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North Country Congressional candidates responding to COVID-19 threat

Posted 3/12/20

North Country Congressional candidates are taking action as the threat of COVID-19 grows. In a press release issued March 12, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced she co-sponsored a bill aimed at …

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North Country Congressional candidates responding to COVID-19 threat

Posted

North Country Congressional candidates are taking action as the threat of COVID-19 grows.

In a press release issued March 12, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced she co-sponsored a bill aimed at ensuring student access to school meal benefits will continue should schools close due to the coronavirus.

Meanwhile her opponent Tedra Cobb of Canton, is asking any of her petition carriers who are deemed at high risk of contracting coronavirus to immediately stop carrying petitions.

“Given the seriousness of the Coronavirus epidemic and the Governor's call for a State of Emergency, my campaign will be implementing immediate precautionary measures for our petition carriers, staff, and volunteers,” Cobb said in a statement to North Country Now.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are asking that any petition carrier who is deemed at high risk of contracting Coronavirus immediately stop carrying petitions,” the release said. “This includes individuals over the age of 60 and anyone with chronic medical conditions. We ask that individuals who remain involved in the petition process practice frequent hand washing and hygiene measures as recommended by the Center For Disease Control. If you exhibit any symptoms of the infection, including fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath, we ask that you immediately seek medical attention."

The legislation sponsored by Stefanik would create a nationwide waiver authority, allow school officials to distribute food in any number of settings across all nutrition programs, and allow for flexibility on meal components if food supply or procurement is disrupted.

“It is imperative that our students maintain access to the school meals they rely on, even in the event of school closures as a result of coronavirus,” said Stefanik said.

“As schools close to prevent further spread of coronavirus, we must ensure that meals will still be available to these children. As a member of Congress, I remain committed to keeping my constituents informed and providing the most up to date information about the coronavirus as it is made available. I am proud to be cosponsoring this legislation and will be monitoring school closures as they pertain to the North Country. I continue to encourage anyone with questions to reach out to any of my offices.”