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The Weekend News Review

Produced in partnership with WJFF

Posted 2/20/21

Fracking ban considered, reopenings in NYS

The Delaware River Basin Commission is holding a special meeting next Thursday where the commissioners will consider final action on banning fracking in …

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RADIO CATSKILL LOCAL NEWS

The Weekend News Review

Produced in partnership with WJFF

Posted

Fracking ban considered, reopenings in NYS

The Delaware River Basin Commission is holding a special meeting next Thursday where the commissioners will consider final action on banning fracking in the Delaware River Basin. The interstate commission made up of representatives from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and the federal government, is tasked with regulating any projects that would have an impact on the river’s water quality. For years, fracking has been unofficially banned in the basin under a de facto moratorium. This moratorium has brought multiple lawsuits over the years, including one filed by a landowner group in Wayne County, and another recently filed by PA Republicans and Damascus Township. Some are speculating that under the new Biden administration, a ban on fracking is imminent.

Following guidance from the New York State Department of Health, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that recreational facilities in New York can begin reopening toward the end of March. Starting March 26, the governor said that Indoor Family Entertainment Centers can reopen at 25 percent capacity; while outdoor amusement parks can open at 33 Percent Capacity. All Facilities will be required to Submit Reopening Plans with Health Protocols to their Local Health Department. Standard Face Covering and Social Distancing requirements will remain in place for customers and staff; and temperature checks will be required for all customers prior to entry. Cuomo also advised that day and overnight summer camps can begin to plan for reopening, more details on that are coming in the next several weeks.

PA COVID figures dropping, one full year for Wayne County

The commonwealth of Pennsylvania is continuing to see its COVID-19 figures drop. According to the Department of Health’s early warning dashboard updated each Friday, Pennsylvania had 54 hundred fewer cases of COVID-19 over the past week than it did the week before. And it’s rate of positive test results fell to 6.5 percent. Wayne County saw 16 fewer cases over the same time span, though its positivity rate increased marginally to an even 10%.

The Wayne County community is closing in on one full year since the first resident was admitted into Wayne Memorial Hospital for COVID-19-related symptoms. On March 5, the hospital is asking all local churches and places of worship to "ring their bells" to commentate this unfortunate anniversary. Members of the public are also encouraged to come out and ring their own bells as a show of community solidarity. The bell ringing will take place at 12 noon on Friday, March 5.

Under the new leadership of acting Health Secretary Alison Beam, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has decided that primary care providers can no longer administer the COVID-19 vaccine. The decision to remove primary care physicians from the list of vaccine providers has invited criticism from a number of Pennsylvania Medical groups. A collective of physician groups and organizations called it a woeful mistake. Beam has since said that the move was made to accelerate distribution to inoculate the most Pennsylvanians in the short term, once that goal is reached, more providers will receive the vaccine.

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