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Answering your questions: DMVs, flying and when will it end?

Posted at 8:01 PM, Mar 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-26 13:49:10-04

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — We’re back again answering your pressing questions at 7 Eyewitness News as we work from home with the help of some experts.

Q: "My car is due by end of month. Will (the) DMV penalize people if it is not done?”
-Nancy from Buffalo

A: "The governor has deemed people, car shops, essential services. My recommendation is, if you can go, you can," Erie County Clerk, Mickey Kearns, said. He continued, "As of today (Tuesday) we have not received any executive order for that specific issue, but we have reached out to the state DMV.”

Q: “Is the DMV extending the expiration date for driver's license since they are closed?”
-Chris from Lewiston

A: The simple answer is yes, at least through April 19th provided DMVs open again. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo put through an executive order allowing any driver’s license, non-driver identification or registration set to expire on or after March 1st is now extended for the time being.

Q: “How contagious is coronavirus on an airplane? Would everyone on the flight be infected if there was an infected person on board?”
-Victoria from Buffalo

A: “Usually if someone is infected on an airplane the risk is fairly limited to sort of the row that individual is in and to a lesser degree the row in front of them and behind them," Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, Dr. Thomas Russo, said. He continued, "Airplanes have a lot air exchange throughout the cabin, which serves to minimize the risk of widespread transmission.”

Q: “How long will it be for it to go away coronavirus?”
-Jessica from Niagara Falls

A: Dr. Russo said it's unclear at the moment. However, he said it’s imperative to practice social distancing and staying home to try and minimize the number of cases. If that is done, Dr. Russo said this will help not overwhelm the healthcare system and allow medications to be introduced to combat the virus before a vaccination may be introduced way down the line.

“I think the way we need to look at it at this point is we really need to take it day by day," Dr. Russo said.

7 Eyewitness News will continue to ask the experts for answers to your questions. You can send them in here.