{"id":78977,"date":"2020-05-01T15:32:48","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T19:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=78977"},"modified":"2020-05-01T15:32:48","modified_gmt":"2020-05-01T19:32:48","slug":"governor-announces-schools-and-colleges-will-remain-closed-statewide-for-the-rest-of-the-academic-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/05\/01\/governor-announces-schools-and-colleges-will-remain-closed-statewide-for-the-rest-of-the-academic-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor announces schools and colleges will remain closed, statewide, for the rest of the academic year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced<\/span> all K-12 schools and college facilities statewide will remain closed for the rest of the academic year and will continue to provide distance learning during that time. The schools will also be required to continue meal programs and child care services for essential workers. The state will make a decision about summer school programming by the end of May.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Governor Cuomo is also directing all schools and colleges to create re-opening plans that re-imagine school facilities in light of <\/span>the COVID-19 pandemic. These plans should consider how schools can monitor the spread of COVID-19; how to reinforce student safety; when and how to resume extracurricular activities; protocols for special student populations; steps to ensure student mental health; alternative academic calendars; among other considerations. All plans will be reviewed and approved by the state.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Governor also announced the state is partnering with the Kate Spade New York Foundation and Crisis Text Line to provide a 24\/7 emotional support service for frontline health care workers. Those workers can text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to access these emotional support services.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Governor also announced that the State Department of Financial Services will require New York State-regulated health insurers to waive cost-sharing, including <\/span>deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, for in-network mental health services for New York’s frontline ess<\/span>ential workers during COVID-19. DFS will also <\/span>issue an emergency regulation to prohibit insurers from imposing cost-sharing for telehealth and in-person mental health services rendered by in-network providers on an outpatient basis to frontline essential workers eligible to be tested at one of the State’s drive through or walk in COVID-19 testing sites.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Governor also announced new targeted efforts to further reduce the number of new hospitalizations per day, which has remained steady at approximately 1,000 over the last several day. This new effort will gather additional information and data from hospitals about the individuals who are being hospitalized for COVID-19, including if they are essential workers, where they work, how they<\/span> commute, where they live and other demographics. This specific information and data from the hospitals will be used to come up with a new strategy more tailored to the reduction of new daily hospitalizations.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Governor also announced five new drive-through testing facilities have opened and are now accepting patients <\/span>in Monroe, Erie, Broom<\/span>e, Niagara and Oneida Counties. Residents who would like to be tested at these facilities must make an appointment by calling 888-364-3065 or online at <\/span>covid19screening.health.ny.gov<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>Information about the location of these new facilities is located below:<\/span><\/p>\n