Governor Kathy Hochul says New York State has bought one million more rapid COVID test kits...and will turn them over to local school districts around the state. The governor says they want districts to test students who might otherwise have to quarantine, so they can stay in class under what's called Test to Stay.
Meanwhile, State Health Commissioner Mary Bassett says the COVID Vaccine is still the best way to protect children this holiday season. She spoke of "surrounding them with a wall of protection" by having everyone else in the family vaccinated.
Governor Hochul says more than 30 hospitals across New York have now postponed many elective surgical procedures because of an influx of COVID patients. She says that order will be reviewed on January 15th and may be dropped at that time depending on how hospital caseloads go. She says COVID hospitalizations were up by 86 percent from last month, necessitating the surgical postponements.