WCDO Radio News

Bassett Healthcare Network announced today that Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown and Cobleskill Regional Hospital have been placed on a state-wide list of facilities that currently have occupancies of 90% or more; A.O. Fox Hospital and Little Falls Hospital remain on that list. Those impacted facilities are also limiting non-essential elective procedures in accordance with an executive order enacted by the New York State Department of Health on December 3rd. Capacities at affected hospitals are being reassessed every 2 weeks. With rising cases of COVID-19 in the region, Bassett Healthcare Network will suspend visitation for the safety of patients and staff in all emergency departments across its network starting Wednesday.

Chenango County Health Department reports the continued increase in the number of COVID 19 cases in the county. The county has 301 active cases with 2/3rds unvaccinated, 523 are quarantined, 13 are hospitalized, all are unvaccinated, and there have been 92 COVID related deaths since the start of the pandemic. Information about vaccine clinics are available at co.chenango.ny.us.

The State Health Department tested over 258,000, with 23,391 testing positive, for a Positivity rate of 9.04%. Patient Hospitalization are up to 4,020, with 769 in an ICU bed, and Patients on ventilators is up to 451, New deaths reported by healthcare facilities was 60 on Sunday.

Delaware County Public Health reported 77 new cases of COVID 19 Saturday through Monday, there are 263 active cases, 4 hospitalized & 533 in quarantine.

Visitation is suspended at Otsego County Correctional Facility until further notice due to the increase in COVID cases in the area, according to the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office. Otsego County Health Department reported 21 new cases Monday, there are 320 active COVID-19 cases, 12 people are hospitalized & there were 2 new deaths reported.

Otsego County Sheriff's department arrested a County inmate Wednesday for assaulting a Corrections Officer and fleeing from custody during a Court appearance in the Town of New Lisbon yesterday afternoon. 27 year old John Clark was charged with Assault on Police Officer, 2nd degree Escape, 3rd degree Assault, Obstruction of Governmental Administration, Resisting Arrest & Harassment. Otsego County corrections officers were transporting Clark to a regularly scheduled court appearance when he fled from the custody of the corrections officers, a foot pursuit was initiated and a corrections officer attempted to take the defendant back in to custody. During a brief struggle, Clark caused the correction officer to sustain a hand fracture. Clark was returned back to the Otsego County Correctional Facility and will be processed at Otsego County Centralized Arraignment at a later time. The corrections officer was treated at Bassett Hospital and a return to work has not been established.

Bassett Healthcare Network announced today that in accordance with an executive order enacted by the New York State Department of Health on December 3, 2 of their hospitals; A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta & Little Falls Hospital, have been placed on a state-wide list of facilities that currently have occupancies of 90% or more. These facilities will limit non-essential elective procedures for the next 2 weeks.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-16-21

Chenango Public Health reported another COVID related death last week, bringing their total to 50. The County reports 19 hospitalized, 75 active cases & 247 quarantined, they've had a total of 2327 cases since last year.

Delaware County Public Health announced that there were 8 new cases of COVID 19 reported on Monday out of 115 tested, their active cases are at 129, the number hospitalized is 23 & 256 are quarantined.  Delaware County Public Health will continue to vaccinate 1B essential workers, this week, public health will be vaccinating people 65 and older with comorbidities, appointments can be made through the Office for the Aging at 607-832-5750, vaccines will continue to be available for people over 65 at pharmacies & state mass vaccination sites.

Bassett Healthcare Network has resumed partial visitation for inpatients at its hospital locations, Fox Hospital in Oneonta, Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, Cobleskill Regional Hospital, Little Falls Hospital, and O’Connor Hospital in Delhi.  Visitation hours are limited from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. On weekends, hours will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Visitation remains suspended at A.O. Fox Nursing Home in Oneonta, Valley Health Services in Herkimer, and all outpatient locations across the network, more information is available at bassett.org/covid-19.

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will be starting their "Leaderful Delaware" classes virtually, starting in March on 2 afternoons a month for 8 months.  Chamber President Ray Pucci explains:

(Ray Pucci 2-16-21)

Applicants can go to Delawarecounty.org or call 746-2281 for an application or more information about the program.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 2-16-21

State Police arrested 2 people after a Trooper witnesses 1 man chasing another with a baseball bat in Unadilla January 26th.  The suspect with the baseball bat ran to the Unadilla House after seeing the trooper, the victim, 26 year old Justin Cirigliano of Bainbridge was taken to AO Fox Hospital Tri Town Campus in Sidney, he was found to be in possession of a syringe, & was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance & was will appear in the town of Unadilla court.   State Police arrested 44 year old Daniel Racquet of Unadilla for 2nd degree Assault & Menacing, after he was located at an unrelated incident and was hiding in a closet.  Racquet was transported to Otsego County Central Arraignment and Processing.

P.M. NEWS MONDAY 2-15-21

Governor Cuomo held his daily COVID briefing today, he admitted that the state should not have with-held the nursing home information requested by the State Legislature at the same time that the US Department of Justice was requesting that information, he defended the actions of State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker, Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa, The CDC & their guidance on the Controversial March 25th guidance to send COVID patients from hospitals back to nursing homes:

(Cuomo 2-15-21)

Members from both parties are looking into an investigation of Cuomo's administration regarding several aspects of the COVID 19 pandemic in the last year.

The State Health department reported that over 180,000 New Yorkers were tested for COVID Sunday, and 3.5% tested positive, the lowest level in 3 months. The number hospitalized has dropped to 6600, the number in ICU beds dropped to 1270, the number of Ventilators was down to 875, there were 103 COVID deaths Sunday from the virus.

State Police arrested 31 year old Kerri Bunnelle of Little Falls for Vehicular Manslaughter, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a motor vehicle and Aggravated DWI, following the investigation into an August 4 accident last year old State Route 8 in New Berlin, that killed 43 year old Matthew Fredericks of Herkimer. Police stated that Bunnelle was the driver of a GMC Envoy that crossed over into a Ford Focus head-on driven by Fredericks, who did not survive the crash. Bunnelle’s blood alcohol content was .23% & she also did not possess a valid drivers license. Bunnelle was virtually arraigned in the town of Norwich court and released on her own recognizance. She will appear in the Chenango County Court at a later date.

Delaware County Public Health reported 14 new cases of COVID 19 on Friday & again on Saturday & 12 on Sunday. The County reports 129 total cases, 22 hospitalized & 303 quarantined. Delaware County Public Health has vaccinated 613 people.