State reports lowest Covid hospitalizations, ICU patients since mid-March

Orleans and Genesee counties each are reporting one new confirmed case of Covid-19.

The new case in Orleans is a person in the 60s from Shelby. The individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. The county has now had 276 people test positive for Covid-19.

Orleans also has one person hospitalized with Covid-19, and 12 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.

Genesee County received 1 new confirmed case and now has a total of 256 people who have tested positive.

The new case is a Batavia resident in the 30s. The individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee has one person hospitalized with Covid-19. Genesee has 23 new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

• State sees new low in hospitalizations, intubations: Gov. Andrew Cuomo said hospitalizations statewide are at 576, the lowest since March 17. Patients in ICU due to Covid-19 are at 140, the lowest since March 16, and intubations are down to 70, a new low since March 15.

“So much of our ability to fight this destructive virus is dependent on what each of us does in day-to-day life, and social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands make a huge difference as we stay New York Smart,” Cuomo said. “I ask New Yorkers to continue practicing those good habits and closely following state guidance, and I urge local governments to enforce that guidance.”

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments issued the following information:

• Travel Advisory: New York is requiring travelers from the following 34 states with high coronavirus rates to self-quarantine for 14 days: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

The list also includes Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

Those violating could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine and potential fines. These states may change at any time.

• Be alert for scam artists: The Genesee and Orleans County Health Department staff will always identify themselves, their position, and the reason for their visit or phone call. All staff have county provided identification badges that have their pictures.

In the event you are approached by someone stating they are from the health department without a clear reason for their visit or phone call, do not let them in your home, do not give them any information and call 911.

• Community Testing Sites: Check with the testing site for any specific criteria necessary for testing such as illness, contact with someone who tested positive, essential worker, required for reopening/business, etc. Many need to have a doctor referral/prescription. Always call first.

• Oak Orchard Health: 301 West Ave Albion, NY 14411. Call (585) 589-5613 to be screened and to schedule an appointment – no walk-ins.
• WellNow Urgent Care: 4189 Veterans Memorial Drive Batavia, NY 14020.
• Rochester Regional Health Urgent Care: 16 Bank Street Batavia, NY 14020. (Rochester Regional Health has transitioned Covid-19 evaluations from the tents at 127 North Street to Urgent Care.)

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‘Because of the generosity of our community, we have been able to handle all that has been thrown at us so far.’

Contributed photo: Marc Shurtz is the interim chief executive/chief financial officer at Orleans Community Health. He started the job on Wednesday, replacing Mark Cye, who left to take the chief financial officer position at Warren General Hospital in Warren, Pa.

MEDINA – It has always been Marc Shurtz’s goal to attain a position where he could help an organization thrive.

He believes he is on the path to realizing that goal as the new interim chief executive/chief financial officer at Orleans Community Health.

Shurtz officially took over the position on Wednesday from Mark Cye, who joined Orleans Community Health just five years ago and held the duel title of CEO/CFO for just over two years. Cye resigned, effective July 28, to take a position as CFO at Warren General Hospital, an $80 million operation in Warren, Pa.

Cye said he has enjoyed his time and roles at Orleans Community Health and is excited to get back to the finance role. He credits the hospital’s movement in the right direction during the past several years to the continuous support of the staff at Orleans Community Health, something which Shurtz hopes continues under his direction.

Shurtz grew up in Michigan and moved to this area after serving in the Navy for 13 years. He was drawn to the healthcare field because he finds it very rewarding to have a positive effect on the community every day. Prior to his career move to Orleans Community Health, Shurtz worked for a large law firm in Buffalo for more than 10 years.

Cye is confident with Shurtz’s ability to fulfill his new role, as he has been working closely with Cye during the past year. Shurtz has served Orleans Community Health as chief information officer and corporate compliance officer since 2014. He brings 20 years of management experience spanning across military, legal and healthcare backgrounds.

Shurtz is excited about the opportunity to work with the community to find ways to keep Orleans Community Health a valuable asset for the community.

“We have been very fortunate to have the communities’ support during this pandemic,” Shurtz said. “Because of the generosity of our community, we have been able to handle all that has been thrown at us so far. We continue to be diligent in infection control and have been open to opening all services back up. In this day it is difficult to keep health care services close to home, but that is my goal. I also want to market a lot of the services which I don’t think the community realizes we provide.”

These include infusion therapy (beneficial to people suffering from dehydration, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease and anemia), blood transfusions (on an out-patient basis), a wound care center, podiatry and phlebotomy , as well as blood tests and wide range of X-rays. Shurtz also noted the hospital’s long-term care ward recently achieved a four-star rating with the New York State Department of Health.

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Orleans County has one new confirmed case of Covid-19, a person in the 40s from Gaines, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.

The individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. Orleans has now had 275 people test positive for Covid-19.

The county also has one additional person on precautionary quarantine for 2 weeks due to travel from a restricted state with high Co id-19 infections.

Genesee County has 2 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 255 positive cases.

The new positive cases include a Batavia resident and a person from LeRoy. One of the individuals is in the 40s and the other is in the 50s.

Neither of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee also has three new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

• Hospitalizations at lowest level statewide since March 17: Both Genesee and Orleans each have a resident hospitalized with Covid-19. Gov. Andrew Cuomo today reported there are 586 people in the state hospitalized with Covid-19, the lowest number since March 17.

The number of ICU patients statewide is at 142 today due to Covid-19, the lowest number since March 16.

More from the local Health Department:

• Travel Advisory: New York is requiring travelers from the following 34 states with high coronavirus rates to self-quarantine for 14 days: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

The list also includes Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

Those violating could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine and potential fines. These states may change at any time.

• Be alert for scam artists: The Genesee and Orleans County Health Department staff will always identify themselves, their position, and the reason for their visit or phone call. All staff have county provided identification badges that have their pictures.

In the event you are approached by someone stating they are from the health department without a clear reason for their visit or phone call, do not let them in your home, do not give them any information and call 911.

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For the second straight day Orleans and Genesee counties both don’t have any new confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Each county currently has one resident hospitalized with Covid-19. Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported today there are 619 people in the state hospitalized with Covid-19. That is the lowest number since March 18.

The two local counties have added people to precautionary quarantine due to travel from one of 34 states with high rates of infection and hospitalization from Covid-19.

Orleans added 11 people to precautionary quarantine, and now has 74 on quarantine for two weeks. Genesee added 17 and now has 151 total on precautionary quarantine, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.

More from the local Health Department:

• Travel Advisory: New York is requiring travelers from the following 34 states with high coronavirus rates to self-quarantine for 14 days: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

The list also includes Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

Those violating could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine and potential fines. These states may change at any time.

• Be alert for scam artists: The Genesee and Orleans County Health Department staff will always identify themselves, their position, and the reason for their visit or phone call. All staff have county provided identification badges that have their pictures.

In the event you are approached by someone stating they are from the health department without a clear reason for their visit or phone call, do not let them in your home, do not give them any information and call 911.

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There are no new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in either Orleans and Genesee counties, the local health department reported this afternoon.

Genesee is reporting one more recovery for 187 total, while Orleans remains at 120 for recoveries among community residents. (That doesn’t include recoveries in nursing homes and other non-public regulated facilities.)

Both counties each have one resident hospitalized with Covid-19.

The Health Department also is reporting Orleans has 7 more people on precautionary quarantine for 2 weeks due to travel from a restricted state, while Genesee is reporting four more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel.

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Department:

• Travel Advisory: New York is requiring travelers from the following 34 states with high coronavirus rates to self-quarantine for 14 days: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

The list also includes Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

Those violating could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine and potential fines. These states may change at any time.

• Traveler Health Form: For all out-of-state travelers from NYS restricted states, whether arriving by land or air, must self-identify by completing a traveler health form or be subject to a $2,000 fine. Click here for the traveler health form.

• Alcohol Sales Guidance: Executive Order 202.52 in effect starting July 17 requires all licensed establishments with on premises privileges (e.g. restaurants, taverns, manufacturers with tasting rooms, etc.) shall not serve alcoholic beverages unless such alcoholic beverage is accompanied by the purchase of a food item by each patron in a seated party.

• Community Testing Sites: Check with the testing site for any specific criteria necessary for testing such as illness, contact with someone who tested positive, essential worker, required for reopening/business, etc. Many need to have a doctor referral/prescription. Always call first.

• Oak Orchard Health: 301 West Ave Albion, NY 14411. Call (585) 589-5613 to be screened and to schedule an appointment – no walk-ins.
• WellNow Urgent Care: 4189 Veterans Memorial Drive Batavia, NY 14020.
• Rochester Regional Health Urgent Care: 16 Bank Street Batavia, NY 14020. (Rochester Regional Health has transitioned Covid-19 evaluations from the tents at 127 North Street to Urgent Care.)

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Orleans County has one new confirmed case of Covid-19, a person in the 20s from Ridgeway. The county has now had 274 people test positive for the coronavirus.

The new case includes an individual who was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said this afternoon.

Orleans has also had two more recoveries for 120 total, and has 16 more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from one of 31 states. The county now has 73 people on precautionary quarantine.

One resident is hospitalized with Covid-19. On Friday, the county didn’t have anyone hospitalized with the virus for the first time in four months.

Genesee County is reporting four new positive cases of Covid-19, with the people living in either Le Roy or Batavia. The county has now had 253 people test positive for Covid-19.

Two of the positive individuals are in their 30s, one is in the 40s, and one is in the 80s. The positive individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments said.

Genesee has had five more recoveries for 186 total. Genesee also has six more people on precautionary quarantine for 138 total. The county also has one resident hospitalized due to the virus.

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo this morning reported that 646 people in New York were hospitalized on Friday with Covid-19, which is the lowest number since March 18.

“New York State’s numbers continue to show progress in the midst of alarming increases in Covid-19 cases throughout the country and a renewed need to ensure compliance with state guidance here at home,” Cuomo said. “Yesterday’s numbers show New York’s hospitalizations continue to decrease and its rate of positive tests remains low, but it’s essential that we stay vigilant by social distancing, wearing masks and washing our hands as this pandemic is far from over.”

The governor reported that 10 people died from Covid-19 in the state and 750 people tested positive. Those 750 confirmed cases are out of 71,466 test results reported to the state, which shows 1.05 percent were positive.

Each region’s percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:

Courtesy of the Governor’s Office. (Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes Region.)

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The chart says it was from July 23, but it was updated for today, July 24.

Orleans County hit a milestone today in the fight against Covid-19. For the first time in four months, there isn’t an county resident hospitalized with Covid-19. The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported the first hospitalization on March 24.

Since that day, there was at least one county resident in the hospital every day. On Thursday, there will two people hospitalized with Covid-19 from Orleans.

The daily briefings from the Health Departments show there were as many as 20 hospitalized from the county on May 26. A month ago on June 24 the county had 13 residents in the hospital due to Covid-19.

The Health Departments in today’s update report there is one new case of Covid-19, a person in the 50s from Albion. The positive individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

The county has now had 273 people test positive for Covid-19 during the pandemic.

The Health Departments also report 8 more people are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Genesee County is reporting three more confirmed cases with residents from Batavia, LeRoy, and Pembroke. One of the positive individuals is under age 20 and two people are in their 50s.

One of the positive individuals was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. Genesee has now had 249 people test positive for Covid-19.

The county also has six more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. No one from Genesee is currently hospitalized with Covid-19.

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Department:

• Travel Advisory: New York is requiring travelers from the following 31 states with high coronavirus rates to self-quarantine for 14 days: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Those violating could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine and potential fines. These states may change at any time.

• Traveler Health Form: For all out-of-state travelers from NYS restricted states, whether arriving by land or air, must self-identify by completing a traveler health form or be subject to a $2,000 fine. Click here for the traveler health form.

• Alcohol Sales Guidance: Executive Order 202.52 in effect starting July 17 requires all licensed establishments with on premises privileges (e.g. restaurants, taverns, manufacturers with tasting rooms, etc.) shall not serve alcoholic beverages unless such alcoholic beverage is accompanied by the purchase of a food item by each patron in a seated party.

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81 now on precautionary quarantine in Orleans

Orleans County doesn’t have any new confirmed Covid-19 cases to report today, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Orleans added 11 more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from one of 31 restricted states. Those people need to quarantine for 14 days. Orleans now has 81 people on precautionary quarantine.

Two residents from the county remain hospitalized due to Covid-19.

Genesee County is reporting one new case of Covid-19 and has now had 246 people test positive. (Orleans has had 272 test positive.)

The new case in Genesee is a Batavia resident in the 20s. The positive individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee is reporting three more recoveries for 181 total. Genesee also has 17 more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states for 111 total.

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Department

• Travel Advisory: New York is requiring travelers from the following 31 states with high coronavirus rates to self-quarantine for 14 days: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Those violating could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine and potential fines. These states may change at any time.

• Traveler Health Form: For all out-of-state travelers from NYS restricted states, whether arriving by land or air, must self-identify by completing a traveler health form or be subject to a $2,000 fine. Click here for the traveler health form.

• Alcohol Sales Guidance: Executive Order 202.52 in effect starting July 17 requires all licensed establishments with on premises privileges (e.g. restaurants, taverns, manufacturers with tasting rooms, etc.) shall not serve alcoholic beverages unless such alcoholic beverage is accompanied by the purchase of a food item by each patron in a seated party.

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Priority will be given to pre-1978 homes with children under 6, children with elevated blood-lead levels, or a pregnant female

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Live in or own a home or rental unit built before 1978? Do young children living in the home? Worried about lead paint?

Most homes built before 1978 contain old lead paint. Lead is a metal that can harm children and adults when it gets into their bodies. If paint peels, cracks, or is worn down, the chips and dust from the old lead paint can spread onto floors, windowsills, and all around your home.

Young children who lick, swallow, or breathe in dust from old lead paint can develop lead poisoning. Although lead paint is the most common form of exposure, lead can also be found in water, soil, and in some products used in and around the home, such as imported china or inexpensive jewelry.

“Exposure to lead can seriously harm a child’s health and cause damaging health effects,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health Director of Genesee and Orleans Counties. “Lead has the ability to damage to the brain and nervous system, slow growth and development, cause learning and behavior problems, and effect hearing and speech. Lead can also be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy.”

These are the maximum household income limits to qualify.

The Genesee–Orleans Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program aims to identify lead hazards within the home and provide resources where they are needed most. This is a federally-funded grant program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help qualified residents in the City of Batavia and the Village of Albion remove lead from their home for little to no cost. (Click here to see the census tracts where properties are eligible in the program. Properties must be located in one of the following census tracts: 9507, 9508, 9510, and 0407.)

Certified and trained workers may replace windows, doors, fresh paint, trim, siding, flooring, and more. Eligible properties must also be built prior to 1978, have a child under the age of 6 living in or frequently visiting the home (this includes pregnant women) or have a child with elevated blood lead levels, and be found to have lead-based paint hazards.

To complete an application, please call the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 x5555. After eligibility approval, a risk assessment of your home will be conducted to identify potential lead hazards and how they can be fixed. A certified contractor with complete the work and follow up testing will be completed to make sure your home meets the safety standards.

Property owners can also receive help through the Genesee–Orleans Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program. If your rental property has no more than four apartments and was built before 1978, you may be eligible for help in testing and correcting lead hazards.

Landlords renting to families within the City of Batavia or the Village of Albion within the income limits listed above may be eligible. (Properties must be located in one of the following census tracts: 9507, 9508, 9510, and 0407.)

Priority will be given to homes where children under the age of 6 live, as well as to those that house children who have elevated blood-lead levels, or a pregnant female.

Participating owners must also agree to maintain rents at affordable levels (please see table below). Owners are required to contribute 10% of the project cost. If necessary, the program can temporarily relocate tenants while the work is being performed.

For more information on the Genesee–Orleans Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Grant Program, please email health.GOlead@co.genesee.ny.us or call 585-344-2580 x5555.