Canastota Responds to COVID-19

The Village has partnered with the Town, Schools, Chamber, library, local businesses and churches to deliver the best information possible to the community. This will act as a hub for any information necessary to the community in regards to COVID-19. For further assistance, please contact 315-697-7559. If you are sick, please call your healthcare provider.

Face Mask Coverings

Wearing a face covering over your nose and mouth will help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Governor Cuomo has issued two executive orders:

1. Effective April 15, 2020, all employees in the workplace will be provided with and wear face coverings when in direct contact with customers or members of the public. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide the face coverings for their employees.

2. Effective April 17, 2020, everyone over the age of 2 years must cover their nose and mouth with a cloth face covering when in a public place and unable to maintain social distance. This can be done by wearing a scarf, bandana, or a mask made from a t-shirt. The face covering should not be a replacement for social distancing.

If you are in need of a face mask or covering, please call our office at 315-697-7559 and we can offer resources to get masks. Thank you!

Public School Announcements

To stay up to date with the most recent news at Canastota Central Schools, visit their website at https://www.canastotacsd.org/

CCCSD will post every announcement to the main page of their site so that all residents can stay up to date regarding school news.

Financial Assistance

Mid York United Way has several programs that offer temporary assistance with rent, utilities, and clothing. If you have been displaced from your job, please feel free to reach out to them for assistance or call 2-1-1.

Recent bills passed in New York State provide the following:

• For at least a 60-day period commencing March 18, 2020, any servicer of a federally-backed mortgage loan may not initiate any foreclosure, foreclosure-related eviction, or foreclosure sale

• Residential borrowers with a federally-backed mortgage loan who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID–19 emergency may request forbearance on their federally-backed mortgage loans for up to 180 days and may be eligible for an additional 180-day extension, opening up the possibility of a 360-day period of forbearance. Unlike multifamily property borrowers, residential borrowers are eligible for this program regardless of their prior delinquency status.

• During the 120-day period commencing March 27, 2020, property owners cannot bring eviction actions against tenants for nonpayment of rent if the property owner’s mortgaged property is insured, guaranteed, supplemented, protected, or assisted in any way by HUD, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the rural housing voucher program, or the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.

• Under the CARES Act, borrowers of a “federally backed multifamily mortgage loan” may be able to temporarily forbear their regular payments if they are “experiencing a financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 emergency.” Such borrowers may request an initial forbearance of 30 days and may be eligible to request up to two additional 30-day extensions, opening up the possibility of a 90-day total period of forbearance. To be eligible for the forbearance, the borrower must have been current on payments as of February 1, 2020. Additionally, during the forbearance period the borrower may not evict any tenant for the nonpayment of rent or charge late fees or penalties for any delinquent rent payment.

• Suspension of collection of state medical and student debt until 4/17/20

NY State of Health has opened a Special Enrollment Period for health insurance through April 15 for uninsured individuals in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Beware of scams. Before giving out your financial details to anyone, check first with a trusted source or go to FEMA's Coronavirus Rumor Control website.

Protecting Yourself

If You Think You Are Sick:

Local health officials are following NYS Department of Health recommendations to focus on only testing the people with symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) that fall into one of these categories:

1. Has come into close contact (same office, classroom, gatherings) of another person known to be positive; or

2. Has traveled to a country that the CDC has issued a Level 2 or Level 3 Travel Health Notice*; or

3. Is currently under quarantine; or

4. Has already tested negative for other types of infections (rapid flu tests, respiratory panel).

If you or a family member meet one of the above testing criteria, please contact your healthcare provider to get tested. If you do not have a healthcare provider, call the Upstate University Hospital Triage Line.

Upstate University Hospital’s COVID-19 Triage Line: 315-464-3979

All Central New York residents can call if they have questions about COVID-19, are showing possible symptoms, or if they may have had exposure to someone diagnosed with a positive case of COVID-19. The triage line is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

County Department of Health

For up to date information regarding Madison County Health, please visit their site at: https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/2479/Coronavirus-COVID-19

Mental Health

If you or a loved one feels stressed or overwhelmed or just need someone to talk to, help is available at the Contact Community Services Hotline 315-251-0600

New Yorkers across the state can access a specially curated collection of science-backed, evidence-based guided meditations, along with at-home mindful workouts, sleep and kids content to help address rising stress and anxiety. Available at www.headspace.com/ny, the collection will also feature Headspace co-founder and former Buddhist monk Andy Puddicombe, who will share special video messages with the people of New York to help offer guidance, support and solidarity

Staying in Touch

If you want to have meetings or a conversation with family online and don't know where to start, try using ZOOM. It's free and allows both internet and phone dial-in.

Need Tech Help?

Amanda McCallops, the Library Tech Trainer, is working from home to help people with their Tech problems.

There are several ways that people can reach her. Send her an email at:

If you prefer to text, just text 315-304-2455 including your name, library (Canastota), and your question. She also has a website with a submission form, that people can contact her through.

Here’s a link to that:

https://madisontechconnect.wixsite.com/tech/appointment

Just for Fun

Schools Feeding Youth

Canastota Schools will provide meals to students each day school would normally be in session. Each delivery will include a breakfast and a lunch. The following is the reminder information about meal pickup and delivery:

● Walkers: ​Food will be available to walkers by the doors on the west side of the building across from the bus garage between Cafeterias A and B from 9:30am - 12:30pm. Stop by the door to pick up food. You will not need to enter the building.

● Busers: ​For those who ride a bus, buses will continue to deliver breakfast/lunch tomorrow and then will resume on Monday. Buses will deliver meals to regular bus stops between 9:00am - 10:30am. Please wait for the bus at your child’s normal bus stop; food cannot be delivered to the door. Deliveries will begin at the times listed below (times are approximate):

• 9:00am: In-Town deliveries begin

• 9:15am: Route 5

• 9:30am: Oxbow Area

• 9:30am: Lakeside/Route 31

• 9:30am: Wampsville

For questions or information, reach out to the School office: 315-697-2025

Childcare for Essential Workers

During this current health crisis you may be considered an essential employee who is still required to work. Child care placement may be available to essential employees who work in health care, are first responders, who work in grocery stores, in transportation, some construction fields, certain non profit agencies and in food or supply distribution fields.

If you believe that you may qualify, please call the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison Child Care Resource Center at 315-223-7850 extension 222.

Internet Available

If you don't have internet at home but need to access some - the Canastota Public Library internet is accessible from the parking lot of the library 24/7. Please maintain social distancing. This can be done best by remaining in your vehicle.

Library Services

While we can't enter the library - you can still rent a book on your kindle, phone, computer, or other device! Just use your card to go to Midyork and follow the prompts for digital books. This includes Hoopla (for movies), RBDigital (for magazines), Overdrive (for ebooks and eaudios). They are located at the bottom of the page. On the right side is a "Help with Technology" box that links you to FAQ's that help you if you've never used digital resources before or if you don't have a library card.

Dont' have a library card? You can sign up for a Mid York library card or renew your card at our website -- www.midyork.org

Small Business Help

US Small Business Administration has Economic Injury DIsaster Loans available for Small Businesses in need because of COVID-19.

Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

Who have you contacted?