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COVID-19 Coverage

GOP: Give Parents Say On School Masks

Several Republicans in the state Assembly want the state to set standards that would allow parents to choose whether or not their child wears a mask in schools. The legislation (A.8487) is sponsored by Michael Durso, R-Massapequa Park, and is co-sponsored by 15 Republicans in the Assembly, including Joe Giglio of Gowanda. It would require the state health commissioner to calculate the level of community transmission of COVID-19 on a district-wide basis and then compare those levels to the Centers for Disease Control’s metrics. School districts found to be below the CDC’s ...

FDA: Merck COVID Pill Effective, Experts Will Review Safety

Federal health regulators say an experimental COVID-19 pill from Merck is effective against the virus, but they will seek input from outside experts on risks of birth defects and other potential problems during pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration posted its analysis of the pill ahead ...

Half Of NY’s $2.4B In Rent Aid Held Up 6 Months After Launch

ALBANY (AP) — Nearly $1 billion meant to cover back rent for New Yorkers who suffered economic hardship because of the coronavirus pandemic still hasn't made it into the hands of tenants six months after the program launched. That's led to exasperation, especially as the state warned that ...

Black Friday Is Back But It’s Not What It Used To Be

NEW YORK (AP) — On this year's Black Friday, things almost seem normal. Malls and stores report decent-sized crowds, if not the floods of people that used to fight over the latest toys and electronics — online shopping is much too common for that now, and discounts are both more subdued ...

New Omicron Variant Stokes World Fears, Triggers Travel Bans

BRUSSELS (AP) — The discovery of a new coronavirus variant sent a chill through much of the world Friday as nations raced to halt air travel, markets fell sharply and scientists held emergency meetings to weigh the exact risks, which were largely unknown. A World Health Organization panel ...

Fredonia Mandates Masks For Village Hall Use

FREDONIA — The village hall in Fredonia is requiring masks for visitors again. Prompted by Mayor Douglas Essek, the Board of Trustees agreed to require the masks in village-owned buildings Monday as a response to rising COVID-19 rates in the area. The move came just hours after neighboring Erie County resumed mask-wearing mandates for public buildings. Essek opened a discussion about COVID-19 protocols at the Monday board workshop by asking trustees if they wanted to consider going back to remote meetings. After the pandemic hit in March 2020, the board did not meet in person for ...