Category: Press release

Press release

ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CHANGES QUARANTINE GUIDANCE FOLLOWING UPDATE FROM NEW YORK STATE

Quarantine time period shifts from 14 days to 10 days

ERIE COUNTY, NY – Following an update by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to COVID quarantine requirements on December 26, the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) has changed the time period for quarantine from 14 days to 10 days past last exposure.

Starting today, December 28, individuals placed under quarantine by ECDOH can end quarantine after ten days if no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period.

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Elections Section, Politics, Press release

Iranian Cyber Actors Responsible for Website Threatening U.S. Election Officials

December 23, 2020

Washington, D.C.

FBI National Press Office

The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) possess highly credible information indicating Iranian cyber actors almost certainly were responsible for the creation of a website called Enemies of the People, which contained death threats aimed at U.S. election officials in mid-December 2020.

The FBI has identified multiple domains, to include the main site, enemiesofthepeople.org, that contained personal information and photographs for a number of U.S. officials and individuals from private sector entities involved with the 2020 election. The FBI has confirmed the main site is currently inactive.

In addition, threatening emails were sent to the officials from the following email addresses:

  • enemiesofthepeople@tutanota.com
  • 6e.nemiesOfThepeople.e9@protonmail.com
  • 3e.nemiesOfThePeopl.e3@protonmail.com
  • 3e.nemiesOfThePeopl.e3@gmail.com

The post-election creation of the Enemies of the People website demonstrates an ongoing Iranian intent to create divisions and mistrust in the United States and undermine public confidence in the U.S. electoral process. As referenced in Joint Cybersecurity Advisories AA20-296B and AA20-304A, and FBI FLASH Message ME-000138-TT, the FBI and CISA have previously warned that Iranian cyber actors were likely intent on influencing and interfering with the 2020 U.S. elections.

The FBI and CISA urge the public to critically evaluate the sources of the information they consume and to seek out reliable and verified information.

The FBI is responsible for investigating malign foreign influence operations and malicious cyber activity targeting election infrastructure and other U.S. democratic institutions. The FBI also investigates federal election crimes and violent crimes, including threats of violence against U.S. election or other public officials. CISA is responsible for protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats.

The FBI and CISA provide services and information to uphold the security, integrity, and resiliency of the U.S. electoral process. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate credible threats made against U.S. election officials through any media, including websites and telephonic or electronic communications.

Victim Reporting and Additional Information

The FBI encourages the public to report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to their local field office or online at tips.fbi.gov.

Broadband, Press release

Jacobs Calls for Increased Funding for Rural Broadband

RELEASE 12/7/2020

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) joined a bipartisan letter to the House and Senate appropriations committees calling for additional funding for the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) ReConnect rural broadband grant program in the upcoming FY21 funding bill. 

“I have long advocated for increased broadband investment in NY-27. The pandemic has only elevated that need,” Jacobs said. “With schools moved online, businesses increasingly relying on the internet, telemedicine services becoming more popular, and farm technology advancing – the need for reliable high-speed internet access is urgent. The ReConnect Program is a sound investment that has helped connect our underserviced communities.”

Congress created the ReConnect Program in FY18 with a $600 million appropriation. $550 million and $555 million were appropriated in FY19 and FY20, respectively. To date, USDA has invested over $1.3 billion in high-speed broadband infrastructure. Currently, the proposed FY21 Senate budget for this program has been cut by $150 million relative to FY20 funding levels. Jacobs is asking for increased funding for this rural broadband program relative to recent years.

“Our children, families, farmers, and economy rely on access to high-speed internet – we must ensure that we are making sufficient investments that set them up for success,” Jacobs said.

COVID19, Health, Press release

ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OUTLINES TESTING PROCESS FOR SCHOOLS IN MICROCLUSTER ZONES

MEDIA RELEASE 12/1/2020

Requirements for school-based diagnostic testing programs emphasize safety and quality control

ERIE COUNTY, NY — The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) will provide use of its Division of Emergency Medical Services new Limited Service Lab (LSL) license to schools within New York State-designated microcluster zones. This announcement follows extensive internal discussions about how to best support schools in providing safe testing for students and staff. 

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