Batavia, more of Niagara added to NY’s Yellow micro-cluster zones

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 December 2020 at 7:24 pm

Part of Genesee County – Batavia to East Pembroke – are now in a yellow micro-cluster zone, where there are some added restrictions intended to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that an area of Genesee County has been put in a precautionary yellow micro-cluster zone.

The area includes Batavia, East Pembroke, and goes as far north on Route 98 to near Elba, just north of Edgerton Road and south of the village. Click here to see a more detailed map.

In Genesee the cases and hospitalizations due to Covid-19 have surged since Nov. 1. As of Oct. 31, Genesee had 375 Covid-19 cases in the first eight months of the pandemic. It had 579 more in November.

In the first 13 days of December, Genesee has 492 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, and has suffered 12 deaths due to Covid. Genesee currently has 21 people hospitalized due to the virus.

The state also has expanded the Yellow Zone in Niagara County. Niagara’s Yellow zone was confined mostly to North Tonawanda, but has been expanded to include Lockport, Sanborn, and Lewiston. Click here to see the Yellow Zone map in Niagara County.

The restrictions and guidelines for the micro-cluster zones include:


Yellow

  • Non-residential gatherings: 25 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
  • Residential gatherings: 10 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
  • Houses of worship: 50 percent of maximum capacity
  • Businesses: Open
  • Dining: Indoor and outdoor dining permitted but limited to a maximum of 4 people per table, and bars and restaurants close at 10 p.m. for on-premises consumption.
  • Schools: Open but 20 percent weekly testing required for in-person students and faculty.

Orange

  • Non-residential gatherings: 10 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
  • Residential gatherings: 10 people maximum, indoors and outdoors
  • Houses of worship: Lesser of 33% of maximum capacity or 25 people
  • Businesses: Gyms, fitness centers and classes operate at 25% capacity; barber shops, hair salons, personal care services can provide services so long as employees performing services are tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.
  • Dining: Gyms, fitness centers and classes operate at 25% capacity; barber shops, hair salons, personal care services can provide services so long as employees performing services are tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.
  • Schools: Closed to remote-only but can reopen if they follow new guidelines that require mass testing in schools before they reopen followed by vigilant symptom and exposure screening conducted daily.

Red

  • Non-residential gatherings: prohibited
  • Residential gatherings: prohibited
  • Houses of worship: Lesser of 25% of maximum capacity or 10 people
  • Businesses: Non-essential businesses are closed
  • Dining: Takeout or delivery only
  • Schools: Closed to remote-only but can reopen if they follow new guidelines that require mass testing in schools before they reopen followed by vigilant symptom and exposure screening conducted daily.