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Moffat Library Databases: ONGOING PANDEMIC - COVID-19
Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Tracking Dashboard
Find A Testing Site By Address
Use the map HERE to find nearby testing locations and information on what type of tests they have available and how to make an appointment.
Testing for COVID-19 is widely available throughout New York State. Individuals who have questions about COVID-19 testing should call the New York State COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 or visit the NYSDOH website.
Changes In Mobility Due To COVID-19
Collective, anonymized data can provide useful public health insights for nations and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Software companies such as Apple and Google are currently providing mobility reports created from aggregate, anonymous data taken from travel direction requests and visits to different categories of locations.
Apple - COVID-19 - Mobility Trends Reports
Protect Yourself From Fraud
Practices like price gouging, fraudulent advertising, and unsafe products during pandemics are all too common. Federal and state agencies are responsible for protecting consumers from scams and harmful business practices.
Federal Trade Commission
Protecting Yourself Financially During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Call the New York Consumer Helpline to Report Price Gouging: 1-800-697-1220
Medical Databases & Information
Scientists are publishing an immense amount of research on coronaviruses each day. If you want to take a deeper dive into the medical and biological literature, many publishers and libraries are collecting their COVID-19 articles into free and easily accessible information centers. Checking health claims that you see online against published research is a good way to avoid misinformation.
National Institutes of Health - Coronavirus 2019 Disease Situation Summary
Novel Coronavirus Information Center
The Status Of New York State & The Mid-Hudson Region
The COVID-19 Situation In New York
Updated February 9, 2022. This table provides a snapshot of important information regarding coronavirus variants, vaccines, and public health measures. Please note that the information provided by the sites linked on this guide update at different times and may be out of date when you use them.
As of November 3, 2021, all New Yorkers age 5 and over are eligible for the vaccine. Children and adolescents are encouraged by the New York State Department of Health to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Most individuals aged 18+ are now eligible for booster shots.
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Consult vaccines.gov to find vaccination sites near you.
All COVID-19 vaccines are free, both for those with and without insurance. The website makes it easy to find nearby locations currently accepting appointments and walk-ins. You can also text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations. Get more information specifically about New York's vaccine distribution plan at the New York COVID-19 Vaccine website.
The state level mask mandate for businesses is scheduled to expire Thursday, February 10. Masks mandates may still be in place for schools, public transportation, and at the discretion of individual communities.
Governor Hochul announced that she would not be extending the current mask mandate for businesses and most public places. This is due to continued reductions in case counts, hospitalizations, and test positivity rates in the past two weeks. You can read the relevant order on masking HERE.
Vaccine doses and test kits remain free.
Initial doses and booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine are still free, widely available, and recommended for all New Yorkers aged 5 and up. All tests administered at NYS testing sites are free. Check HERE for a list of NYS testing sites. Your household is also eligible for four free home test kits from the federal government. Enter your address on this Postal Service form to receive these free home kits.
Get help if you need it.
Call New York’s COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 1-833-697-4829. Find the state health department's COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs. Use Orange County's Vaccination Information Form to receive updates from Orange County when appointments become available. Orange County's Office for the Aging maintains a phone line at 1-845-615-3700 to help seniors navigate the process.
- As of June 25, 2021, there are no travel restrictions on domestic travelers entering and leaving New York for other states. People are still encouraged to follow the CDC's domestic travel recommendations. Check the state's Coronavirus Information website for specific guidance on different settings.
- International travel and travel on public transportation or airlines is subject to the guidelines and requirements of both the federal government. Check the State Department's website for travel restrictions to specific countries while making travel plans.
- The dashboard showing COVID-19 statistics just for Orange County can be viewed here.
- The COVID Alert NY app is available through the Apple and Google Play app stores. It allows people to easily view outbreak numbers in different regions and to receive rapid alerts if someone with whom they have been in close contact has tested positive. Usage is free, voluntary, and anonymous.
- The Excelsior Pass app is a free, voluntary, and anonymous way to easily show digital proof of vaccination. It is purely used as a way to make it convenient to prove your vaccination status. No health or personal data is stored on the app.
Practicing Critical Thinking & Avoiding Misinformation
Conspiracy theories and unfounded information can spread faster than any disease. Some of these rumors and claims may be wrong but are relatively harmless, such as the idea that eating garlic can help protect you from COVID-19. Others are much more dangerous, such as conspiracies that the novel coronavirus is a human-made bio-weapon or that certain treatments or supplements can cure COVID-19. Misinformation makes everyone less safe, by leaving us more vulnerable to infection, to panicked behavior, to harming ourselves through attempting dangerous remedies, and to stigmatizing and fearing other people. But there are simple steps to avoid getting fooled and to slow the spread of misinformation.
- Be Careful Where You Get Your News About Coronavirus (Source: Harvard Health Blog)
- Even though social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and TikTok are taking steps to moderate content and flag misleading information, it is still easy to to spread misinformation on these platforms. Be cautious when reading and sharing news on social media. (Click each social media platform's name to see how they are working to combat misinformation.)
- Prioritize reliable sources like international and government agencies (which have missions to protect and inform the public), major news organizations (which have established expertise and robust fact checking policies), and scientific and medical journals (which have rigorous vetting before publication and do not have vested commercial interests in the information provided).
- Take Some Time To Verify Information Before You Share It
- You don't need to spend a long time trying to find the original source of a claim or exhaustively assess the credibility of its author. But wait a few minutes before sharing a link or interacting with a post. You can use that time to see if other news organizations are reporting the same information. You can check whether the claim has a commercial interest in selling you a product or service. You can reflect when confronting claims that try to sensationalize events or make you panicked or angry. The faster you consume and share information, the easier it is to be fooled.
- Scams will exploit (and already have exploited) fears and concerns about COVID-19 to steal your personal information, place malware on your devices, and steal money. The best defense against such scams is to carefully scrutinize links and information before you act on it. Scammers will try to rush you into a hasty decision. Be suspicious of any unsolicited emails or information.
- Consult Factchecking And Public Health Organizations For More Context
- WHO - Advice For The Public: Myth Busters
- CDC - Key Facts
- Snopes - The Coronavirus Collection
- Factcheck.org - Issue Coverage: Coronavirus
- Consider Taking Breaks From The News
- It is understandable that people want to stay as informed as possible about a rapidly changing situation like the COVID-19 pandemic. But constantly chasing the latest headlines and broadcasts can make you more anxious without actually informing you of anything new or useful. Even if they are accurate, the rapid alerts that you see may lack important context and distract from your daily life. Information that updates less frequently can provide a clearer picture of important trends while still conveying necessary details. Take some time every day to relax and pursue activities that you enjoy. You'll be better equipped to understand the news afterward.
State & Local Health Organizations
State and local health departments are responsible for the safety of New Yorkers. If you or someone you know has information about someone who has had contact with a person infected with coronavirus, please call the hotlines listed below.
PLEASE NOTE: If you or a family member are exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and are seeking medical help, CALL AHEAD to inform your healthcare provider or hospital so that they can take adequate precautions.
Hotline: Call 1-888-364-3065 for Information about Coronavirus
- COVID-19 Main Website
- Simple Steps for Protection
- Executive Order 11 - State Declaration of Emergency through January 15, 2022
Orange County Health Department Phone Number: 845-291-2330
Travel Advisories
As of December 3, 2021, the State Department has compiled a list of county specific travel considerations and restrictions due to COVID-19. Due to concern about the Omicron variant, travel has been restricted from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. If you do decide to travel, note that travel disruptions may make it more difficult than normal to return to the United States. All air passengers entering the United States must show either proof of a negative coronavirus test within ONE (1) day of departure OR proof of recovery from COVID-19 within NINETY (90) days of departure and documentation from a health official that you are clear to travel.
As of December 2021, the CDC has updated its Travel Health Notices for international countries. A Level 1 or Level 2 Health notice strongly recommends vaccination before travel but indicates less risk due to lower current community spread in that nation. A Level 3 Health Notice indicates higher risk and strongly recommends getting vaccinated before traveling to this county. A Level 4 Health Notice indicates that no one should travel to this county unless it is absolutely essential. It further recommends against all nonessential domestic travel due to ongoing community transmission. For people who do decide to travel domestically, the CDC has a series of recommendations for minimizing risk while traveling.
The State Department is responsible for American consulates in foreign countries and issues travel advisories for American citizens. At this time, they are recommending that all Americans avoid all international travel. Additionally, all Americans abroad who are able to do so should arrange to return to the United States immediately unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period of time. Be prepared for abrupt imposition of new travel restrictions, both entering and exiting the United States.
Information From Other Libraries
Moffat Library is grateful for the swift action and resource sharing on the parts of the Middletown Thrall Library and the Southeastern New York Library Resource Council (SENYLRC). If the information you need is not available through one of the links provided above, we encourage you to explore the resources collected by these libraries.