The Peru Gazette

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Plattsburgh, January 29, 2021. On Friday, January 22, 2021, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced he would allow high-risk sports to resume in New York effective February 1, 2021, subject to local health department approval. The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) is approving high-risk sports to restart with additional requirements and precautions due to COVID-19. 

“The most important step forward for our students right now is returning to in-person instruction,” stated John Kanoza, Director of Public Health in Clinton County. As such, school districts will be required to be offering in-person instruction for two weeks before a final decision on high-risk sports will be made. During these two weeks, CCHD and school district leadership will be closely monitoring infection rates, case patterns and evidence of new virus variants in Clinton County. “We need to get our kids back in school without any major disruptions to learning due to COVID-19 cases before we add high-risk sports into the mix.” 

To facilitate decision-making, districts/schools must meet sport-specific minimum requirements and communities must meet COVID-19 metrics to move forward. Section VII officials or individual school districts can choose to enact stricter requirements. 

Minimum requirements for higher-risk K-12 school sports include: 

 The requirements listed in the Interim Guidance For Sports And Recreation During The Covid-19 Public Health Emergency must be followed. 

 Each school district’s Board of Education or non-public school’s Board of Directors (or other appropriate person/entity) must approve the district/school’s participation in each specific higher-risk sport. 

 Each school superintendent/school leader must oversee the creation of a sport-specific Preparedness Plan, to be approved by the district/school’s medical director, circulated to important school staff/leaders, and posted to their school specific website. 

 Each parent/guardian must sign an informed consent. 

 Each student-athlete must have medical clearance from their healthcare provider. 

 Each parent/guardian, student-athlete, and school official must agree to fully cooperate with case investigations and contact elicitation and to adhere to isolation and quarantine orders. 

 Each district/school must establish a confidential phone number and email address to allow student-athletes, parents, or others to report concerns and complaints. 

 Cloth face coverings/masks that conform to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must be worn at all times by all student-athletes, coaches, managers, referees/officials, individuals dropping off or picking up student-athletes, etc. 

 Districts/schools will not allow spectators at high-risk school sports events, games, or matches so as to minimize the risk of transmission. 

 Multi-Team events or tournaments involving high-risk sports are not permitted. 

 Travel for sporting events, games, and matches outside of North Country counties including Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties is prohibited. 

Community COVID-19 Metrics include: 

 The 7-day rolling average percent positivity in Clinton County, as defined and calculated by the NYSDOH, must be at or lower than the previous 7-day rolling average percent positivity. 

 The region’s hospital capacity (percent of hospital beds available) must be above 15%, as calculated by NYSDOH. 

 The region’s rate of hospital admissions must not be unacceptably high or require additional interventions to control the rate of growth, as determined by NYSDOH. 

 The absence of other epidemiological data, information or factors as determined or identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) or the CCHD that impact COVID-19 control or mitigation. 

“We have been working with school superintendents and other local health departments in our region to develop this framework we believe to be safe and fair,” added Mr. Kanoza. “If the addition of high-risk sports hinders a school’s ability to offer in-person instruction to their students, school-sponsored sports will be suspended.” 

CCHD will be working with the schools to monitor compliance and COVID-19 positive students, teachers, staff, and coaches to evaluate the need for discontinuation or pause of these activities. 

“We are hopeful for a successful return to in-person learning in the coming weeks and ask for patience and understanding as high-risk sports are folded in,” explained Mr. Kanoza. “The health, safety, and education of our students must remain the driving force behind any decisions made.” 

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Earlier today New York Attorney General Letitia James released a searing report that found the state Department of Health underreported nursing home deaths related to the coronavirus by as much as 50 percent.  (Click here to review the report) 

State Senator Dan Stec issued this statement: 

“All New Yorkers, and especially those who suffered the tragic loss of a loved one to COVID, deserve and are entitled to the truth,” said Senator Dan Stec.

“Early on we were promised by the governor that data would drive decisions, with him saying he would share all of the numbers.  Today’s attorney general report suggests that the State Department of Health has instead obscured by as much as 50 percent the number of nursing home-related deaths.  The governor hasn’t kept his promise.

“For months, my colleagues and many others including media outlets have been trying to get accurate figures from this administration.  For months, we have gotten nothing but excuses.  Instead, the task fell to the state attorney general, who has spent a lot time and energy investigating.  What we are learning is alarming to say the least, a case of either gross incompetence or an apparent cover-up by Cuomo and his administration.

“Anyone who has spent time in a nursing home knows the tremendous challenge that goes on there every day.  I have nothing but respect and appreciation for the men and women who work in our nursing homes and try mightily to offer the compassionate and attentive care we all hope for our elderly family members and friends.  Not for a minute can we blame them.  Understanding what happened by knowing the complete truth is the only way we can make things better in the future.  The sooner we get there the better.”

Assemblyman Billy Jones issued this statement: 

“First and foremost, my heart goes out to all the family members whose loved ones succumbed to COVID-19 while residing in nursing homes. Since the start of the public health crisis, I have stood with family members and nursing home residents and advocated on their behalf to ensure their safety and overall well-being and also called for nursing homes to get the proper PPE, testing and other measures to support all staff and residents to battle this crisis. I am outraged at the lack of transparency and accuracy from the Department of Health and the Administration with regard to nursing home protocols and reporting measures. That is why my colleagues and I have been calling for the release of accurate data for months. The release of this report is only the beginning of an investigation that should uncover the truth these families rightfully deserve. As this independent investigation continues, more focus should be on those impacted and the lives lost right here in the North Country.”

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik issued this statement: 

“This is now more than a nursing home scandal, this is a massive corruption and coverup scandal at the highest level of New York State Government implicating the Governor, the Secretary to the Governor, the New York State Health Commissioner and the Governor’s staff. Every New Yorker deserves transparency, accountability and answers regarding the orchestration of this illegal coverup. I am calling on the New York Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice to issue subpoenas immediately of Governor Cuomo and his entire staff on all documentation and internal and external communications, including with any and all associations and lobbyists who have direct ties to the Governor’s senior team related to this corrupt and illegal coverup. I am committed to doing everything I can in my power to protect the independence of the ongoing federal investigation into Governor Cuomo’s nursing home disaster. President Joe Biden should pledge to do the same. As a fellow New Yorker, I want to publicly thank the effective and tireless advocates who have humbly served as the voice of their lost loved ones and have faced inexcusably cruel treatment from the Governor and his entire team, who we know have orchestrated a criminal coverup and have blood on their hands.”

Whether you’re a snow sport enthusiast or new to winter recreation, there is something for everyone to enjoy outdoors this season. Don’t let the cold and snow keep you indoors until spring. Bundle up, prepare for the weather and conditions, and try one of these fun winter activities:

Seven Things to Do This Winter

1. Fat Tire Biking
2. Cross-Country Skiing
3. Winter Tracking
4. Winter Hiking
5. Ice Fishing
6. Snowshoeing
7. Snowmobiling

State and UB Experts Will Work Together to Create Beneficial Uses for Millions of Waste Tires Disposed of Each Year

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced a partnership with the University at Buffalo (UB) to develop an action plan focused on the proper and cost-effective management of waste tires. Building upon the State’s highly successful waste tire stockpile removal efforts, DEC and UB will work collaboratively to assess waste tire markets and develop environmentally and financially responsible ways to improve the recycling of millions of tires disposed of annually.

“New York residents and businesses generate up to 20 million waste tires each year and to achieve our state’s environmental sustainability goals we must find productive reuses of the materials,” Commissioner Seggos said.”DEC has already taken effective actions to address illegal tire stockpiles that created threats to public health and the environment, but we must do more to strengthen tire recycling markets and infrastructure. We welcome this partnership with UB to help reduce an abundant and challenging waste stream and recycle tires in an economically and environmentally beneficial way.” Read more »

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Among those findings were that a larger number of nursing home residents died from COVID-19 than the New York State Department of Health’s (DOH) published nursing home data reflected and may have been undercounted by as much as 50 percent.

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