Coronavirus Updates: More than 1,000 residents in quarantine in New York county, officials say

COVID-19 Live Updates, News and Information

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Study finds alcohol consumption on the rise

The study said the increase was especially dramatic for women.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Government officials say more than 1,000 residents are in COVID-19 coronavirus quarantine in Broome County, New York.

On Tuesday, Broome County Health Department issued a statement saying a number of positive COVID cases were found at restaurants in the area.

Officials are asking anyone who may have been to Consol's Family Kitchen on Sept. 25, Jonathan's Restaurant on Sept. 23 or 24, and Storming Crab Seafood Restaurant on Sept. 27, to self-quarantine.

What to know about coronavirus:

Back to school information

How coronavirus changed the New York region

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What's Open, What's Closed in the Tri-State area

Here are more of today's headlines:

COVID-19 causing 'historic decimation of the Hispanic community' experts say

Medical experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, said COVID-19 coronavirus is devastating generations of Hispanic families. Fauci said hospitalizations among Latinos were 359 per 100,000 compared to 78 in whites. Latinos represent 45 percent of deaths of people younger than 21, Fauci added.

Study finds dramatic increase in American alcohol consumption

There are new concerns about how people are coping through the coronavirus crisis after a study found alcohol consumption is on the rise. Researchers found American adults have sharply increased their alcohol consumption. Experts with the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism say the results are a concerning look at how people are easing the pain and coping with isolation.

The study said the increase was especially dramatic for women.

NJ reports coronavirus outbreaks at 11 schools

Despite Governor Phil Murphy saying that the reopening of New Jersey's schools is going "smoothly," the state's health commissioner announced 11 outbreaks.

That means that there are two or more cases in 11 schools in the state that occurred as a result of contact at the school as determined by contact tracers.

NYC resumes indoor dining

New York City's highly anticipated return of indoor dining began Wednesday. Restaurants across the city are now able to welcome customers back inside their establishments at 25% capacity. The decision was made early in September by Governor Andrew Cuomo, who said the reopening was made possible thanks to the compliance by New Yorkers. In addition to the 25% capacity limit, indoor dining resumes with the following safety measures required, as outlined by Mayor Bill de Blasio:

--Temperatures check at front doors

--Contact info for each party collected for Test & Trace Corps

--Tables spaced six feet apart

--Bar tops closed for seating

--PPE and other protections for employees

Steelers-Titans postponed after positive COVID-19 tests, ESPN reports

Sunday's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans is being postponed. The NFL said the game will be rescheduled to allow additional time for further daily COVID-19 testing and to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel. Details on the new game date and time on either Monday or Tuesday will be announced as soon as possible, the NFL said.

NYC mask enforcement amid rise in cases

New York City had reported a big increase in the coronavirus daily positivity at 3% on Tuesday, but on Wednesday, the daily number was back below 1%. In order to keep the numbers down, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that anyone spotted not wearing a mask will be offered one and reminded that it is required, and if they refuse they will be fined. He said "aggressive" enforcement is now underway, including 400 NYPD officers, 250 other enforcement officers and 300 members of the test and trace corps who will be out in the community providing masks and enforcing social distancing.

NJ gas tax hike takes effect Thursday

New Jersey's gas tax is scheduled to rise nearly 10 cents per gallon Thursday, the second part of a double whammy of hikes for drivers in the Garden State. Toll increases took effect on Sunday, September 13, followed by the gas tax taking effect on October 1. The Department of Treasury says that lower fuel use trends, due in part to COVID-19, necessitated the increase in order to ensure funding to support the state's Transportation Trust Fund program.

Cuomo calls on local governments to target clusters

"A cluster can be community spread tomorrow," Cuomo said in urging local governments to aggressively target coronavirus clusters in New York City, Rockland and Orange counties. Rockland County is dealing with a spike in coronavirus cases, with two zip codes at the top of the list of the highest positivity percentages in the state.

See how Governor Andrew Cuomo plans to address alarming rises in COVID rates in several New York communities.

Stay informed with ABC7's NYC COVID-19 positivity rate tracker

As New York City public schools inch closer to reopening in-person learning, much of the success will rely heavily on schools keeping the COVID rate of infection in check. According to the city, public schools can only stay open if the COVID positivity rate stays below 3%. To stay informed, you can follow ABC7's NYC COVID-19 positivity rate tracker.

MORE NEWS: Watch Eyewitness to a Pandemic

The sense of doom grew, especially after March 1, when the first confirmed case arrived in Manhattan. Soon, there was a hotspot in New Rochelle, and small curfews and containment zones across the area offered a hint of a frightening future we still thought we could avoid.