WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR SATURDAY CORONAVIRUS REPORT From Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. November 7, 2020:

Uptick in cases in PORT CHESTER. The Department of Health is coordinating with the Westchester County Department of Health and Open Door Family Medical Center to provide rapid testing at a new site.

Rapid testing will be available at the Open Door medical clinic in Port Chester, NY on Saturday, November 7, from 9am – 2pm; Monday, November 9, from 10am – 6pm; and Tuesday, November 10, from 10am – 6pm. Residents must make an appointment—either online or by calling 914-995-7425.  

Public health experts predicted that with the arrival of fall, we would see COVID infections rise—and that is indeed the case.

The challenge for our state, like all other states, is managing the increase.

Today, we announced modifications to our existing micro-cluster zones in response to the latest metrics.

Micro-cluster zone maps have changed in Brooklyn, Rockland County and Orange County in response to declining positivity rates.

The Yellow Zone in Far Rockaway has been removed.

However there is a new Yellow Zone in Westchester County. Micro-cluster zones in Queens – Kew Gardens/Forest Hills, Broome County, Steuben County and Chemung County remain unchanged. 

Maps of each micro-cluster zone and further details are available here.

As we identify outbreaks, we will continue to take quick action to contain and eliminate them. As always—we need your help, too. Wear a mask. Get tested. Stop the spread. 

Map of the Day: Brooklyn’s Red Zone has new boundaries, as does its surrounding Yellow Zone. All of NY’s micro-cluster maps are available here. 

Here’s what else you need to know Saturday morning on COVID-18: 

1. The positivity rate in the micro-cluster focus areas was 3.16 percent yesterday. The statewide positivity rate excluding these areas was 1.84 percent. Of the 160,705 tests reported yesterday, 3,209, or 1.99 percent, were positive. Total hospitalizations were at 1,321. Sadly we lost 18 New Yorkers to the virus.  

2. SUNY colleges and universities will conduct exit testing for in-person students before sending them home for Thanksgiving. 

Students who go home for Thanksgiving will then be required to stay home and switch to remote learning for the rest of the semester (instead of returning to campus for the short period between Thanksgiving break and the winter holidays). We are asking private colleges to consider adopting similar plans.  

3. Buffalo Bills fans will have to wait to attend in-person games. Unfortunately, due to an uptick in COVID cases in Western New York, it would be dangerous to allow fans to attend games at Bills Stadium. 

 Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: To help handle the stress of the pandemic, a mother and daughter from Trumansburg started a daily tradition of visiting State Parks to hike and unwind in the great outdoors. The duo, Amy Dawson and daughter Elizabeth, went on 200 consecutive hikes before their streak ended this fall. The Dawsons logged 593.8 miles of trail while writing about their hiking journey.    If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State’s Coronavirus Updates here.

 Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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Governor Cuomo Announces New Guidelines
Allowing Out-of-State Travelers to “Test Out” of
Mandatory 14-Day Quarantine

The new protocol is effective beginning, Wednesday, November 4.

• Travelers Must Get Tested Within Three Days Prior to Landing in New York, Quarantine for at Least Three Days Upon Arrival, and Get a Test on Day Four of Arrival
• If Travelers Receive a Negative Test On Day Four of Quarantine They May Exit Quarantine When They Receive Negative Result
• States that are Contiguous with New York Continue to Be Exempted from Quarantine Protocol — Essential Workers Also Continue to be Exempted
• Travelers Who Were Only Out of State for Less Than 24 Hours Do Not Need to Quarantine but Must Get a Test on Day Four of Arrival Back in NY
• All Travelers Covered by The Advisory Must Continue to Fill Out Traveler Health Form Upon Arrival Into New York State

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced new guidelines allowing out-of-state travelers to New York to “test out” of the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Travelers from states that are contiguous with New York will continue to be exempt from the travel advisory; however, covered travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form. Essential workers will continue to be exempt as well. Click here for more details.

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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. Special to WPCNR from Dr. Steven White, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Syracuse Univeristy. November 6, 2020:

Editor’s Note: Dr. Steven White, an assistant professor of political science at Syracuse University who has studied Southern politics extensively. Dr. White specializes in American politics, American political development, race and politics.

Dr. White notes the impact of this possibility is crucial for many reasons, most notably Vice President Biden’s ability to fill a cabinet (should he win) with progressive choices who would not get confirmation with a Republican controlled Senate.

“If Democrats win the two Senate races in Georgia, their odds of being able to pass the legislation in their platform goes up dramatically.

That said, even then this would still be constrained by the pivotal votes of more conservative Democrats like Senator Joe Manchin.

If Democrats lose, though, their options are a lot more limited.

Not only would they need the support of more moderate Republican Senators like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, they would also have to deal with agenda control by the Republican majority.

Senator Mitch McConnell might simply try to keep bills from coming to a floor vote, even if there might very well be a bipartisan majority coalition in favor of them. 

This also speaks to remarkable changes in the political environment of Georgia. Even in her loss to Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton only lost Georgia by about 5 points (similar to Obama’s 2008 loss margin).

In the 2018 gubernatorial election, Stacey Abrams came within about a point and a half of defeating her Republican opponent, Brian Kemp.

If Biden ends up ahead—and if the state elects one and possibly two Democratic Senators—it would be an astonishing shift that brings to fruition the state’s gradual transition from being a red state to a purple one.”

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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. November 6, 2020:

 Yesterday, there were more than 100,000 new COVID cases in the U.S. Every expert told us that come the fall, cases would go up. We expected this and can effectively deal with the outbreaks by our micro-cluster strategy. But one of our very best tools in this battle to prevent the spread of the virus is if each and every one of us wears a mask. Wearing a mask is about respect, it’s about community and it’s about love. And remember that mask wearing is mandatory on public transit.

It’s going to take the work of every New Yorker so we all need to Mask Up. We can’t let our guard down as we spend more time indoors. We can’t say just this one time I’ll skip the mask. We can stay the course New York. Together we can beat this virus. 

Chart of the Day: Yesterday, New York State reported over 160,000 diagnostic tests. Here’s what else you need to know : 

1. The positivity rate in the “micro-cluster” focus areas fell was 3.04 percent yesterday. The statewide positivity rate excluding these areas was 1.70 percent. Of the 161,019 tests reported yesterday, 2,997, or 1.86 percent, were positive. Total hospitalizations were at 1,277. Sadly we lost 24 New Yorkers.  

2. The January 2021 Regents exams are canceled. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the New York State Education Department decided to cancel the examinations across the state to ensure the safety of both students and educators. The Education Department will also ask the Board of Regents to adopt emergency regulations and apply specific exemptions so not to negatively impact students. A decision on the June and August exams have not been decided yet.  

3. We can’t underestimate the strain of COVID fatigue. Mental health is just as important as physical health. New Yorkers can call the State’s mental health hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for free emotional support, consultations & referrals to a provider or visit the Office of Mental Health for resources.  

 4. Download the COVID Alert NY app today. New York launched an Exposure Notification App so New Yorkers can help stop the spread of COVID-19 and receive exposure alert notifications without compromising privacy or personal information. Click here to download it directly to your iPhone. Click here to download it directly to your Android device.   

   If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State’s Coronavirus Updates here. Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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HOW THE WHITE PLAINS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER NOW IN ITS 16TH YEAR WILL COME BACK AS SOON AS GOVERNOR CUOMO LIFTS THEATRE RRESTRICTIONS

HOW WPPAC HAS MET COVID SAFETY STANDARDS IN VENTILATION AND DISTANCING IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS SAFELY ALL SUMMER LONG

HOW THEATER OWNERS , ACTORS, BEHIND-THE SCENES STAFF CAN GO ON WITH THE SHOW(S)

THE NEW WHITE PLAINS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SEASON.

HOW THE LOSS OF THE WESTCHESTER BROADWAY THEATRE WILL BE MET.

THE ECONOMICS OF THE NEW THEATER IN THE YEARS AHEAD

TONIGHT AT 8 ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD ON FIOS CH 45 COUNTYWIDE AND ALTICE OPTIMUM CH. 76

AND ON www.wpcommunitymedia.org