Health Department: Norovirus cause hundreds of Hilton Guest Stomach Sickness

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WPCNR HEALTH NEWS. From the Westchester County Health Department. May 1, 1013, 9:30 P.M. E.D.T,:


The Westchester County Department of Health has confirmed that Norovirus is the cause of the stomach bug that has affected some (Editor’s note actually over 300) people who attended several events at The Hilton Westchester in April. The health department anticipated that outcome and has worked cooperatively with the Hilton Westchester to take a series of aggressive steps to stop the spread of the infection, whose symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea.


 


Recognizing the importance of protecting the health and safety of the public, the Hilton Westchester is voluntarily following every recommendation that the health department has made, including:



  1. Arranging for an outside contractor to provide an industrial cleaning of all hotel surfaces, with a special focus on the banquet halls;
  2. Contracting for corporate health staff and corporate sanitarians to be present and to assist in assuring that all health department recommendations are being carried out by staffers;
  3. Discontinuing service of uncooked foods that are prepared on site, and substituting commercially prepared salads and uncooked fruits; and
  4. Providing a 72 hour paid furlough to all banquet service and kitchen staff who were scheduled to work, starting Tuesday evening through Friday night.
  5. The hotel had previously required all kitchen, serving and housekeeping staff to wear gloves and had screened employees to assure they were healthy before starting each shift, had engaged a commercial cleaning company to clean the kitchen and common areas and had discontinued self-service buffets and had shut down any touch screens at the hotel and had made alcohol hand sanitizer available throughout the hotel.

 


Hotel management has been extremely cooperative throughout this investigation to work with the health department to protect the public’s health.  They also have notified organizers of upcoming events about these recent illnesses.


 


The health department has increased its presence at the hotel this week and will have sanitarians present during every event as long as necessary.  Inspectors are reviewing sanitary procedures throughout the hotel, as is our routine practice in these situations. Public health nurses are also reaching out to those who may be affected to help determine the source of the illness and to identify any new cases.


 


For more information about Norovirus, go to www.westchestergov.com/health.


 


 

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Health Department Steps Up Efforts at Rye Hilton. Keeps It Open

WPCNR HEALTH WATCH. From WPCNR and  the Westchester County Department of Health. (EDITED) April 30, 2013 UPDATED MAY 1:


Tuesday afternoon the County Health Department issued this statement on the ongoing investigation of the April 20-21 outbreaks of severe gastrointestinal symptoms involving some 300 guests at three different banquets at the Rye Town Hilton in the last three weeks.


WPCNR learned Tuesday that a similar outbreak of intestinal sickness affected scores of people also occurred two weeks earlier on the weekend of April 7 at the Hilton involving a large union banquet for the CSEA Womens Conference.


News of the last two outbreaks the 20th and 21st was not known until last Friday the 26th, 7 days after the April 20th incident. Wednesday morning, it was reported by the Journal News that a fundraiser for The Carver Club held last Friday at the Hilton was also plagued by persons reporting becoming sick.


The health department did not respond to a WPCNR question Tuesday afternoon asking why the Health Department has not shut down the Hilton.


In the statement that follows the most recent Carver Club sicknesses are not mentioned.


Here is the Health Department statement as of Tuesday afternoon:


 


“The Westchester County Department of Health has an ongoing investigation underway to put a stop to a recent rash of illness in people who attended events at the Hilton Westchester. While we have not yet determined the cause, it appears to be Norovirus, an infection whose symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea.


 


Recognizing the importance of protecting the health and safety of the public, the Hilton Westchester is voluntarily following every recommendation that the health department has made, including:


 



  1. Arranging for an outside contractor to provide an industrial cleaning of all hotel surfaces, with a special focus on the banquet halls;
  2. Contracting for corporate health staff and corporate sanitarians to be present and to assist in assuring that all health department recommendations are being carried out by staffers;
  3. Discontinuing service of uncooked foods that are prepared on site, and substituting commercially prepared salads and uncooked fruits; and
  4. Providing a 72 hour paid furlough to all banquet service and kitchen staff starting now through Friday night.

 


Hotel management has been extremely cooperative throughout this investigation to work with the health department to protect the public’s health.  They also have notified organizers of upcoming events about these recent illnesses.


 


The health department has increased its presence at the hotel this week and will have two sanitarians present during every event throughout the weekend.  Inspectors are reviewing sanitary procedures throughout the hotel, as is our routine practice in these situations. Public health nurses are also reaching out to those who may be affected to help determine the source of the illness and to identify any new cases.


 


 


For more information about Norovirus, go to www.westchestergov.com/health.


 


How can I avoid getting ill?


To help prevent the spread of the infection, wash hands thoroughly after each toilet visit, between contact with others and before and after preparing your own food.


 


If you have symptoms, what should you do?


 


It is important for those who have symptoms to stay home from work and to limit their contact with others to avoid spreading the virus to family members and close contacts until 72 hours after all symptoms resolve. Anyone who experiences nausea, vomiting or diarrhea should not go to work and should not handle food for others while ill. You also may want to contact your physician.


 


Unfortunately, there is no treatment other than to make sure to drink plenty of fluids. The illness must just run its course. Most people usually recover in a couple of days.


 


What is Norovirus?


 


A common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in this kind of setting is Norovirus. Norovirus is a group of viruses that can cause acute gastrointestinal discomfort and illness.


 

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Peekskill Social Studies Chair Charged with Altering Regents Answer Sheets by DA

WPCNR WESTCHESTER LAW JOURNAL. From the Office of the Westchester County District Attorney. April 30. 2013:


 


Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Allison Risoli DOB (04/24/60) of 1670 Westchester Avenue, Peekskill, was arraigned Monday on a Felony Complaint charging her with:


 



  • two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, class “E” Felonies.

 


Between January 24, 2013, and January 31, 2013, the defendant, the Chair of the Social Studies Department of Peekskill High School located at 1031 Elm Street in Peekskill, altered the answer sheets for two separate Regents examinations.


 


The answers altered were on the United States History and Government Regents Examination and the Global History and Geography Regents Examination.


 


The defendant, as the Chair of the Social Studies Department, is responsible for delivering completed Regents examinations to the Peekskill City School District Data Analyst. The Data Analyst, whose office is in the Peekskill City School District Administration Building, is responsible for scanning and submitting completed examinations to the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC), a subset of the Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services, for official scoring and filing with the State of New York.


 


Several days after defendant delivered to the Data Analyst the original answer sheets for the above-referenced Regents exams and after the Data Analyst scanned and submitted the examinations to LHRIC, defendant returned to the Data Analyst’s Office and indicated there was a problem with a few students’ answer sheets.


 


The defendant “reviewed” the original answer sheets while in the office. After “reviewing” the answer sheets in the Data Analyst’s office, defendant returned the answer sheets to the Data Analyst. 


 


A subsequent check of the original answer sheets that previously had been scanned and submitted to LHRIC and the answer sheets that defendant “reviewed” and handed back to the Data Analyst show defendant altered two of the answer sheets.


 


Specifically on both answer sheets the defendant marked the incorrect answer with an “X” and filled in the correct answer. 


 


The defendant’s alterations gave each of the students a passing score.


 


The defendant was releases on her own recognizance.


 


The defendant’s next court date is June 3rd, 2013.


 


She faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison on each count.


 


Assistant District Attorney Shara Abraham of the Public Integrity Bureau is prosecuting the case.


 


 

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Playland Keeps $30 Admission Price Plus $7 Parking





WPCNR COUNTY-CLARION LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications.(EDITED) April 29, 2013:


Get ready to zoom, spin, splash, swing and soar your way through acres of amusement park rides from the cooling log flume to the famous Dragon Coaster and all your other favorites as Playland Amusement Park in Rye hosts its opening day, Saturday, May 11.  Admission prices are reduced the first two weeks of the season, but revert to the admission levels of 2012 on May 24.


The Swimming Pool at the bathouse and the Rye Beach will not open until June 21. The Tiki Bar Boardwalk will be open and part of the fishing pier (damaged by Hurricane Sandy) will also be open by May 11. It is not clear how much, if any of the North Boardwalk between the pier and the wildlife sanctuary, destroyed by hurricane Sandy, will be repaired at this time.


The opening admission prices and regular admission price schedules are:


· $15 Weekends: May 11, 12, 18 and 19: $15 unlimited rides; $15 Junior (under 48”)


· Starting Friday, May 24: $30 unlimited rides; $20 Junior (under 48”) – Westchester residents with acceptable proof of residency are eligible for a $5 discount on these prices. Spectator admission (no rides) is free for Westchester County residents and $10 for non-residents.


The fun gets underway with a parade and entertainment beginning at 11 a.m. on the 11th of May and rides opening at noon.


Special opening day admission is $15, which is good for unlimited rides until the park closes at 7 p.m. Admissions go on sale at 10:30 a.m.


The opening celebration begins with strolling entertainment at the Fountain Plaza at 11 a.m., followed by the traditional parade with the Port Chester High School Marching Band accompanied by local dignitaries, staff and Playland’s mascot, Coaster the Dragon.


Grab a seat in front of the Music Tower Theater stage to hear the band Reunion perform hit sounds from the ‘50s,’60s and ‘70s. at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.


Unique, science-based entertainment will leave children and their families laughing and mesmerized at “Mad about Science,” the featured act in Kiddyland for two shows at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Playland’s Kiddyland DJ will also entertain with the “Play it DJ” show, in four performances at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Kids will move, groove and be smooth as our DJ plays their favorite dance tunes.


Admission Prices:


· $15 Weekends: May 11, 12, 18 and 19: $15 unlimited rides; $15 Junior (under 48”)


· Starting Friday, May 24: $30 unlimited rides; $20 Junior (under 48”) – Westchester residents with acceptable proof of residency are eligible for a $5 discount on these prices. Spectator admission (no rides) is free for Westchester County residents and $10 for non-residents.



Season Passes:


· $95 for unlimited rides all season, with a $15 discount for Westchester residents.


· $35 for spectator admission all season (no rides), for non-residents of Westchester County.



Acceptable proof of Westchester residency is a Westchester County Park Pass; New York State driver’s license or non-driver I.D.; or a photo I.D. or report card from a Westchester County school.


Playland’s pre-season schedule is noon to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Memorial Day weekend, after which the spring schedule begins. For the season schedule go to ryeplayland.org or call the park at (914) 813-7000. Use the Website link to join the Playland E-Club and receive valuable discounts all season long.


Become a Facebook fan at Playland Facebook and follow Playland on Twitter.


Parking is $5 weekdays, $7 weekends and $10 on holidays.


Rain date for opening day is Saturday, May 18.


Playland is located at the end of Playland Parkway in Rye. For public bus transportation, visit westchestergov.com/beelinebus.

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