By Scott Scanlon

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Covid-19 vaccination rates continued to climb across New York State over the weekend as children ages 5 to 11 began to receive their first smaller dose of the Pfizer vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration authorized such doses for children in that age range last month.

“The weather is getting colder, and friends and family will be spending more time indoors, increasing the risk of transmission and threatening the incredible progress we’ve made so far,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said Sunday afternoon as she reported almost 111,500 new vaccines were given during the previous 24 hours.

By Sandra Tan

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In recent weeks, many overarching patterns remain unchanged. Overall cases are still rising, thanks to the Delta variant, but not as quickly as before. Hospitalizations and deaths remain elevated, after a steep August climb, but have leveled off and remain well below where we were in the winter and spring. Vaccination rates are rising at an unhurried pace.

A few Erie County legislators expressed a sense of longing that they believe is felt by many, including the vaccinated. People don’t want to be publicly shamed for wishing for fewer restrictions and a greater return to normalcy, they said, even as public health experts are urging people to remain patient.

By Matt Glynn

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Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center will soon require its employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19, or else be subjected to regular testing.

Candace Johnson, Roswell Park’s president and CEO, has notified its 3,300 employees the requirement will take effect in three to four weeks.

By Mary Pasciak

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Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein has invited leaders from the Buffalo Public Schools and other local districts to a meeting Monday morning.

School leaders will meet with county officials “in an effort to achieve a coordinated plan and response,” Buffalo Public Schools spokesperson Elena Cala said in a text message on Sunday. “We will have our statements (Monday) afternoon.”

By Barbara O’Brien

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Schools should follow guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials for their in-person instructional plans for this fall, said New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker.

“With the end of the state disaster emergency on June 25, 2021, school districts are reestablished as the controlling entity for schools,” Zucker said in a statement Thursday. “Schools and school districts should develop plans to open in-person in the fall as safely as possible, and I recommend following guidance from the CDC and local health departments.”

By Karen Matthews

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New York City will soon require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for anyone who wants to dine indoors at a restaurant, see a performance or go to the gym, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday, making it the first big city in the U.S. to impose such restrictions.

The new requirement, which will be phased in over several weeks in August and September, is the most aggressive step the city has taken yet to curb a surge in cases caused by the Delta variant. People will have to show proof that they have had at least one dose of a vaccine.

By Keith McShea and Thomas J. Prohaska

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The push for more people to resume wearing face masks continued Monday, as the University at Buffalo imposed an indoor mask mandate for everyone on campus and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo urged private businesses, schools and hospitals to require vaccinations.

Erie County already has a mask mandate for county employees, but has so far not imposed one on the private sector.

Niagara County announced Monday that it will not demand masks in the private sector, but County Legislature Chairwoman Rebecca J. Wydysh said the Legislature will consider a mask mandate for county buildings Tuesday.

By Anne Neville

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The percentage of people testing positive for Covid-19 statewide continued to climb, and Western New York numbers were higher than statewide rates, according to the latest figures released Sunday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.

Statewide, 2.68% of tests were positive Saturday, an increase over the seven-day average of 2.40%.

The numbers in Erie County were higher and climbing slightly each day, with 2.82% of people testing positive Thursday, 3.09% on Friday and 3.17% on Saturday.

By Barbara O’Brien and Charity Vogel

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State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa is recommending schools use federal CDC guidance in planning for opening schools this year, which means masking for all teachers, staff and students, regardless of vaccination status.

Rosa, in a letter to school leaders Thursday, said the Covid-19 pandemic is “still dynamic,” but predicted that much-awaited guidance from state Health Department officials would largely mirror that of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Like school leaders, the Education Department is “anxious” to receive guidance from the state Health Department on what safety measures should be followed for the fall semester, Rosa said in the letter to district superintendents, principals and leaders from charter schools.