By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 May 2020 at 4:11 pm
There are two more deaths due to Covid-19 at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion, bringing the total deaths at the nursing home in Albion to 26, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.
Orleans County has now suffered 31 deaths from Covid-19 with four at the Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina and one from another community member.
The Health Department also is reporting two more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the county, bringing the total confirmed cases to 202 in the county. The two new cases were contracted by community members.
Genesee County also has one new case, bringing the Genesee total to 180 cases.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 May 2020 at 4:19 pm
Health Department reports another resident of The Villages dies from Covid-19
Orleans County has six more confirmed cases of Covid-19, which brings the county’s total to 200, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
The six new cases in Orleans include one community member and five residents of the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina. Orchard now has 30 confirmed cases.
The Health Department also is reporting the death of a resident at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion. That nursing home has now suffered 24 deaths due to Covid-19. The local health department said that the New York State Department of Health did swab all residents and employees of The Villages to test if they are positive for Covid-19.
Orleans County now has 29 total deaths from Covid-19.
Of the county’s 200 Covid-19 cases, 117 of them are residents of either The Villages (87 cases) or Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
Genesee County also has one more confirmed case of Covid-19, bringing the Genesee total to 179. The new case is a community member and not a resident of a facility.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The American flag is lowered at Brunner International Inc. in Medina out if respect for victims of the Covid-19 pandemic. The total confirmed deaths in the state is now at 23,349 due to Covid-19.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 May 2020 at 1:15 pm
The weekly number of deaths in New York State from Covid-19 continued to decline last week, dropping from 1,107 deaths the week of May 10-16 to 730 this past week. That represents a 34 percent decrease.
The weekly number of deaths have continued to decline since a peak of 5,226 deaths the week of April 5-11.
The state has begun to reopen the economy in most regions of the state. Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes Region and phase 2 should reopen on Friday, as long as hospitalizations and infections don’t spike.
The state on Friday reopened beaches to 50 percent capacity (determined by parking spaces at the parks) and on Monday will reopen campgrounds and RV parks.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced today that veterinarians can reopen statewide on Tuesday and NY professional sports leagues can begin spring training.
The 730 deaths last week is an average of 104 a day. That compares to the daily average of 158 the previous week.
Week of May 17-23: (730 deaths)
• May 17, 106; May 18, 105; May 19, 112; May 20; 105; May 21, 109; May 22, 84; and May 23, 109.
Week of May 10-16: (1,107 deaths)
• May 10, 161; May 11, 195; May 12, 166; May 13; 157; May 14, 132; May 15, 157; and May 16, 139.
Week of May 3-9: (1,568 deaths)
• May 3, 226; May 4, 230; May 5, 232; May 6, 231: May 7, 216; May 8, 226; May 9, 207.
Week of April 26-May 2: (2,176 deaths)
• April 26, 337; April 27, 335; April 28, 330; April 29, 306; April 30, 289; May 1, 299; May 2, 280.
Week of April 19-25: (3,097 deaths)
• April 19, 478; April 20, 481; April 21, 474; April 22, 438; April 23, 422; April 24, 437; April 25, 367.
Week of April 12-18: (4,484 deaths)
• April 12 (Easter), 671; April 13, 778; April 14, 752; April 15, 606; April 16, 630; April 17, 540; April 18, 507.
Week of April 5-11: (5,226 deaths)
• April 5, 599; April 6, 731; April 7, 779; April 8, 799; April 9, 777; April 10, 783; April 11, 758.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 May 2020 at 5:01 pm
There are no new confirmed cases of Covid-19 to report today in Orleans and Genesee counties, the local health department reported this afternoon.
That follows a day when there were 23 new cases in Orleans, including 22 at Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.
Orleans County has had 194 test positive for the virus, while Genesee has had 178.
The health department reminds people to wear masks or facial coverings when they are in public and when social distancing isn’t possible. People should also wash their hands frequently and shouldn’t have social gatherings of more than 10 people.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 May 2020 at 6:46 pm
Orleans County is reporting is worst day yet of the Covid-19 pandemic with 23 new confirmed cases and five deaths from the coronavirus.
The 23 new cases bring the county’s total cases to 194. That is more than neighboring Genesee County, which didn’t have any new confirmed cases today and remains at 178.
Genesee is more populous than Orleans, 57,280 residents compared to 40,352, according to the 2019 Census.
In Orleans, the majority of the cases are at nursing homes – 112 out of 194. Today’s report from the health department shows 22 new cases at Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina. That 160-bed nursing home now has had 25 confirmed cases. The health department is also reporting four residents at Orchard have died from Covid-19.
The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion doesn’t have any new confirmed cases and remains at 87. However, one resident passed away from the virus, bringing the total deaths at The Villages to 23 from Covid-19.
In Genesee County, none of the nursing homes have any confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Paul Pettit, the public health director in Orleans and Genesee, said he expects the nursing home numbers will continue to rise because of a state mandate require testing of all residents, and twice-w-week testing of nursing home staff.
That testing will allow the nursing home operators to more quickly identify residents with the virus, and move them away from non-positive residents.
The health department provided additional information on the 23 new confirmed cases. One is a Ridgeway resident and the others live at Orchard Rehab and Nursing Center.
Of the new positive cases, one individual is in the 20s, three are in their 50s, three are in their 60s, six are in their 70s, seven are in their 80s and three are in their 90s.
The health department is also reporting two more recoveries from Covid-19 in Orleans County, bringing the total to 59. Genesee has three more recoveries for 112 total.
In Orleans, 15 of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.
Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
The facility breakdown is only showing the total positive cases from those facilities from where the health department has been notified of a positive swab for Covid-19. Facilities will be added if there is a positive case of Covid-19.
Because the local health departments don’t follow the positive cases for facilities, we cannot report any recoveries from the facilities. If a regulated facility from either of the counties is not listed, there are no positive cases of Covid-19. The local health departments do not have oversight with many regulated facilities, which may include nursing homes, correctional facilities, hospitals, etc.
More information from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• Memorial Day Weekend: As we move into the Memorial Day weekend, we would like to take a moment to remember those who fought for our freedom and have given the ultimate sacrifice, their lives.
We appreciate each of these individuals and their families who gave so much for this great nation. Even though there aren’t any public gatherings or parades, it doesn’t stop you from visiting cemeteries and monuments or have your own household time to remember our service men and women as long as you continue to social distance.
This is also the unofficial beginning of summer and we encourage people to be creative on how they can safely enjoy the great weather without putting others at risk of contracting Covid-19. Consider planting a victory garden of flowers, fruits and vegetables, go for daily hikes while social distancing, and/or start up some new hobbies.
Take time to step back and enjoy the slower pace we have found ourselves in during this pandemic. Remember to journal about how you and your family made it through these historic times. We are one day closer to making this a memory, remember this is only temporary. We can get through this together, without being so close.
• Social gatherings: According to the Governor’s Executive Orders we are still unable to have any gatherings over 10 for any reason.
For questions go to NY Forward website and the Regional Control Room (for guidance and to answer your questions: mailto:flnyf@esd.ny.gov). To file a complaint about a business, location or incident in your community you can call 1-833-789-0470 or click here.
Un-PAUSING does NOT mean we can start having social events, even outside. The Governor’s Executive Order still bans gatherings of any kind, in any location, to no more than 10 people.
• No yard/garage sales: Currently state guidelines are restricting these activities. The virus can be on items for several hours/days depending on the surface and can cause infection. People are touching the items to examine them, so it can put others at risk.
• The more socialization that occurs the higher risk of transmitting the virus, especially to those who are most vulnerable. It is imperative we still restrict social/family gatherings until we are certain to have this under control and/or there is a vaccine.
• It is expected we will see an uptick of positive cases and mandatory quarantines as social interaction increases.
• If cases increase, it shows us people may be ignoring the orders to not have gatherings of 10 or more people, not social distancing, not hand washing/sanitizing, disinfecting shared surfaces often, and/or not wearing face coverings properly.
This can also impact our ability to continue the re-opening phases. We ask that you respect the guidance and continue to social distance.
• New York State on PAUSE: NYS on PAUSE will continue until at least May 28, regarding large and social gatherings. To assist local authorities with enforcement of these orders, the Governor established the New York State PAUSE Enforcement Assistance Task Force where individuals can file complaints regarding the operation of non-essential businesses or gatherings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Click here to file a complaint online. You may also call 1-833-789-0470.
Businesses that are not in compliance with the Governor’s executive order may be penalized.
• Masks/Face Coverings: Both counties are still low in supplies of masks. They are being distributed to high-risk agencies/businesses as prioritized and if there is a supply left over they will be distributed in an appropriate manner. County plans for releasing supplies to the public will be forthcoming as supplies become available. Additional information will be released by the respective County Emergency Management offices as appropriate.
• ROC Covid-19 Health Screener: This symptom tracker for the Greater Rochester region is a scientific study collected aggregate data by zip code to track hot spots of Covid-19. The data will potentially show how the virus may be spreading, identify areas that may be at risk and determine how our efforts are working to slow the spread. You can participate by taking the daily survey whether you are having symptoms or are feeling healthy. It just takes a few seconds. To learn more, click here.
• Contact Tracers: New York State is seeking contact tracers. If you are interested in this position, click here to apply to be a part of the NYS Contact Tracing team. This is a moment of crisis and New York needs our help as soon as possible.
• The Nursing Home hotline number is 833-249-8499 or click here for the link to the online form.
MEDINA – Lab services at Medina Memoiral Hospital will re-open by appointment only on Tuesday, May 26.
The appointments will be spaced out accordingly to ensure the safety of our patients and to minimize wait times. Temperatures will be taken upon arrival and a mask will be given to each client.
Preregistration is required: please call 585-798-2000 and select option #1.
The Albion Health Center Lab also remains open for services by appointment (585-589-2273) and the Middleport Lab will be opening soon.
If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Doran, director of Patient Registration, at 585-798-8094.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 May 2020 at 4:25 pm
There are no new cases of Covid-19 reported in Orleans County today, and one more person has recovered for the coronavirus, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said this afternoon.
Orleans remains at 171 confirmed cases, and now has had 57 people from the community recover from the virus. There are 17 people from the county hospitalized from the virus.
In Genesee County there is one new confirmed case, a person in the 40s from Le Roy. Genesee has now had 178 confirmed cases of Covid-19. The newly positive individual from Genesee was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
In Genesee, two people are currently hospitalized with Covid-19.
More information from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• Un-PAUSING does not mean we can start having social events, even outside. The Governor’s Executive Order still bans gatherings of any kind, in any location, to no more than 10 people.
The more socialization that occurs the higher risk of transmitting the virus, especially to those who are most vulnerable. It is imperative we still restrict social/family gatherings until we are certain to have this under control and/or there is a vaccine.
It is expected we will see an uptick of positive cases and mandatory quarantines as social interaction increases.
If cases increase, it shows us people may be ignoring the orders to not have gatherings of 10 or more people, not social distancing, not hand washing/sanitizing, disinfecting shared surfaces often, and/or not wearing face coverings properly.
This can also impact our ability to continue the re-opening phases. We ask that you respect the guidance and continue to social distance.
• No yard/garage sales: Currently state guidelines are restricting these activities. The virus can be on items for several hours/days depending on the surface and can cause infection. People are touching the items to examine them, so it can put others at risk.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 May 2020 at 3:07 pm
New York wants the public’s help in picking the winning ad that promotes wearing a mask when people are out in the community.
There were about 600 submissions for the ad contest, which has been narrowed to five finalists. Click here to see the finalists and to vote for one.
The state put out a call for ads that communicate why it is so important to wear a mask to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The winning ad will be used as a public service announcement. Voting closes May 25 with the winners to be announced May 26.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s daughter, Mariah Kennedy Cuomo, headed up the contest.
“We are so grateful to all the New Yorkers who have submitted one of the over 600 submissions,” she said.
Her father, the governor, said masks have proven to be effective in slowing the spread of the virus. He noted that frontline workers in hospitals, public transportation, EMS, law enforcement and corrections all have a lower rate of infection than the general public.
“How do nurses and doctors have a lower infection rate than the general population? How do transit workers who are on the buses and subways all day long have a lower infection rate than the general population? How does the NYPD, police officers who show up who are dealing with people all day long, how do they have a lower infection rate? How does the NYPD have almost half the infection rate of New York City? How can it be? They are the police officers,” Cuomo said.
“They are wearing the mask. The mask works. Those surgical masks work and it’s in the data. It’s not that I’m saying it. It’s in the data and it is otherwise inexplicable.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2020 at 4:23 pm
Orleans County has two new confirmed cases of Covid-19. One of the new positive cases is in the 30s, and the other in the 40s. One of the new cases lives in Ridgeway and the other resides in Gaines.
Neither of the newly positive individuals were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic. They bring the total confirmed cases in the county to 171.
The county also has four more recoveries. That brings the total to 56 who have recovered after having Covid-19, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.
There are 17 residents from Orleans County who are currently hospitalized with Covid-19.
In Genesee County, there are four new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 177 confirmed cases.
The positive cases reside in Batavia and LeRoy. One individual is in the 30s, another in the 40s, one in the 50s and one in the 80s.
Two of the newly positive individuals were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic, the health department reported.
Genesee also has had two more people recover from Covid-19, bringing the total recoveries to 108.
Two of the total active positive cases are people who are hospitalized.
Click here to view an online map of the confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments also advised the following:
• Memorial Day Holiday/Social gatherings: For questions go to NY Forward website and the Regional Control Room (for guidance and to answer your questions: mailto:flnyf@esd.ny.gov). To file a complaint about a business, location or incident in your community, call 1-833-789-0470 or click here.
• Un-PAUSING does NOT mean we can start having social events, even outside. The Governor’s The Executive Order still bans gatherings of any kind, in any location, to no more than 10 people.
• No yard/garage sales: Currently state guidelines are restricting these activities. The virus can be on items for several hours/days depending on the surface and can cause infection. People are touching the items to examine them, so it can put others at risk.
The more socialization that occurs the higher risk of transmitting the virus, especially to those who are most vulnerable. It is imperative we still restrict social/family gatherings until we are certain to have this under control and/or there is a vaccine.
• It is expected we will see an uptick of positive cases and mandatory quarantines as social interaction increases.
If cases increase, it shows us people may be ignoring the orders to not have gatherings of 10 or more people, not social distancing, not hand washing/sanitizing, disinfecting shared surfaces often, and/or not wearing face coverings properly.
This can also impact our ability to continue the re-opening phases. We ask that you respect the guidance and continue to social distance.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2020 at 4:25 pm
There are two more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County, with both new cases at the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina. That nursing home now has three cases of Covid-19, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting.
The two who tested positive include one resident in the 60s and one in the 70s.
The county has now had 169 residents test positive for the coronavirus. The health department is reporting one more person has recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 52.
There are 17 residents who are currently hospitalized with Covid-19.
Genesee County also has one new case of Covid-19, bringing Genesee’s total to 173. The new case is a resident from Batavia in the 70s. The newly positive individual was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic, the health department said.
Genesee also has two more recoveries, bringing that total to 106. One Genesee resident remains hospitalized with Covid-19.
Click here to view the online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. The map shows 21 active cases in Orleans, 12 in Genesee and 8 in Wyoming.
More information from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
The facility breakdown is only showing the total positive cases from those facilities from where we received a positive swab for Covid-19. Facilities will be added if there is a positive case of Covid-19.
Because the local health departments don’t follow the positive cases for facilities, we cannot report any recoveries from the facilities with positive cases of Covid-19. If a regulated facility from either of the counties is not listed, there are no positive cases of Covid-19. The local health departments do not have oversight with many regulated facilities, which may include nursing homes, correctional facilities, hospitals, etc.
• Social gatherings: We have plenty of guidance and criteria for businesses to safely open and encourage everyone to visit the ESD website, NY Forward and the Regional Control Room for guidance and to answer your questions.
• Un-PAUSING does NOT mean we can start having social events, even outside. The Executive Order bans gatherings of any kind, in any location, to no more than 10 people.
The more socialization that occurs the higher risk of transmitting the virus, especially to those who are most vulnerable. It is imperative we still restrict social/family gatherings until we are certain to have this under control and/or there is a vaccine.
It is expected we will see an uptick of positive cases and mandatory quarantines as social interaction increases.
If cases increase, it shows us people may be ignoring the orders to not have gatherings of 10 or more people, not social distancing, not hand washing/sanitizing, disinfecting shared surfaces often, and/or not wearing face coverings properly.
This can also impact our ability to continue the re-opening phases. We ask that you respect the guidance and continue to social distance.
