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Senator Borrello calls on repeal of Cuomo’s executive authority

New York’s state of emergency ended Friday, but that does not mean Gov. Andrew Cuomo is done wielding emergency authority. There are several executive orders issued that have been extended until at least July 5, including Executive Order 202.11, which states any guidance issued by the state Health Department related to prevention and infection control of COVID-19 supersede any prior conflicting guidance issued by the state and any local guidance on those issues. That’s the reason why New Yorkers will still have to wear masks on public transit, hospitals, nursing homes, ...

Unemployment drops, but still higher than pre-pandemic levels

Unemployment in Chautauqua County has dipped to 5.3%, a far cry from the 12.3% unemployment rate in May 2020. But, the unemployment rate is still higher than the 3.9% May 2019 unemployment rate before the COVID-19 pandemic began. That means unemployment is following the same trend as the county’s employment statistics are following — significant rebounds from the depths of the pandemic but still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. E.J. McMahon, founder and executive director of the Empire Center for Public Policy, noted that New York has the second-worst change in private ...

One new COVID case reported, active cases down to four

Only one new case of COVID-19 was reported by the county Health Department on Thursday. It's the first new case identified since at least Sunday. There continues to be no one with COVID in local hospitals. Meanwhile, the number of active cases is down to four, while those in quarantine dipped to 13. To date there have 9,292 total confirmed cases, 9,131 recoveries and 157 virus-related deaths.

No new COVID cases reported again, hospitalizations at zero

For the second straight day — from information collected Monday and Tuesday — no new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Chautauqua County. In addition, the number of people with the virus in the hospital dropped to zero. The total, 9,291 confirmed COVID cases, hasn't budged since the weekend. There are currently five active cases, 9,129 recoveries and 15 people in quarantine. The seven-day positivity rate remains at 0.4%.

New York to let COVID-19 state of emergency expire

ALBANY (AP) — New York will lift more COVID-19 restrictions when the state of emergency expires later this week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday. New Yorkers will still have to wear masks on public transit, hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities and homeless shelters, in ...

NEW YORK STATE As COVID wanes, powers must end

Gov. Andrew Cuomo spent Tuesday taking a COVID-19 victory lap. News that 70% of adult New Yorkers have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is a milestone for the state, but if the governor is celebrating, we wonder why he still clings to his emergency authority? We’ve seen only recently examples of why the governor’s executive authority needs to end. The governor’s edicts on travel restrictions, sports seasons in schools, vaccine eligibility, business restrictions and, most recently, the administration’s three-day flip-flop over mask wearing in schools do nothing ...