Coronavirus News

WATCH: White House coronavirus update - March 31

By WXXI News • 18 minutes ago

Watch the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic for April 1, 2020.

Wayne County manufacturer may help speed production of ventilators

By Randy Gorbman • 58 minutes ago

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A Wayne County electronics manufacturer is helping fill a need for increased production of medical devices. As WXXI’s Randy Gorbman explains, the coronavirus and the need for special equipment is part of the reason:

A Wayne County electronics manufacturer is helping fill a need for increased production of medical devices. The coronavirus and the need for special equipment is part of the reason.

IEC Electronics, which is located in the Village of Newark, does contract work for other companies, including in the defense and medical device areas.

'Conceptual' agreement reached on state budget

By Karen DeWitt • 1 hour ago

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he's reached a "conceptual agreement" on the state budget with legislative leaders.

The agreement would give Cuomo broad new powers to control spending increases and reductions, as the state continues to cope out with the fallout from the coronavirus. The spending plan was due at midnight.

Cuomo said it's a "remarkable" achievement that the budget was agreed to at all, when he and state lawmakers are under such extreme stress dealing with the steeply rising number of cases of COVID-19 in the state.

Connections: Dr. Ray Dorsey on his new book, "Ending Parkinson's Disease"

By Evan Dawson & Megan Mack • 2 hours ago

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Dr. Ray Dorsey on his new book, "Ending Parkinson's Disease"

Dr. Ray Dorsey at the University of Rochester Medical Center has written a new book on Parkinson’s disease. The disease is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. Dorsey’s book is a “prescription for action.” He outlines the causes for the disease – many of them environmental – and directives for how to prevent the condition.

He joins us this hour to discuss his research. We also hear from a local woman living with Parkinson’s disease. Our guests:

Dr. Ray Dorsey, M.D., David M. Levy Professor of Neurology, director of the Center for Health and Technology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and author of "Ending Parkinson's Disease"
Yvonne Hylton, woman living with Parkinson’s disease

Wegmans says workers can wear masks, gloves

By Beth Adams • 4 hours ago

If you venture into a Wegmans store during the coronavirus pandemic, you may start to see employees wearing masks and gloves.

In the wake of the crisis, Wegmans has adopted a new policy allowing workers to use the protective gear if it makes them feel safer.

Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart wrote to Wegmans inquiring about the company's policies after she said she heard from dozens of Wegmans employees and their family members, who claim they were told they could not wear personal protective equipment at work.

WATCH: Coronavirus update from Gov. Andrew Cuomo - April 1

By WXXI News • 5 hours ago

At 12:15 p.m., watch the latest coronavirus update from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for April 1, 2020.

Volunteers use 3D printers to make face shields for Rochester hospitals

By Jeremy Moule • 6 hours ago

As a data engineer, Coty Pastene solves problems. So when her wife, Katie Pastene, a nurse practitioner at a Rochester hospital, shared her worries about dwindling supplies of the masks that health care workers wear to guard against coronavirus exposure, Pastene sought a way to help.

She found one in 3D printing. Like many people across the country, once she learned that 3D printers could be used to make face shields for health care workers, she set out to start making them. Pastene is also marshaling owners of the devices to join in the effort, and her campaign is gaining steam.

Angling may see surge in popularity ahead of trout season

By Jared Bomba/The Daily Star • 7 hours ago

With most sports on hiatus due to the threat of COVID-19, trout season is set to open in New York on Wednesday, and anglers are hoping to capitalize on spreading the sport's popularity at a time when other sports are on hold.

"Everybody is hunkering down like they tell us to do, but there is currently no directive telling us we can't go fishing," said Tom Trelease, president of Oneonta's chapter of Trout Unlimited, a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America's cold-water fisheries and watersheds.

Tops to temporarily offer single-use plastic bags

By Randy Gorbman • 7 hours ago

Tops Friendly Markets will again be offering customers single-use plastic bags.

This change happens after New York state delayed enforcement of the ban on the plastic bags until May 15. That delay is also related to a legal challenge against the plastic bag legislation.

Tops officials say they are temporarily not enforcing the ban in order to help with sanitation concerns surrounding reusable bags and COVID-19.

Kodak manufactures isopropyl alcohol for NYS

By Randy Gorbman • 9 hours ago

A lot of local companies and organizations are stepping up to help out during the coronavirus pandemic, and that includes Kodak. The company says it has entered into an agreement with New York state to supply isopropyl alcohol to help with the production of hand sanitizer that the state is making.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in early March that the state is manufacturing its own hand sanitizer to deal with the shortage of the disinfectant product.