New York Governor Andrew Cuomo expects the Western New York region will be able to move into Phase-Two of the reopening process from the state's coronavirus shut-down today. Cuomo said about mid-day yesterday that the numbers looked good for the area... which includes Chautauqua County. During his daily COVID-19 press briefing... Cuomo says he wants the global experts helping them to take one more look at the situation. Phase-Two would allow some professional businesses -- namely barbershops and hair salons -- to reopen following social distancing guidelines.
There are new cases of the coronavirus reported in Chautauqua County... as the number of positive cases increased to 87 Monday. County Executive P-J Wendel says the two new cases are a woman in her 20s... and, a woman in her 70s. Wendel adds that two people are now hospitalized in the county... and, there are 18 active cases. He says they are recovering under Health Department regulations. Wendel says 65 people have now recovered. He says 263 cases are under quarantine or isolation orders... while another 3,210 negative test results have been reported to date.
Governor Andrew Cuomo says he is concerned that mass protests over George Floyd's death could cause a set-back in the long, hard fight to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic governor said he agreed with demonstrators fighting racism and societal inequality. But... he sounded frustrated about possibly compromising about three months of social and economic sacrifices. Cuomo then urged New Yorkers to be smarter when it comes to protesting Floyd's death.
Cuomo... who is also a former state Attorney General... told those rioting and looting to stop damaging property. He says it's nothing less than "criminality..." and, it gives those who oppose such a movement the abililty to "dismiss the entire effort." New York City is set to begin phasing in economic activity June 8th. Statewide hospitalization rates have been ticking down for weeks and the daily death toll has gone from almost 800 in early April to 54 on Sunday.
Both protesters and police on hand for Sunday afternoon's Black Lives Matter demonstration in Dow Park agree that more training would help police deal with the African-American community better. Members of the Jamestown Police and Chautauqua County Sheriff's Departments go through some training to help defuse tense and volatile situations. However, during a 50-minute long back-and-forth between protesters and city officials... one man whose lived in Jamestown most of his life said the training JPD received... two-times a year for a few hours, is not enough. Police Chief Harry Snellings says he would like to see more training done, but, says the state doesn't require anymore than they receive.
Preliminary plans have been announced for an "in-person" graduation for Jamestown High School's Class of 2020 at Strider Field on Thursday, June 25th. In a printed release Monday... Principal Dana Williams says the ceremony would adhere to safety requirements for social distancing and limits on gatherings of more than 10 people. Williams says they will soon be providing more specific details to students and families about the ceremony... including scheduled times for students and families to go to Strider Field, and get their diploma.
A Panama woman faces Driving While Intoxicated charges following a motor vehicle accident in Ashville last Sunday morning. Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene of property damage accident on Kortwright Road -- between Hoag and Cherry Hill Roads -- about 5:30 AM. On arrival... officers say they found a vehicle on it's side in a ditch with a single occupant. The driver was not hurt, and wasidentifed as 34 year-old Emily Kunselman. She was taken into custody and later released with appearance tickets for Harmony Town Court.
