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NYDOH Statement: The NYS Health Department is committed to helping NYS school communities get back to the classroom — safely. The Department has filed an emergency regulation requiring students, faculty and staff of all public and private schools (P-12) in New York State to wear masks inside school buildings. Effective immediately, this measure will help keep NYS students and teachers healthy and safe as we continue our work to #VaccinateNY. https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/…/2.61_determination…
Commissioner’s Determination on Indoor Masking Pursuant to 10 NYCRR 2.61 August 27, 2021
Pursuant to 10 NYCRR 2.61, I hereby issue the following determination, which includes findings of necessity, to support the face masking/covering requirements set forth below:
Findings of necessity:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified a concerning national trend of increasing circulation of the Delta COVID-19 variant, which is approximately twice as transmissible as the SARS-CoV-2 strain. Since early July, cases have risen 10-fold, and 95 percent of sequenced recent positives in New York State were the Delta variant.
Certain settings and areas (e.g., healthcare, schools, and public places located in CDC-identified areas of substantial or high community transmission) pose increased challenges and urgency for controlling the spread of this disease because of the vulnerable populations served, the disproportionate percentage of individuals (e.g., children) who are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination, and/or the substantial to high levels of community transmission.
The above findings demonstrate the necessity for the implementation of layered prevention strategies, which includes face coverings/masks. COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets, and several studies have shown that appropriate face coverings/masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn correctly, fully covering one’s nose and mouth. Additionally, as noted by the CDC, multiple real-world studies have shown a substantial decrease in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, including:
Mask use during an outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a close, congregate environment, was associated with 70% decrease in risk of infection.
A study from Thailand documented that those who reported mask use during high-risk exposures experienced a more than 70% reduced risk of acquiring the disease compared to those who did not report such mask use during high-risk exposures.
A study in China demonstrated that mask use by both the index patient and family contacts before symptom onset reduced secondary transmission within households by 79%.Further, as also reported by the CDC, research supports that there are no significant health effects or changes in oxygen or carbon dioxide levels from mask wear.Accordingly, based on the foregoing findings of necessity, I hereby issue the following masking requirements:Face Covering/Masking Requirements11 Nothing in this determination shall be interpreted as inconsistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA), workplace safety guidelines, or applicable federal regulations.
Healthcare settings:
Personnel: After careful review and consideration of CDC recommendations for face masks in healthcare settings regulated by the Department, I hereby adopt such recommendations, imposing them as requirements, where applicable. Accordingly, all personnel, regardless of vaccination status, in a healthcare setting (i.e., facilities or entities regulated under Articles 28, 36 and 40 of the Public Health Law) shall wear an appropriate face mask in accordance with applicable CDC exceptions, until this determination is modified or rescinded.
Visitors to Healthcare Facilities: After careful review and consideration of CDC recommendations, all visitors over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering/mask shall be required to wear a face-covering/mask in health care facilities, regardless of vaccination status, subject to applicable CDC exceptions, and until this determination is modified or rescinded.
Adult care facilities (ACFs) regulated by the Department:
Personnel: After careful review and consideration of the core principles for infection control to protect the health and safety of both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated residents, all ACF personnel, regardless of vaccination status, shall wear an appropriate face mask if providing direct medical care and at a minimum, a cloth face covering by other staff in such settings, in accordance with any applicable CDC exceptions, until this determination is modified or rescinded.
Visitors: After careful review and consideration of CDC recommendations, unvaccinated visitors, who are over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering/mask shall be required to wear a face-covering/mask in such setting, subject to CDC exceptions, and until this determination is modified or rescinded.
P-12 school settings:
a. After careful review and consideration of CDC recommendations for face coverings/masks in
school settings, I hereby adopt such recommendations, imposing them as requirements, where applicable, until this determination is modified or rescinded2. Accordingly, universal masking of teachers, staff, students, and visitors to P-12 schools over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering/mask and regardless of vaccination status, is required until this determination is modified or rescinded. SuchrequirementissubjecttoapplicableCDC-recommended exceptions.
Correctional facilities and detention centers:
Incarcerated/Detained Persons and Staff: After careful review and consideration of CDC recommendations for face coverings/masks, all incarcerated/detained Persons and staff shall wear an appropriate face-covering/mask when social distancing cannot be maintained, and in accordance with applicable CDC exceptions (e.g., eating and sleeping), until this determination is modified or rescinded.
Visitors: After careful review and consideration of CDC recommendations for face coverings/masks in correctional facilities and detention centers, all visitors over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering/mask shall wear an appropriate face-covering/mask in accordance with applicable CDC exceptions until this determination is modified or rescinded. Correctional facilities and detention centers may impose their own policies for private visitation.
Homeless Shelters (including overnight emergency shelters, day shelters, and meal service providers):
a. After careful review and consideration of CDC recommendations, all clients, visitors, staff, and volunteers over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering/mask shall wear an appropriate face mask/covering regardless of vaccination status when social distancing cannot be
2 Guidance from American Academy of Pediatrics was also reviewed when making face-covering/masking determinations in school settings, which is consistent with the above referenced CDC recommendations.
maintained and in accordance with applicable CDC exceptions (e.g., eating and sleeping), until this determination is modified or rescinded.
6. Public Transportation Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs
a. After careful review and consideration of CDC recommendations for face coverings/masks on
public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs, all persons, over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering/mask, regardless of vaccination status, shall wear an appropriate face-covering/mask while in indoor areas of conveyances or while indoors at transportation hubs, in accordance with applicable CDC exceptions, until this determination is modified or rescinded.
Updates to the above referenced CDC recommendations will not necessarily require issuance of a revised or modified determination. However,suchCDCrecommendationswillbecontinuouslymonitoredbythe Department, and updated determinations issued, as appropriate.
Commissioner’s Determination on Indoor Masking Pursuant to 10 NYCRR 2.61 August 27, 2021
Pursuant to 10 NYCRR 2.61, I hereby issue the following determination, which includes findings of necessity, to support the face masking/covering requirements set forth below:
Findings of necessity:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified a concerning national trend of increasing circulation of the Delta COVID-19 variant, which is approximately twice as transmissible as the SARS-CoV-2 strain. Since early July, cases have risen 10-fold, and 95 percent of sequenced recent positives in New York State were the Delta variant.
Certain settings and areas (e.g., healthcare, schools, and public places located in CDC-identified areas of substantial or high community transmission) pose increased challenges and urgency for controlling the spread of this disease because of the vulnerable populations served, the disproportionate percentage of individuals (e.g., children) who are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination, and/or the substantial to high levels of community transmission.
The above findings demonstrate the necessity for the implementation of layered prevention strategies,which includes face-coverings/masks. COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets, and several studies have shown that appropriate face coverings/masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn correctly, fully covering one’s nose and mouth. Additionally, as noted by the CDC, multiple real-world studies have shown a substantial decrease in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, including:
Mask use during an outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a close, congregate environment, was associated with 70% decrease in risk of infection.
A study from Thailand documented that those who reported mask use during high-risk exposures experienced a more than 70% reduced risk of acquiring the disease compared to those who did not report such mask use during high-risk exposures.
A study in China demonstrated that mask use by both the index patient and family contacts before symptom onset reduced secondary transmission within households by 79%. Further, as also reported by the CDC, research supports that there are no significant health effects or changes in oxygen or carbon dioxide levels from mask wear. Accordingly, based on the foregoing findings of necessity, I hereby issue the following masking requirements: Face Covering/Masking Requirements11 NothinginthisdeterminationshallbeinterpretedasinconsistentwiththeAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA), workplace safety guidelines, or applicable federal regulations.
Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower, Albany, NY 12237│health.ny.gov
“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recorded 6.97 inches of rain in Plattsburgh and 6.61 inches in Elizabethtown in less than a day. The river gage maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey near Au Sable Forks clocked the river’s pace on Aug. 28 at 46,500 cubic feet-per-second. Normal rainstorms push the river to run about 12,000 cubic feet-per-second. The Ausable reached 15.54 feet, over 8 feet above flood stage, clocking in with a recurrence interval greater than 500 years.”
Rifenburg Contracting will have a portion of Maiden Lane closed from the intersection with Locust Dr. to Woodland Dr. today August 30th to Wednesday, September 1st at 5 p.m.
There will be NO through traffic including Emergency vehicles during that time period.
Since our 8/26 update, 52 additional lab-confirmed COVID-19 positive cases have been reported.
Currently, CCHD is seeing a mix of cases among vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. In most of these cases, the vaccines are doing what they are supposed to do – prevent severe symptoms and hospitalization. Many cases are connected through large gatherings, workplaces, and households.
Regardless of vaccination status, CCHD continues to recommend all residents wear masks indoors, avoid crowds and high risk activities, wash hands frequently, and get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated reduces your chances of contracting COVID-19, protects you from severe illness requiring hospitalization, and helps to eliminate the virus’ ability to mutate and create new variants.
Note: Due to rising COVID-19 cases in Clinton County, CCHD will resume daily updates this week.
– CCHD offers free COVID-19 vaccine clinics every Thursday from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. To register call 518-565-4848.
– Vaccination data: https://public.tableau.com/…/viz/Covid-Draft/Dashboard. According to the North Country COVID Vaccine Dashboard 97,478 total doses of COVID-19 Vaccine were given in Clinton County as of 8/22. As of 8/22, 64% of all Clinton County residents had at least one dose of the vaccine and 60% of residents had completed their vaccine series. 73% of residents 18 years and older have received at least one dose.
Peru – The 21st Annual Run for Jon took place today at Forrence’s Mannix Road Orchard. Here are photos of a few of the kind people who are participating. The Run for Jon is an annual race to raise money for the families of local children with serious medical problems and honor the memory of Jon Evans.
Quotes from the Ron for Jon Facebook page – “In 1990, 13-year-old Jon Evans was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Soon after his diagnosis, two long-time friends of the Evans family, Mark Elmore, and Scott Woodward organized the first Run for Jon to raise money to help pay for expenses.”
“Just two weeks before the 2nd Run, Jon passed away. Every year since then, family and friends have held the Run for Jon to raise money for the families of local children with serious medical problems.”
Karl Baggs of Peru (Left) was one of the twenty-eight honored vets.
By John T. Ryan
September 28, 2021 – The North Country Honor Flight honored two veteran flights this morning #32 and #32, a total of twenty-eight Korean War, Vietnam veterans. Several hundred people attended the 7 a.m. send-off ceremony. The U.S. Oval Fag flew at half-mast in honor of the members of the U.S. military who died this week in Afghanistan. The Peru Gazette is awaiting the names and biographies of today’s vets. This post will be updated when they are received. Thanks to all the Honor Flight volunteers who do such an outstanding job!
NYSCOPBA, the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Associaton, sponsored both flights.
North Country Honor Flights #32 and #33 carrying twenty-eight veterans departed U.S. Oval at 8 a.m. to board a plane to Washington D.C. where they visiting our national war monuments. They arrive back at the Oval tonight at 8:30 p.m. for a welcome home ceremony. All are invited! A huge number of motorcycles escorted the vets to the two planes carrying them to D.C.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that Canada goose hunting season opens Wednesday, Sept. 1, throughout most of the state.
“Resident Canada goose populations are high in many parts of New York, offering goose hunters significant opportunities to help DEC manage their populations,” Commissioner Seggos said. ”The September Canada goose season is an opportunity to focus harvest on overabundant resident Canada geese when less abundant migratory Canada geese have not yet arrived in New York.”
The September goose hunting season is designed to help reduce or stabilize resident Canada goose populations. Resident Canada geese are those that breed in the United States and southern Canada, unlike migratory populations that breed in northern Canada. Typically, resident geese are the birds commonly associated with nuisance situations in urban and rural areas. Over the past 25 years, New York’s resident Canada goose population has grown from an estimated 80,000 birds in 1995, to more than 340,000 today.
As the population has grown, season lengths and bag limits have been liberalized and hunters have successfully stabilized the population. The September season is an important opportunity for hunters, as regular Canada goose seasons have been restricted to 30 days and bag limits reduced to one bird in most areas to protect the more vulnerable migratory geese. Resident geese look the same as migratory geese, making it difficult for the public to distinguish between the two populations. For more information on the differences between migratory and resident geese and how these birds are managed, read the article “Canada Geese in New York-Residents or Visitors?” in the Aug. 2019 issue of DEC’s Conservationist magazine or download the PDF version on DEC’s website.
The September Canada goose season occurs in all goose hunting zones except the Western Long Island zone. All upstate areas are open from Sept. 1 through Sept. 25. Canada goose seasons in the Central and Eastern Long Island zones begin on the Tuesday following the Labor Day holiday (Sept. 7 this year) and run through Sept. 30. In the Western Long Island zone, the season opens Oct. 9. The September season includes liberal bag limits (eight to 15 birds/day depending on zone), extended shooting hours, and other special regulations to maximize hunter success. Additional details on waterfowl hunting regulations, season dates, hunting area boundaries, and bag limits can be found on DEC’s website.
License Requirements
To participate in the September Canada goose hunting season, hunters must:
Possess a 2021-2022 hunting license now on sale at all license issuing agents and many town halls and sporting goods stores;
Be registered for the 2021-2022 New York Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP); and
Hunters 16 years of age and older must have a 2021-22 federal duck stamp signed across the stamp’s face in ink.
Harvest Information Program Registration Process Improvements
For the 2021 hunting season, DEC developed a new and more streamlined registration process for hunters to obtain their HIP number. All migratory game bird hunters must register annually for HIP through DECALS, DEC’s licensing system. HIP registrations are used to estimate the total number of hunters. Follow-up surveys of registrants help the USFWS and state wildlife agencies monitor migratory game bird harvest and establish hunting regulations. HIP registration is valid from Aug. 1 – April 15 annually. There are two options to register:
Click on the header at the top of the main page that says “REGISTER FOR HIP”
A DECALS login is NOT required, but you will be prompted to provide your DEC ID and Date of Birth
Click “Search”
The system will then list all previous HIP registrations you have associated with your DEC ID indicating whether they have been submitted or are still pending.
If no results return after pressing the “Search” button, it means you currently do not have a current/valid hunting license and are ineligible for HIP registration.
Once you find the current HIP year registration survey, you will select the dropdown arrow on the right-hand side, and select “Register for HIP”
You will be prompted to answer a series of questions pertaining to your hunting activities last year.
After answering all required questions, press “Submit.” The system will then save your data and provide your HIP number. This number completes the registration process and proves your participation in HIP. You are required to carry this number with you in some form while migratory bird hunting.
Option 2 – HIP Registration via the automated phone system
Call 1-866-933-2257
Select the option for “HIP registration”
Follow automated instructions.
At the end of the call, you will be given your HIP registration number. Migratory game bird hunters are required to carry this number in some form while hunting.
Hunting Safety and Etiquette
DEC reminds hunters to follow simple safety guidelines and use good judgment when choosing a time and place to hunt. Being considerate of other people who enjoy the outdoors or live near hunting areas can help avoid potential conflicts and ensure a safe and enjoyable season. As coastal areas become more populated, new landowners unfamiliar with the safety, ethics, and traditions of waterfowl hunting sometimes seek to limit hunter access to popular waterfowl hunting areas. Hunters should be considerate and minimize any disturbance of local residents whenever possible.
To avoid or minimize conflicts with property owners and other outdoor enthusiasts. DEC encourages hunters to:
Consider contacting owners of property adjacent to where they will be hunting, well in advance;
Tell property owners when and where they will be hunting. Property owners may be less concerned if aware of planned hunts;
Explain the hunter’s intent to abide by the laws and regulations pertaining to waterfowl hunting, familiarity with the locations of houses, and safety protocols;
Plan out shooting directions and verify that the selected hunting spot is safe and in compliance with the law. Keep in mind that shot pellets, especially when discharged at a high angle, can travel farther than 500 feet;
Identify concerns the landowner may have and discuss them prior to hunting; and
Leave hunting locations as clean as you found them and be sure to pick up your empty shell casings and other litter.
By John T. Ryan