executive Order that will grant school districts additional hiring power to help avoid staffing shortages during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lamont’s 83rd Executive Order since the pandemic began, signed this week, will allow the short-term hiring of substitute teachers who have not yet received their bachelor’s degree. Specifically, the new edict allows Miguel Cardona, the state’s Commissioner of Education to suspend the requirement that local school districts request and receive a waiver from the commissioner to hire short-term su…
COVID-19: Suffolk Sheriff's Office Says It Won't Enforce 10-Person Limit For Gatherings COVID-19: Suffolk Sheriff's Office Says It Won't Enforce 10-Person Limit For Gatherings
Covid-19: Suffolk Sheriff's Office Says It Won't Enforce 10-Person Limit For Gatherings When it comes to friends and families coming to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office won’t be standing in the way of large gatherings. On Wednesday, Nov. 11, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an Executive Order that limited indoor gatherings in a private residence to no more than 10 people, which went into effect on Friday, Nov. 13, throwing disarray into many Thanksgiving plans. Related story - COVID-19: Two Long Island Businesses Cited For Overcrowding In response, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr. joined several other law enforcement agencies in…
COVID-19: 'Use Your Best Judgment' On Thanksgiving Gatherings, Putnam Sheriff Says COVID-19: 'Use Your Best Judgment' On Thanksgiving Gatherings, Putnam Sheriff Says
Covid-19: 'Use Your Best Judgment' On Thanksgiving Gatherings, Putnam Sheriff Says When it comes to friends and families gathering to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, Putnam County Sheriff Robert Langley is only asking that hosts take proper precautions and “use their own best judgment” to avoid the spread of COVID-19. On Wednesday, Nov. 11, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an Executive Order that limited indoor gatherings in a private residence to no more than 10 people, which went into effect on Friday, Nov. 13, throwing disarray into many Thanksgiving plans. In response, there was some defiance and backlash, with some upstate sheriffs proclaiming that they would no…
COVID-19 Crackdown: $10K In Illegal Alcohol Seized, 5 Newark Bars Closed For Slew Of Violations COVID-19 Crackdown: $10K In Illegal Alcohol Seized, 5 Newark Bars Closed For Slew Of Violations
Covid-19 Crackdown: $10K In Illegal Alcohol Seized, 5 Newark Bars Closed For Slew Of Violations Newark's COVID-19 task force closed five bars and lounges violating city health orders, seized nearly $10,000 worth of illegal alcohol and arrested two people who organized a massive warehouse party Halloween weekend, authorities said. The locations were operating above capacity limits, failed to enforce the use of face masks, serving illegal alcohol and more, Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said. The Task Force on Friday confiscated illegal alcohol valued at $10,000 and arrested two people who organized a massive warehouse party, officials said. The …
Starting Thursday, Towns Can Roll Back COVID-19 Restrictions To Phase 2 Starting Thursday, Towns Can Roll Back COVID-19 Restrictions To Phase 2
Starting Thursday, Towns Can Roll Back Covid-19 Restrictions To Phase 2 Cities and towns will soon be able to make their own decisions on whether to loosen COVID-19 restrictions as Connecticut moves forward with reopening the economy. On Tuesday, Oct. 13, Gov. Ned Lamont signed an executive order giving community leaders the power to go back to “phase 2” of reopening their local economies if COVID-19 infections spike there.  This means cities and towns could choose to go back to COVID-19 restrictions that were in place prior to Oct. 8. Such restrictions included smaller caps on gatherings and fewer activities. Towns can put the brakes on reopening if thei…
Use Of Force By Jersey City Police Breaking Up Massive Street Fight Deemed Justified Use Of Force By Jersey City Police Breaking Up Massive Street Fight Deemed Justified
Use Of Force By Jersey City Police Breaking Up Massive Street Fight Deemed Justified The use of force by Jersey City police officers breaking up a massive street fight in May has been deemed justified, authorities in Hudson County announced Wednesday. Multiple 9-1-1 callers reported 20 to 100 people screaming, punching and kicking in a street fight that broke out on Bostwick Avenue between  Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Ocean Avenue just after 5:15 p.m. on May 5, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. This incident that quickly went viral on social media occurred during the Executive Order signed by Gov. Phil Murphy that required people to stay home and socia…