COVID-19 cases rising in Sullivan

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY— The number of COVID-19 cases and subsequent number of Sullivan County residents in quarantine or isolation have been on the rise lately.

According to Sullivan County’s COVID-19 dashboard at press time, there were 86 confirmed cases in the county, down a few from days prior, but still up 26 from the week before and up 56 from two weeks before. There were also 514 residents in isolation or quarantine, the highest number in months.

As the holiday season approaches, Sullivan County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw is advising residents to avoid large gatherings and to continue wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing.

NYS leaders: federal vaccine plan fails communities of color

ALBANY, NY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, National Urban League President Marc Morial and NAACP President Derrick Johnson have publicly criticized the federal government’s current COVID-19 vaccination plan “for failing to adequately serve communities of color.”

The four leaders said the federal government has not learned the lessons of the pandemic, during which communities of color experienced higher mortality rates and a lack of access to adequate health care. They criticized the current federal plan for relying on the existing influenza vaccination infrastructure and private health care entities, which have historically resulted in under-vaccination rates and worse health outcomes in communities of color.

Wolf declares emergency in Philly

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf recently signed an emergency declaration proclamation “to provide additional support to Philadelphia after several days of unrest following the shooting death of Walter Wallace Jr. by two members of the Philadelphia Police Department.”

“Over the last few days, hundreds of people have gathered to peacefully speak out against social injustice, but their voices are being drowned out by others who are taking advantage of this fragile time in their city to sow mayhem and discord,” Wolf said. “I signed this proclamation so commonwealth resources can be provided quickly to protect lives and property.”

Metzger applauds extension of food bank program

ALBANY, NY — Sen. Jen Metzger (SD-42) recently released a statement in support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision to extend the Nourish NY program. Metzger called the program “a double-win, providing nutritious foods to food-insecure households while supporting New York farms during this challenging time.” 

“Many farmers, especially dairy farmers, have been hit hard by the slowdown in demand from schools and the restaurant industry, and Nourish NY has been a lifeline for them,” Metzger said. “No one should go hungry in a state that produces such an abundance of high-quality food.”

New PA law for victims of rape and sexual assault

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf recently signed into law House Bill 1984, legislation authored by Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff that stands up for rape victims and their families by removing the requirement of having a surrogate parent lined up in order to terminate the rights of a perpetrator of rape or sexual assault that resulted in the birth of a child.

The bill passed the Pennsylvania General Assembly unanimously and was supported by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.

“I thank Gov. Wolf for signing this important bill into law, my colleagues in the General Assembly for their unanimous support of this legislation, and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape for its advocacy throughout the legislative process,” Benninghoff said in a statement.

NEPA cases spike, Cartwright calls for more funding

HARRISBURG, PA — Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08) has called for more federal funding to implement mass COVID-19 testing, as case numbers continue to rise at a concerning rate in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“We all need to continue doing our part to slow the spread of the coronavirus by wearing masks and social distancing,” Cartwright said while touring a health center in Scranton. “But we also need another relief bill that contains more urgently-needed funding for mass testing and contact tracing and for health centers like Scranton Primary so that healthcare professionals have the tools they need to keep us and our loved ones safe and healthy.”

Search and rescue operation goes smoothly

DELAWARE RIVER — At around 7 p.m. on October 31, the Beach Lake Volunteer Fire Department received a call from 5 River Rest Dr., with a report of an upside-down kayak, lifejacket and paddle floating downstream.

Narrowsburg Fire Department and the Sullivan County Dive Taskforce were dispatched to provide mutual aid. When Narrowsburg Assistant Fire Chief Stephen Stuart, also a member of the Sullivan County Dive Taskforce, arrived at the DEC landing in Narrowsburg, he requested mutual aid from Rock Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Roscoe/Rockland Vol. Fire Department for their Swiftwater Rescue Teams. 

Lumberland Volunteer Fire Department was called for their airboat. NYS Police were standing by as well. The Forest Fire Department was called for mutual aid by Beach Lake.

About 50 minutes in, a passerby told officials that she had already transported the kayaker to his home. All responding mutual aid departments were released to return to service. In the end, the kayaker was safe at home and he didn’t know that seven fire departments and the New York State Police were readying to search the river for him.