“Hay Now!” That’s what drivers on the New York State Thruway were saying yesterday afternoon after several bales of hay fell off a truck and onto the roadway. The lunchtime traffic on the Westchester-bound side near the Scotland Hill Road overpass in Chestnut Ridge came to a brief stop as the mess was cleaned up.
Slow COVID Vaccine Distribution Frustrating Officials
Some are getting frustrated at the slow rollout of COVID vaccinations here in New York. Rockland County Executive Ed Day says other than EMS and frontline workers, it’s not yet clear when other groups specifically will be alerted when it is their turn to get the vaccine. Day says the state is working on those details with the support of local health departments, but pharmacies, hospitals, and Rockland’s Health Department are expected to be involved. Clarkstown supervisor George Hoehmann says he’s working with the county to make sure all who need to get vaccinated have the opportunity…
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said the vaccination process could be fully on track within a week or so, according to Crain’s NY Business. Officials with the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed are considering offering half-doses of the Moderna vaccine to people in the 18 to 55 age group to help get it to more people.
COVID Death Count in Rockland Jumps Eight, Governor Blames Feds for Slow Vaccine Rollout
New York’s governor says the slowdown is the fed’s fault. In his daily coronavirus press briefing yesterday, governor Andrew Cuomo said 288 of the state’s 611 nursing home facilities have completed the first COVID dose for their residents…
The goal, Cuomo said, is to have all the nursing home residents and staff vaccinated over the next two weeks. Meanwhile, the governor also said New York has had its first case of the highly-contagious UK strain of the virus upstate. A 60-year-old man tested positive for it after apparently contracting it at a jewelry store in Saratoga Springs. He is reportedly recovering.
COVID-19 by the numbers now, here in Rockland, we lost eight more to COVID, the total count stands at 779. We’ve got 95 hospitalized being examined, another there is a confirmed case, and a total of 2,481 active cases. Overall, we’ve had 28,335 reported cases, 825 more than Monday.
Airmont Settles with Hasidic School Over Expansion Project
The village of Airmont has settled a federal civil rights lawsuit with a Hasidic Jewish school that wants to expand its facilities. The Journal News says the Central United Talmudical Academy of Monsey had claimed the village discriminated against them by blocking their project. Airmont has promised to review the plans in a timely manner, in exchange the lawsuit has been dropped.
Stony Point Seals’ 2021 Plunge into Hudson River May not Happen Due to COVID
The annual Stony Point Seals’ Plunge into the Hudson River on Super Bowl Sunday may not happen this year due to COVID restrictions. Town supervisor Jim Monaghan says with the pandemic it may not be able to be done safely. Regardless, Monaghan says, the Seals will still be raising money to help…
The event usually draws 500 people. If it is held, it would be on February 7th. For more information visit their website, https://www.stonypointseals.com.