Ellen Abbott

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh isn’t letting the pandemic get him down when it comes to assessing the state of the city. Walsh admits the pandemic may have slowed progress on certain issues, but contends the city’s best days are ahead.

There will be 3,000-4,000 fewer doses of the coronavirus vaccine going into arms of central New Yorkers this week, compared to last. It’s disturbing to local officials.

As the U.S. Senate gets down to businesses this week, New York’s two senators are pushing again for more aid to state and local governments, as part of the next COVID-relief bill.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has lifted restrictions on restaurants in orange zones. That means these establishments, including many in central New York, will be able to invite patrons inside for dinner.

New York state is opening up five mass distribution centers for the coronavirus vaccine this week, including one in central New York. Residents over the age of 65, as well as first responders, teachers and others eligible to sign up for the vaccine, have started getting the shot at the New York State Fairgrounds near Syracuse.

As the number of people eligible to get the coronavirus vaccine expands in New York state, so do the number of places it’s available in central New York. But supply will dictate how many people actually get the shot.

Body cameras have now been deployed to every uniformed officer in the Syracuse Police Department.  This is the end of a process that started almost four years ago.

The Trump mob attack on the Capitol stunned the nation this week, and many are asking how it happened. That includes Syracuse-area Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus), who was in the Capitol building when it was breached.

Oneida County officials are rallying resources as they begin vaccinating individuals for COVID-19.

Onondaga County wants to help residents in assisted living facilities get vaccinated for COVID-19. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said most of the nursing home residents in the county have already received their first COVID vaccinations. What worries him are the assisted living facilities that haven’t received the vaccine yet.

The Empire State Trail is now complete in New York state. It includes 750 miles of hiking and biking trails from New York City to Canada, and Albany to Buffalo. That includes linking one of the biggest gaps in the trail in central New York.

Officials are suggesting central New Yorkers limit their New Year’s Eve activities this year. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said the safest way to celebrate is to stick with the people you live with.

December has been hard on central New York. It’s been the deadliest month from COVID-19 in Onondaga County since the pandemic started almost ten months ago, and one rural county is asking people to be extra careful to avoid spreading of the virus.

Syracuse-area state Sen. Rachel May is disturbed by the uptick of COVID-19 cases in nursing homes as part of the current coronavirus surge in central New York and New York state. As head of the Senate Aging Committee, she is pushing an idea that might be able to help understaffed facilities.

A holiday season overshadowed by the pandemic takes a toll on our mental health; and that includes on children.

Onondaga County is hoping some preemptive testing for COVID-19 at local senior living facilities will lead to fewer hospitalizations.

Syracuse-area Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) said there are a lot of items for central New York in the $900 billion COVID relief package passed in Washington this week.

Now that the FDA has given the go-ahead to release the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, researchers want to determine if children can get vaccinated as well. Upstate Medical University is looking for young volunteers to take part in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial, noting the earlier studies of the vaccine didn’t include children.

Holiday travel continues taking a hit as the recent surge in COVID-19 cases continues. AAA of Western and Central New York expects almost a third fewer travelers this holiday season, compared to last year.

The Government Accountability Office, or GAO, will undertake a comprehensive study of the failure of the pre-trial release system and the use of electronic ankle monitors. Syracuse-area Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) pushed for the review, which could be the first step to revamping a system that has been responsible for deadly failures.

The private sector is helping Onondaga County beef up its contact tracing efforts.

Holiday lights could be one way to climb out of the holiday depression and anxiety brought on by COVID-19. One central New York psychiatric expert said stringing more lights can only help everyone’s mood.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said he knows the vaccines are on their way; with front-line hospital workers possibly rolling up their sleeves as soon as Tuesday. Nursing home residents could begin getting the two-shot regimen later this week. The federal government is working with local pharmacies to distribute the vaccines in those nursing homes. Beyond that, McMahon said distribution of the vaccine to the rest of the population will be a big undertaking.