COVID-19

The Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs will play the National Hockey League's 2022 Heritage Classic on March 13 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. Buffalo will become the first U.S.-based team to play in the Heritage Classic, which has previously included only Canadian teams.

Gov. Kathy Hochul says she does not believe healthcare workers in New York should be able to cite a religious exemption to avoid getting the COVID-19 vaccine. She also imposed new mask mandates in day care and child care facilities, as well as state-run health programs.

A federal judge has paused New York’s decision to prohibit religious exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare workers, who the state has required to get their first dose of the shot by late September or potentially lose their job.

Chautauqua County is gearing up for federal approval of a third dose of COVID vaccines, even as it starts giving booster shots to those who are immuno-compromised.

New York State is launching a new marketing campaign to get more teens vaccinated for COVID-19.

New York has delayed its requirement that state employees get vaccinated against the coronavirus or undergo weekly tests by more than a month to Oct. 12, the same day telecommuting workers are now scheduled to return to their offices.

New York could be headed toward a staffing crisis in the health care sector if more workers don’t get vaccinated, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday, as the state’s COVID-19 numbers continue to rise amid the Delta variant.

The Erie County Department of Health reports that for the week ending Sept. 4, it received confirmed 1,326 new COVID-19 cases among county residents, a 22% increase from the previous week.

Across Ontario, children are beginning to return to school. It's the third school year affected by COVID-19 and Ontario’s top doctor said he’s confident in-person learning will be safe.