STATEN ISLAND, NY – Staten Island is a problem. That’s what New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is saying as he moves the island into the orange zone starting tomorrow.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced updated COVID-19 micro-cluster focus zones in New York State. Part of Staten Island’s Yellow Precautionary Zone will become an Orange Warning Zone. Orange Warning Zones will also be established in Monroe and Onondaga Counties. New Yellow Precautionary Zones will be established in Upper Manhattan and Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Modifications to current focus zones and new focus zones go into effect this Wednesday, November 25 for businesses and Thursday, November 26 for schools.
Here’s what the orange zone means for Staten Islanders:
All NYC public, nonpublic and charter schools must close and return to remote learning. Schools can reopen if they meet NYS testing requirements. See here for more information. Businesses including gyms, fitness centers and personal care services (such as barbers, hair salons, spas, tattoo or piercing parlors, nail technicians and nail salons, cosmetologists, estheticians, laser hair removal and electrolysis services) must close. Food Service Establishments Restaurants, bars, cafes, and other foodservice establishments can provide outdoor dining and takeout and
delivery service only. There is a four-person maximum per table. No indoor dining is allowed.
Houses of worship may remain open at 33% capacity up to a maximum of 25 people, whichever is fewer. Nonessential indoor and outdoor gatherings must be limited to no more than 10 people. Any individual who encourages promotes or organizes mass gatherings may be fined up to $15,000 per day.
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“Staten Island is a problem. The number of hospitalizations in Staten Island have gone, over the last three weeks, they’ve basically tripled. 33 to 91. It’s a consequence of action. These are our three weeks overall, 122 percent increase. This is where we wind up, 6,047. At the same rate of increase, if Thanksgiving did nothing, if Christmas season did nothing, if we don’t bring down the current rate, we go to 6,000. Staten Island has such an issue that has triggered a hospital capacity issue, and the hospitals have contacted us, and they say they need emergency beds on Staten Island. And we’re going to open an emergency COVID patient facility at South Beach on Staten Island. Remember when we had to set up field hospitals, emergency hospitals for additional capacity? Well, that’s what we have to do on Staten Island.
The Governor also announced that South Beach Psychiatric Center, a new but unopened Office of Mental Health facility on Staten Island, will at the request of the local hospitals be opening as a temporary emergency facility for COVID patients. The facility served as an emergency hospital in the Spring, providing care for COVID patients.
“We need a reality check because these are dangerous times that we’re in. The COVID rate, number of deaths, number of hospitalizations, everything we watch all day on TV, is all a function of our actions. There is no predetermined result here. You tell me what New Yorkers do today, I will tell you the infection rate tomorrow. We are in a place now where there is a bad synergy — a sense of COVID fatigue. Yes, we’re only at 3 percent and only Vermont, Maine, and Hawaii are lower than us, but that can change in an instant and we must remember how we got here,” Governor Cuomo said. “It’s the infection rate in your community that matters, and that’s why we talk about micro-clusters. Influence your family’s behavior and your community’s behavior and be a COVID change agent in your community. We’re social beings and it’s also the high season of social activity. That is a bad combination, and it is always the combination of events that creates the major issues. Now, Upper Manhattan, basically the Washington Heights area, will become a yellow zone. We’re also adding additional yellow zones on Long Island. Parts of Onondaga and Monroe Counties will become orange zones. Staten Island, part is a yellow zone, part is an orange zone. This year, let’s think of Thanksgiving as a time to yes, really give thanks to the people who really did phenomenal things this year, and continue to thank them by doing our part and wearing masks, staying socially distant, and practicing safe behaviors.”
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90-Year-Old Veteran Killed in Carjacking HOUSTON, Tex. — A 90-year-old veteran, Nelson Beckett, has died after being assaulted, shot, and run over by his own vehicle in a violent carjacking near his apartment complex in Houston. The incident occurred on Saturday at approximately 12:45 p.m., according to a statement from the Houston Police Department.
Houston Police responded to an assault in progress with a weapon at an independent living community. Upon arrival, officers found Beckett lying in the parking lot with gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Beckett was identified by his son, Tim Beckett, according to local reports. The Houston Police Department has launched an investigation into the fatal attack, which occurred near the apartment complex where Beckett lived.
The department has yet to release further details on the suspect or any arrests in connection with the case. The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to determine the circumstances surrounding the brutal assault.
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34-Year-Old Man Fatally Shot in Landover LANDOVER, Md. — Prince George’s County Police are investigating the fatal shooting of Jakel Stone, a 34-year-old resident of Bowie, which occurred on Saturday night in Landover. The shooting took place in the 6900 block of Hawthorne Street at approximately 7:40 p.m., according to police reports.
Officers responding to the scene found Stone in a parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds. He was immediately transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Detectives from the Homicide Unit are actively investigating the incident as they work to determine a motive and identify the suspect or suspects involved.
Authorities are encouraging anyone with information related to the case to contact the Homicide Unit at 301-516-2512. Additionally, those wishing to remain anonymous can submit tips through the Crime Solvers website at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, via the “P3 Tips” mobile app, or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). The case number is 24-0051352.
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Baltimore Police Arrest Suspect in Stolen Jeep Wrangler Case BALTIMORE, Md. — A 44-year-old man was arrested on Monday in connection with a stolen vehicle in the Southeast District of Baltimore. The arrest followed a vehicle stop initiated by detectives conducting stolen car and carjacking enforcement operations in the area.
On September 2, 2024, at approximately 11:22 a.m., detectives identified a stolen 2023 Jeep Wrangler being driven in the 1500 block of Mcelderry Street. The vehicle had been reported stolen the previous day from the Southeast District.
With assistance from officers, detectives successfully conducted a vehicle stop in the 500 block of Somerset Street, leading to the arrest of the driver. The suspect was transported to the Central Booking Intake Facility for processing.
The Baltimore Police Department has not yet released the identity of the arrested individual, and the investigation remains ongoing.
