Category: Health
DAILY DEBRIEF: Investigation into Ontario Center prompts state bill to address nursing home, COVID issues (podcast)
By Gabriel Pietrorazio On the heels of our reporting into Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Canandaigua, State Senator Pam Helming [R-54] announced that she would co-sponsor legislation to establish an independent and bipartisan commission to investigate the deaths of New ... MORE
New York expands testing to include all residents, says numbers are ‘good’ across state
The governor also announced that New York State will expand its testing criteria to all New Yorkers statewide. He made the announcement on Wednesday at a press briefing. New York conducts more tests per capita than any big country in the world ... MORE
State launches form to report violators of NY’s travel ban to places with high infection rate
New York State has set up a way for residents to report violators of the new travel advisory issued to include more states this week. Initially the restriction, which states that anyone traveling outside of New York to a state with a ... MORE
No fans at professional sport events in New York, officials say
There might be professional sports in New York State, but there won’t be any fans at those games. Those rules are part of the new guidance from New York on “Professional Sports Competitions.” The state will also not allow fans to congregate ... MORE
Two restaurants in Ithaca close permanently due to COVID-19
A pair of restaurants in Ithaca will not reopen after the Coronavirus Pandemic, and it appears that largely due to the virus itself. Ten Forward Cafe and John Thomas Steakhouse will remain closed after struggling over the last several months. “At the ... MORE
What did local health officials know about Ontario Center problems in Canandaigua?
By Gabriel Pietrorazio What did officials in Ontario County know about Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Canandaigua? Over the last several days, an investigative series into the facility has uncovered a multitude of apparent shortcomings by administration during the COVID-19 ... MORE
Gyms will file class action lawsuit against NYS over reopening plan
Gym owners across New York State are coming together to fight reopening plans issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo. There’s an apparent class-action lawsuit planned, which will be filed by the end of the week. Gyms were thought to be included in ‘Phase ... MORE
Housekeeper speaks out about Ontario Center, as concerns raised about COVID response were ignored
By Gabriel Pietrorazio It wasn’t a bad April Fool’s joke. There’s nothing funny about it. Kelsea Flynn, a former housekeeper at Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare has come forward after recently walking-out on her former employer after witnessing the horrors of ... MORE
Citing concern for post-holiday weekend increase in COVID cases Auburn hospital delays visitation
Auburn Community Hospital abruptly changed course on Tuesday, announcing that it wouldn’t open for visitors this week. As of last week, the hospital had planned to resume visitation on Wednesday. However, even with restrictions in place to maintain safe visitation at the ... MORE
DAILY DEBRIEF: Housekeeper who walked away from Ontario Center speaks out (podcast)
Connie Helker says she was the first employee to test positive for COVID-19 at the Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, earning the nickname “COVID Connie” among some of her peers. As a front desk receptionist and a housekeeper, Connie cared about ... MORE
Cuomo says HEPA filters will be required for malls to reopen
Governor Andrew Cuomo gave a little more guidance on Monday for malls, who have been anxiously waiting news of reopening in New York. That message on Monday involved HEPA filters, which are able to filter out the virus particles. He said health ... MORE
Finger Lakes based Rheonix adapts and innovates to aid COVID-19 response
Last fall, high-tech diagnostics maker Rheonix applied to the Food and Drug Administration for clearance of its molecular test for certain transmissible infections. It would have been the Lansing-based company’s first foray into the clinical market. Then COVID-19 hit and Rheonix faced ... MORE
Cuomo urges Trump to sign mask order, still no answer on school in fall
Governor Andrew Cuomo urged President Donald Trump to sign an executive order requiring people to wear a mask while in public to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. “Let the president have the same sense and do it as an executive order,” ... MORE
Fitness 24-7 in Wayne County has certificate of occupancy revoked as it violates NYS closure order
A gym in Wayne County has had its certificate of occupancy revoked after it violated Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive order mandating that they stay closed due to the Novel Coronavirus. Fitness 24-7 was sent an order to stop operating on June 16th, ... MORE
Finger Lakes enters ‘Phase 4’, but how many active COVID-19 cases are there right now?
The Finger Lakes and Central New York have entered ‘Phase 4’. While other states and parts of the U.S. see massive spikes in COVID-19 caseload – the regions in Upstate New York continue on a positive trend line. For the Finger Lakes ... MORE
