Covid cases continue downward trend in Genesee, Orleans

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 March 2022 at 6:44 pm

Chart from Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

The number of new confirmed Covid cases continues to go down in Genesee and Orleans counties, even as mask mandates are lifted in schools and most other indoor public places.

There were 40 new cases reported in the past week, March 2-8, which was down from 74 the previous week in the two counties. That was down from 112 from Feb. 16-22, and 216 from Feb. 9-15.

The recent caseloads are a steep drop from the Covid peak in early January when there 2,703 cases in the two counties from Jan. 5-11.

The 40 new cases the past week include 15 in Orleans and 25 in Genesee. In the past six weeks in Orleans the cases have dropped from 255 from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, 157 from Feb. 2-8, 84 from Feb. 9-15, 41 from Feb. 16-22, 29 on Feb. 23 to March 1, and 15 from March 2-8.

The local health department is reporting a Genesee County resident passed away from Covid in the past week. That brings the total Covid-related deaths during the two years of the pandemic to 184 in Genesee and 112 in Orleans.

Statewide, Gov. Kathy Hochul reported today there were 1,060 new Covid cases out of 67,714 tests, for a positivity of 1.57 percent. That is the 12th straight day the state is under 2 percent for positive tests.The 7-day average of positive tests is at 1.51 percent.

“Thanks to New Yorkers stepping up, we continue to see numbers trending in the right direction,” Hochul said. “But we must remain vigilant in order to continue the progress we have made against Covid-19. Parents and guardians, please talk to your pediatrician or health care provider about getting your children vaccinated and boosted. The vaccine is safe, effective and the best way to keep our communities safe from this virus.”