Andrew Cuomo

Following reports of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus spreading in the United Kingdom, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is calling for federal action.

New York State is on track to double the current number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and add 3,500 deaths in the next month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned this afternoon.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday announced updated metrics for focus zone designation that take regional hospital capacity into account. The state has not yet released updated positivity rate data for individual zones, which it ceased publishing Dec. 7.

“Not notifying local officials and townships is unacceptable,” said Riverhead Supervisor Yvette Aguiar, whose town includes a focus zone that affects much of its two central business districts. “We don’t have the foundational data we need to properly manage this.”

Regions that have 10% or less hospital capacity will be designated red zones, triggering school closings, business shutdowns and bans on all gatherings.

Part of Riverhead and Hampton Bays have been designated a COVID-19 “yellow zone” micro-cluster, bringing a number of new restrictions on business, schools and social gatherings, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this morning.

After confusing official reports of spiking COVID infection rates in Riverhead, I sought the town-level data. What I got was a bunch of baffle-gab and bullsh*t and a state official essentially telling me to take a hike.

With coronavirus infections increasing rapidly across the state, Bellone warned residents today that the county could be entering a “dangerous period” of the outbreak, and Cuomo said further statewide restrictions may be necessary to curb the spread.

New York's moratorium on COVID-related commercial evictions and foreclosures has been extended through Jan. 1.

Juneteenth is now an official public holiday in New York State. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law this week designating June 19 — Juneteenth — a holiday commemorating African American Emancipation Day.