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Respiratory DiseasesInfluenzaInfluenza continues to spread widely across the Northeast. However, there were region-wide decreases in trips to the doctor for influenza-like illness (ILI) and also trips to the emergency department (ED) for flu. Northeast: ED visits for influenza (%)
% of emergency department visits that are for influenza
 Moderate-to-high activityIn Maine, activity is still high, but both outpatient ILI (3.5%) and ED visits (2.5%), dropped about a point this past week, which is encouraging. Similarly, in New Hampshire, outpatient ILI remains on the high side at 3.4%, but both ILI and ED visits (2.8%) are dropping. In New Jersey, outpatient ILI is down to 4.8% (which is categorized as moderate for the state), and ED visits at 1.7%. In Massachusetts, outpatient ILI is down to 3.2%, and ED visits are down to 1.6%. Northeast: Outpatient influenza like illness (%)
% of visits to the doctor that are for fever and cough or sore throat
 Low activityThe biggest states in the region (New York and Pennsylvania) are finally down to low levels of activity. In New York, outpatient ILI is down to 2.9%, and ED visits for flu are at just 0.8%. In New York City, flu continues to decrease, dropping to just 0.5% of ED visits and 0.4% of hospitalizations. In Pennsylvania, outpatient ILI is 2.3%, the lowest in the region, and ED visits have decreased to 2.1%. In addition, ED visits in Vermont dropped from 5% down to 3% in the past week, and outpatient ILI declined to 2.4%. Rhode Island is also down to low levels, with outpatient ILI at 2.4% and ED visits at 1.2%. COVID-19Wastewater activity is moderate but bouncing around in the region. ED visits for Covid-19 are fairly low and improving, so on the whole I think the picture is quite good. Where rates are a bit higherMaine is turning the corner. Wastewater activity is high, but dipped a bit, and ED visits dropped slightly to 1.1%. In Massachusetts, wastewater activity is high and rising, but ED visits are at 0.8% and have been decreasing for the past few weeks. Similarly, in Connecticut, wastewater activity is also high and rising. However, ED visits held steady at 0.9% and hospitalizations decreased to a fairly low 2.1 hospitalizations per 100,000 people. Northeast: ED visits for Covid-19 (%)
% of emergency department visits for Covid-19
 Where rates are more moderateIn Pennsylvania, wastewater activity is moderate and rising, and ED visits remain a bit more elevated, despite improvements this past week (to 0.8%). In Vermont, ED visits fell substantially this past week, from nearly 1.2 down to 0.7%. However, wastewater activity in the state is moderate and rising again. New Hampshire has dropped from high down to moderate wastewater activity levels. ED visits remain a bit elevated at 1.0%, but are also moving in the right direction. In New York, ED visits held steady at 0.4% and hospitalizations ticked up slightly to 2.8 per 100,000. Wastewater data jumped to high levels in the state, but data was incomplete this week, so I am not convinced this represents what is happening in the state as a whole. This seems particularly likely because ED visits in New York City held steady at a low 0.2%, as did hospitalizations at 0.2%, so I doubt the state is resurging. Rhode Island is also in good shape. Wastewater activity is low, and ED visits decreased down to 0.5% this past week. RSVRSV is elevated, with about half the Northeast still seeing increases in ED visits and the other half declining. This pattern often marks peak season. ED visits for RSV are elevated and increasing in New Hampshire (0.8%). The only other state to see a notable increase was Connecticut, where ED visits rose to 0.5% and hospitalizations increased to 3.0, which is higher than hospitalizations for flu or Covid-19. Rates held roughly steady at moderate levels in Pennsylvania (0.5%) and New York (0.4%). Hospitalizations in New York remain moderately elevated as well, but decreased slightly, to 2.1. In New York City, ED visits for RSV remain flat at 0.4%, as do hospitalizations at 0.4%. RSV remains elevated, but decreased this past week in Massachusetts (0.7%) and New Jersey (0.7%). Both Rhode Island and Vermont saw large declines in ED visits, dropping by more than half to ~0.3%. Trips to the ED are lowest in Maine, at just 0.2%. Northeast: ED visits for RSV (%)
% of emergency department visits that are for RSV
 Other BugsLots of respiratory bugs are circulating right now.
NorovirusNorovirus loves February. Activity is high and climbing across the country. While rates are not stratospheric like last season, we are at typical (high) levels for this time of year. Test positivity was 13.5% this past week at the national level. Rates have spiked in the Northeast, climbing to 15.8% test positivity this past week, up from 8.6% in mid-January. This is the highest rates have been so far this season. Food recallsThe following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items: New:
Previously Reported:
In other news
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FEBRUARY 7 1:10 EST– PROPOSAL TO SELL WINE IN GROCERIES– THE REAL OUTCOME
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. FEBRUARY 7, 2026
Dear Editor:
We have heard about efforts to add wine in grocery stores in New York for years.
A newweffort is currently circulating in the state legislature and via social media, includling a petition asking consumers to support it. Among the arguments is convenience and one-stop shopping.
However, the whole story is not being told. And consumers will suffer.
As a small independent wine and spirits retailer, I own and run my store. I personally interact with my customers who are also my neighbors. I strive to find unique small production wines and spirits you don’t see everywhere. I also offer tasting events for my customers and charitable fundraisers for our schools and organizations.
A big box store or grocery chains with 100,000 square feet will buy large brands that produce enough to supply all their stores. That great wine you get from me that only makes 300 cases a year, will be lost, and you will be stuck with only the large mass produced items. Go to Florida to a Publix and you will see what I mean.
The fact is independent retailers are struggling more than ever. Post-COVID, there has been a huge drop nationwide in alcohol consumption.
The NY State Liquor Authority has such tight restrictions on us as to what we can sell that simply offering other items is not an option. Nor do we have the square footage to even consider any other products to sell. Allowing grocery stores to sell wine will be a nail in the coffin for many small retailers—many of whom are located next to or near supermarkets.
We will simply not be able to handle the additional loss of sales and be forced to close. This will put thousands out of work, including many in the wholesale business selling smaller production items. And customers will lose their neighborhood wine and liquor shops, forcing them to go to a large grocery store for a mediocre selection of wine.
And forget about buying hard alcohol, like vodka, tequila, bourbon, etc. This proposed bill is only for wine. Where will consumers be able to buy spirits once we are out of business? Suddenly the convenience factor is lost and the consumer suffers.
We ask that you contact your state representatives and tell them you do not want to lose your neighbors to big grocery stores, who are already doing tens of million dollars in business, and support your local independent, family-owned wine and spirits retailers.
Thank you, Stuart Levine,
Owner-Operator,
LeVino Wine Merchants, White Plains NY
(REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION)
FEBRUARY 7–WHITE PLAINS WEEK THE FEB 6 REPORT ANYTIME ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG
SHOCKER OF THE WEEK: COUNCILMAN RICHARD PAYNE RESIGNS NEW COUNCILMEMBER TO BE NAMED
LARGE GROCERY CHAINS LOBBY FOR RIGHT TO SELL WINE, THEREAT TO SMALL BUSINESS WINE MERCHANTS
JOHN BAILEY PERSPECTIVE ON THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE TWO COUNCIL SEATS COMING THIS FALL
JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK
THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK
FOR 25 YEARS
FEBRUARY 5–5:30 PM BULLETIN: COUNCILMAN RICHARD PAYNE RESIGNS
WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER By John F. Bailey February 5, 2026 UPDATED 9:45 P.M.:
Councilman Richard Payne has resigned from the Common Council WPCNR has confirmed.
The resignation was announced January 20, effective February 2 at the Monday monthly Common Council.
This means that another replacement Councilmember must be named and appointed to the Common Council to replace Mr. Payne.
Valarie Simmons was appointed Councilmember Monday evening and confirmed. Ms. Simmons is required to run in a Special Election in November and win that election to complete the term she began Monday night after being sworn in.
The interim councilmember (whomever they may be) who is appointed to replace Mr. Payne, would also have to face official reelection in that same Special Election Councilwoman Simmons will be in.
This means there may be a four-person contest for the Simmons and Payne replacement (to be named) in November.
Mr. Payne’s seat on the council was empty at the start of Monday Common Council meeting and no name plate was there.
Mayor Brasch announced Mr. Payne’s resignation in the last two minutes of the meeting.
The March Common Council meeting will be held on Wednesday March 4