×

Coronavirus

Former Quebec premier says border reopening hinges on vaccinations

PLATTSBURGH — Former Premier of Quebec Jean Charest believes the northern border will remain closed to nonessential travel until such a time when vaccinations are up and the number of Canadians and Americans affected by COVID-19 are down. “The key is vaccination,” Charest said ...

DHS extends REAL ID deadline due to DMVs’ COVID slowdown

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security is extending the REAL ID full enforcement date by 19 months, from Oct. 1, 2021 to May 3, 2023, due to circumstances resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has significantly impacted states’ ability to issue REAL ...

Bar restrictions rolled back

New York is loosening several COVID-19 regulations on bars — setting end dates for a midnight curfew and a requirement that food must be purchased with alcohol. Some local bar owners reacted Wednesday with a mix of excitement and ambivalence. The food requirement with an alcoholic drink ...

NY updates mask guidance for fully vaccinated people

JOHNSON CITY — The state eased its mask and face covering policy Tuesday for vaccinated people gathering outdoors, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, to be in keeping with new federal guidelines. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new national mask-wearing guidelines Monday that ...

CDC says vaccinated Americans can now go outside without masks

NEW YORK — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its guidelines Tuesday on the wearing of masks outdoors, saying fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to cover their faces anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers. And those who are unvaccinated can go outside ...

‘Go get the shot’: Biden highlights path back to normal

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden spent his first 100 days in office encouraging Americans to mask up and stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus. His task for the next 100 days will be to lay out the path back to normal. When he entered office, Biden moved swiftly to overcome ...