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Rockland Adds New Online Form for COVID Vaccine Waiting List

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Rockland seniors struggling to get a COVID vaccination might have an easier time beginning today. The Rockland County Office for the Aging has been working overtime on the phones to assist, and now they have a new online form to streamline the process even further. Rockland County Executive Ed Day says it’s been an all-hands-on-deck effort…

To get help by phone from the Office for the Aging, call them at 845-364-2110, and be patient, as many people do call them. If you can use the internet, click this link to access the Senior COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist form. We also have a link to the main county COVID-19 website.

Wesley Hills Man Charged with Attempted Murder After Reportedly Putting Rockland Correction Officer in Choke Hold

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A Wesley Hills man faces attempted murder and other charges after he allegedly attacked a correction officer at the Rockland County Jail. Sheriff Lou Falco says 31 year-old Israel Simon Gourion refused to re-enter his cell Wednesday night. Falco says he attacked and put the officer in a choke hold. Another inmate came to the officer’s aid, until additional correction officers were able to respond and get Gourion under control. Gourion is charged with first degree Attempted Murder, second degree Assault, and second degree Strangulation. He was arraigned before Clarkstown Town Justice Scott Ugell and sent back to the Correctional Facility on $250,000 bail. It’s not clear why Gurion was in jail in the first place.

Ramapo Encouraged by Governor’s Decision to Re-open Large Arenas

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Ramapo’s supervisor has hope for the upcoming baseball season in Pomona, even though the governor’s recent directive doesn’t apply to Palisades Credit Union Park. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last week that the Buffalo Bills playoffs pilot program was a success, so sports and entertainment events in major stadiums and arenas with a capacity of 10,000 or more can re-open with limited spectators and COVID precautions starting February 23rd. The New York Boulders’ ballpark in Pomona has a capacity of just under 7,000, so it doesn’t qualify, but Ramapo’s supervisor Michael Specht says it’s critical to get the stadium open again…

The governor has relented slightly on restrictions to restaurants and bars. Saying he’s continuing to follow the science and react accordingly, Cuomo extended closing times for restaurants and bars from 10pm to 11pm statewide. That executive order went into effect last night.

Pearl River’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Doubt

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While it’s not official yet, it doesn’t look like there will be a parade in Pearl River to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day next month, as has been done since 1963 thanks to the hard work of the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians. Last year’s parade was cancelled at the last-minute just as the COVID crisis was beginning. Orangetown supervisor Teresa Kenny says, though, it’s not likely to happen…

We reached out to the AOH for comment but have not heard back.

Report: NY Under-represented Nursing Home COVID Deaths

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More than 9,000 recovering coronavirus patients here in New York were released from hospitals into nursing homes early in the pandemic. That’s according to the Associated Press, which reports over 9,000 patients were sent to hundreds of nursing homes. That’s over 40% higher than what had been previously released by the state health department. The New York Post is also reporting top Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa privately apologized to Democratic lawmakers for withholding the state’s nursing-home death toll, having done so out of concern the right numbers would “be used against” them by federal prosecutors. DeRosa indicated during Wednesday’s COVID conference call that it appears the Department of Justice was no longer focused on New York’s nursing home deaths. Overall, more than 45,000 people have died of COVID in New York, second only to California.

COVID-19 by the numbers now, here in Rockland, we lost three more to COVID, the total is 858. We’ve got 59 hospitalized confirmed with coronavirus, and 1,743 active cases. Our total case count is 36,247, that’s 186 more than Thursday.