Breaking News

COVID-19 Coverage

Lack Of Supplies, Personnel Make Testing Option Tough

While Chautauqua County officials say they would like to utilize the “Test To Stay” policy in schools, the testing materials and personnel are simply not available. Christine Schuyler, county public health director, said the New York State Health Department is not directly recommending the “Test To Stay” initiative for school districts, but will allow counties who wish to do so offer it. The initiative would allow students or staff to return to school or work after a seven-day quarantine due to a COVID-19 close contact, as opposed to the standard 10-day quarantine. However, the ...

UPMC: Several Unknowns With Omicron COVID-19 Variant

There is still a lot to learn about the latest COVID-19 variant Omicron, UPMC doctors said during a virtual news conference Thursday. The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is the latest strain of the coronavirus to be designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization as ...

Wendel, Schuyler Voice COVID Frustration

County Executive PJ Wendel and the county’s public health director expressed frustration this week regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Christine Schuyler said area residents may not be aware of the ongoing hardship and difficulty in the community due to the pandemic — but it is here. ...

Omicron Confirmed In Man Who Attended NYC Anime Convention

NEW YORK — A man who attended an anime convention in New York City in late November tested positive for the omicron variant of the coronavirus when he returned home to Minnesota, marking the second case of the variant in the U.S. and leading officials Thursday to urge thousands of convention ...

US Employers Added A Sluggish 210,000 Jobs In November

WASHINGTON (AP) — America's employers slowed the pace of their hiring in November, adding 210,000 jobs, the fewest in nearly a year. Friday's report from the Labor Department also showed that the unemployment rate fell sharply to 4.2% from 4.6%. That is a historically low level though ...

Omicron Coronavirus Variant Found In Multiple US States

NEW YORK (AP) — The omicron variant of COVID-19, which had been undetected in the U.S. before the middle of this week, had been discovered in at least five states by the end of Thursday, showing yet again how mutations of the virus can circumnavigate the globe with speed and ease. Just a ...