COVID Testing

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is defending a decision to buy over a half-billion dollars in COVID-19 rapid tests from a campaign donor. Her Republican opponents have seized on the issue, and one government reform group says it merits an investigation.

The rapid testing allowed filming to resume at American High, a Liverpool-based production company, and get people back to work.

The State Department of Health and Human Services announced that testing facilities using COVID-19 rapid antigen tests no longer need to report negative results.

WAER's news round up for the week of April 4. See what you missed!

Up until April 5, the county was including at-home test results in its overall total, which pushed the county’s COVID-positive rates much higher than the rest of the state.

Starting March 26, visitors of the SU stadium will no need COVID vax or test for events at the Dome.

Onondaga County officials are trying to clear up confusion about changing COVID-19 contact tracing protocols as the number of new cases continues to rise. On December 31st, the county said it would no longer be calling individuals to trace infections. The state followed suit Tuesday.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon announced a new drive-thru distribution site for COVID-19 tests at the New York State Fair Orange Lot at 11 A.M this Friday.

Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled what her administration is calling Surge 2.0, a plan to deal with the current spike in coronavirus omicron cases. Her plan includes increased testing, mask mandates, keeping schools open, minimizing illness and death.