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County reports 71 new COVID cases; hospitalizations drop

The county Health Department noted 71 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, though the number of people with the virus in local hospitals did come down. Thirty-four cases were reported in Jamestown, along with eight in Dunkirk, five in Ashville, four in Sherman and three each in Fredonia and Westfield. There are currently 424 active cases of COVID-19 in Chautauqua County, 31 people with the virus in the hospital and 1,001 in quarantine. There have been 10,989 cases recorded to date, 10,396 recoveries and 169 virus-related deaths. Just over 50% of the 1,644 cases of the virus noted ...

Hochul vows to fight lawsuit over vaccine mandate

ALBANY (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed this week to fight a lawsuit launched by a group of Christian health care practitioners who argue that New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for many health care workers is unconstitutional because it lacks a religious exemption. A federal judge ...

Filled with smiles: City notes near record participation for summer camp

Heading into its 30th year, the city of Dunkirk saw a huge success its summer camp program. Held each year at Camp Gross, 300 campers over a five-week period enjoy various activities with their peers and counselors. This year was special to the city as it was with other events that were ...

Vaccine mandate pushing some to leave health care jobs

A staffing crisis already staking a claim in Chautauqua County may go from bad to worse for some health care facilities due to New York state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Lisa Haglund estimates between 70 and 100 unvaccinated workers at Heritage Ministries may end up quitting at locations ...

Borrello calls for testing option for health workers

State Sen. George Borrello has called on Gov. Kathy Hochul and Dr. Howard Zucker, New York's Department of Health commissioner, asking them to allow unvaccinated health care workers the option to submit to regular testing in lieu of having to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Borrello, ...

County reports 115 new COVID cases, bump in hospitalizations

The Chautauqua County Department of Health reported 115 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, along with two new virus-related deaths, a bump in active cases and several new hospitalizations. A vast majority of the new cases (57) are among residents living in the Jamestown zip code. The other cases break down as follows: 11 in Fredonia; eight in Dunkirk; seven in Falconer; four each in Westfield, Stockton and Sinclairville; three each in Silver Creek, Bemus Point and Brocton; two each in Frewsburg, Lakewood and Sherman; and one each in Panama, Mayville, Kennedy, Cassadaga and ...