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COVID orange means changes at various locations

New York State

Erie County's new orange COVID-19 status means changes for a variety of places. Here are a few:

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said in-person services at City Hall will be reduced. The city is also performing deep cleanings at any City facility where an employee has tested positive for the virus. Brown reminded residents they can call 311 for non-emergency city services needs. The mayor also announced that winter parking regulations on bus routes will not take effect until Nov. 30 and alternate parking designations on side streets are also suspended until then.

The Buffalo Public School Board is giving all school district employees an extra day off, Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving, extending the holiday weekend. The district also noted that school food distribution sites will be open regular hours Friday, Monday and Tuesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. On Tuesday, food distribution sites will distribute six days worth of food for the holiday break.

Catholic Health has announced it is suspending all inpatient elective surgery procedures from Saturday through Dec. 5. These are surgeries that require at least an overnight non-emergency hospital stay. The suspension is in anticipation of a potential increase in hospitalized COVID-19 cases. Official and medical experts will review the situation as Dec. 5 approaches for a possible change in the expiration date. The move does not affect outpatient elective surgeries nor urgent surgery cases.

The state-proclaimed orange zone in Erie County has also resulted in the closing of five Buffalo-area Spot Coffee locations, effective Friday. The company made the announcement on social media Thursday afternoon. The orange zone restriction allows restaurants to provide take-out and delivery service, but prohibits indoor seating. Spot Coffee said it will shut down its Buffalo shops on Delaware Avenue, Elmwood Avenue and Hertel Avenue, plus Main Street in Williamsville and Transit Road in Clarence. At this point, no targeted reopening date has been announced. The remainder of its 23 outlets across the state and in Connecticut will remain open.

Mark Wozniak, WBFO's local All Things Considered host, has been at WBFO since mid-1978.
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