WINDSOR (WBNG) — Those who use Old Route 17 Bridge in Windsor will need to find a different route beginning next month. It will be closed for rehabilitation and painting. The Broome County Executive’s Office says the bridge will be closed from March 2 at 7 a.m. to August 29 at 4 p.m. A detour route will be posted.

If you or a loved one needs help, you can contact the New York State COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314. “People are feeling pretty isolated, and that’s something our organization plays a critical role in the community, helping to address issues like isolation,” said Leahey. MHAST Executive Director Keith Leahey says the line is there for people who need someone to talk to. At the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier (MHAST), they offer a “warm line” where people can call for support. However, since the pandemic has started, MHAST has since an 80 percent increase in calls to their warm line. For organizations like MHAST, there’s a concern that government funding will be reduced due to the coronavirus. If that were to happen, MHAST would not be able to provide their mental health resources. “We know that this is going to be a long term need, and service is going to be at record levels, there’s no question about that. The state is facing some pretty difficult budget-related issues,” said Leahey. Right in the Southern Tier, mental health experts say New Yorkers are feeling the isolation that comes with staying at home. “If you just look at the latest on unemployment numbers, we have 38 million people who are out of work. You have parents who are home, who are trying to not only work and provide and take care of things at home, but many of them are now teachers as well,” said Leahey. With the growing number of phone calls, Leahey says he’s confident this mental health crisis won’t be going away anytime soon. Leahey says a common feeling everyone seems to be sharing is the feeling of being isolated. “We received just over 3,000 calls in the first quarter of 2020,” says Leahey. (WBNG) — According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than one-third of Americans say the pandemic has had an impact on mental health. read more

BINGHAMTON (WBNG) — The Old Union Hotel is changing the way it operates temporarily after one of its employees tested positive for COVID-19. The restaurant says it will close Aug. 4 but reopen Aug. 5 for takeout only. It will not reopen for dine-in services until Aug. 12. The Old Union Hotel says this gives them adequate time to disinfect and ensure the safety of its customers. The Broome County Health Department did not issue a public health statement about this positive case. The infected employee last worked on July 29 and wore a mask during their shift, the restaurant says.

SINGAPORE — Stocks in Japan were set to trade higher at the open as investors in Asia-Pacific react to the Democrat Joe Biden’s defeat of incumbent Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential race, according to NBC projections.Futures pointed to a higher open for Japanese stocks, with the Nikkei futures in Chicago at 24,425 while its counterpart in Osaka was at 24,360. That compared against the Nikkei 225’s last close at 24,325.23.- Advertisement – Shares in Australia edged higher in early trade, with the S&P/ASX 200 up around 0.9%.Former U.S. vice president Biden won following his projected win in the states of Pennsylvania as well as Nevada, according to NBC News projections on Saturday. Still, Trump is refusing to concede the election, claiming it’s “far from over.”On the economic data front, China’s exports surged 11.4% in October as compared to a year earlier, according to official statistics released over the weekend. – Advertisement – – Advertisement – – Advertisement – Meanwhile, on the coronavirus front, infections continue to surge stateside. The U.S. recently reported more than 126,000 new infections for two day in a row. Globally, the number of coronavirus infections crossed the 50 million mark on Sunday, according to Reuters.CurrenciesThe U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was last at 92.184 following a decline in recent days from levels above 93.1.The Japanese yen traded at 103.24 per dollar after strengthening from levels above 104.3 against the greenback last week. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7288 after last week’s rise from levels below $0.711. read more