Charts from Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported 1,659 new Covid cases in the two counties the past week. That is the second most during the nearly two-year Covid-19 pandemic, but is down from the 2,703 the previous week.

Orleans County is reporting 645 new cases from Jan. 12-18, down from 855 the previous week, and Genesee has 1,014 new cases, down from 1,848 from Jan. 5-11.

Combined, the two weeks represent 4,362 cases or 4.4 percent of the combined population of 98,731 in the two counties – 40,343 in Orleans and 58,388 in Genesee.

The G-O Health Departments also said one Orleans County resident and three from Genesee County passed away due to Covid in the past week. All four were over age 65.

“We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of these individuals and their families,” G-O Health stated. “Our deepest condolences are extended to the families and friends of these individuals.”

Genesee has now had 169 Covid-related deaths and Orleans has had 105 during the pandemic, G-O Health officials said.

Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday nine testing sites will open on SUNY and community college campuses across New York State, including close by to Orleans County at Niagara County Community College and Monroe Community College.

“Through our winter surge plan we are building on our ongoing efforts to make testing more widely available, and that includes utilizing our SUNY campus facilities that are equipped to distribute more tests to New Yorkers,” Hochul said. “Expanded access to testing will ensure those who are positive with the virus can isolate to limit spread and keep others in their communities well. Get tested and stay home if you are sick – we are not powerless.”

The site at NCCC opens on Jan. 18 and will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday through Friday at Building G, 3111 Saunders Settlement Road in Sanborn.

Appointments can be scheduled by clicking here.

The site at MCC starts on Jan. 20 and will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at Gillman Lounge, Building 3, Rm. 114, 1000 East Henrietta Road, Parking Lot N in Rochester.

Appointments can be scheduled by clicking here.

Other colleges that will start as community Covid testing sites next week include Rockland Community College, SUNY Sullivan, Alfred State, Empire State College in Saratoga Springs, Finger Lakes Community College, SUNY Ulster, and SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are committed to helping people get vaccinated, including those who are homebound and cannot easily leave their residences.

The G-O Health Departments have vaccinated 35 homebound residents in Orleans and 50 in Genesee so far. The Health Department will bring the Covid vaccine to homebound residents as staff are able to schedule giving the shots, said paul pettit, public health director for the two counties.

Homebound residents can call either Orleans and Genesee to set an appointment, and they can pick from any of the vaccines – Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson.

To be put on the homebound vaccine list, call the Health Department in Orleans at (585) 589-3278 and in Genesee at (585) 344-2580 ext. 5555.

More spread of Covid after restrictions lifted in 2021, students return to in-person school

Chart information courtesy of Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

The number of Covid cases was far more locally in 2021 than in 2020 despite Covid vaccinations that covered about 60 percent of the population in Genesee and Orleans counties.

In Orleans there were nearly four times as many cases and Genesee more than tripled the number of cases in 2021 compared to 2020, when Covid emerged and prompted then Gov. Andrew Cuomo and public health officials closed schools, restricted businesses and public gatherings.

In Orleans, the number of Covid cases increased from 1,376 in 2020 to 5,142 last year. In Genesee, the cases were up from 2,449 to 7,538.

The number of Covid-related deaths was down in Orleans from 62 in 2020 to 41 in 2021. However, in Genesee the number of Covid-related deaths was up from 29 in 2020 to 129 in 2021, according to data from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

The Covid cases have steadily been on the rise since the summer.

Genesee-Orleans health officials say the communities have yet to reach herd immunity in vaccinations. The percent of people vaccinated locally is behind the rate in the region and state.

The effectiveness of the vaccines also wanes in time, and about 30 percent of the Covid infections later after Aug. 1 were “breakthrough cases” among those vaccinated many months earlier. That has prompted public health officials to urge people to get the Covid booster shot. Those vaccinated, even several months ago, also are less likely to get seriously sick and be hospitalized than those who aren’t vaccinated, Paul Pettit, public health director in the two counties, said to local reporters on Thursday.

In 2021, things have returned somewhat to “normal” with local schools back to in-person learning every day without remote learning or a hybrid schedule. Businesses were also able to operate at full in-person capacity and community events and festivals were back.

New variants – Delta and Omicron – have also emerged and proven very contagious.

The following charts show the cases broken down per age group. Children and younger adults have accounted for most of the new cases since September.

Covid cases have been surging dramatically in the two local counties so far in 2022, following the indoor gatherings over the holidays and spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Genesee had 1,509 new cases in December, which was by far the most it had during the pandemic – until this month. The county already reported 2,118 cases during the first 10 days of January.

Orleans had 1,045 cases in November, the most during the pandemic for Orleans, and followed that with 938 in December. The county already has 1,125 in the first 10 days of January.

Photo courtesy of Scott Robinson: From left, Doctors of Pharmacy Tom Guzzino, Kate Brauen (director of pharmacy) and Faust Novello (board certified pharmacotherapy specialist) are shown at work in the pharmacy at Medina Memorial Hospital. Thursday was National Pharmaceutical Day.

MEDINA – In conjunction with National Pharmaceutical Day on Jan. 12, Orleans Community Health is recognizing pharmacists within Medina Memorial Hospital.

According to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach, this is a time to showcase the impact pharmacists have on the public’s health and wellbeing.

“Our department team truly loves the work we do,” said Kate Brauen, Doctor of Pharmacy and director of pharmacy at Orleans Community Health. “Health care is a challenging and dynamic field. Pharmacy does more than just giving out medications. We monitor, educate and recommend drug treatments. We take our jobs very seriously and try to maintain a sense of humor every day.”

The 12-person internal pharmacy team at Orleans Community Health resides throughout Western New York, and their service to the community spans decades. The current team includes individuals who have held positions at Orleans Community Health from six months to nearly 40 years, Robinson said.

“We want our patients and the community to be healthy and successful when they leave our care,” Brauen said. “Pharmacists are one of the most trusted health care providers and I want people to know they can access their pharmacist and obtain great advice very easily. During the pandemic, the pharmacy team has sought out access to various therapies for Covid, including antivirals, vaccinations and antibody therapy. We have tried to educate ourselves so we can be a source of credible information to our colleagues and the community.”

A continual goal of Orleans Community Health is to help develop individuals in their career. Brauen is a preceptor for UB and St. John Fisher College Pharmacy programs, in addition to being a preceptor for a UB/Middleport Family Health Center Pharmacy Residency Program.

The Orleans Community Health pharmacy has two outpatient pharmacists in this program who round on TCU patients twice a week. These individuals work as outpatient pharmacists and collaborate with the hospital to help provide better care in the transition home from the hospital.

In addition to Brauen, the pharmacy team at Orleans Community Health includes Tom Guzzino, doctor of pharmacy; Faust Novello, doctor of pharmacy/board certified pharmacotherapy specialist; Paul Torreano, RPH; Fran Mosher, RPH; Rich Avalos, doctor of pharmacy; John Arley Wyman, doctor of pharmacy; Casey Kern, doctor of pharmacy; and Dawn Smith, Evelyn Osborne, Kara Shamblin and Amy Schultz, pharmacy technicians.

Brauen has been employed at Orleans Community Health’s pharmacy for 20 years, Torreano for 37 years, and Smith for 23 years.

ALBION – The Covid testing at GCC’s Albion campus has added rapid tests today, with results expected in about an hour.

The state is paying BioReference Laboratories to run the testing site, which is free to the community, including people outside Orleans County. The site opened on Dec. 29 and is expected to continue for about four more weeks.

It is open at 456 West Ave. on Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

So far before today, the tests at the site have been PCR only with the results sometimes not coming back for several days.

The site offers tests by appointment, as well as walk-ins. Click here for more information about making an appointment.

Paul Pettit, the public health director for Genesee and Orleans counties, urged the community to use the site in Albion, which came from a push from local officials.

He said he is hopeful there will also be a state testing site soon in Genesee County. Genesee officials have made a formal request to the state for a testing site, Pettit said.

The state also opened a mass testing site today at Brockport State College. The Brockport community testing site is at Mortimer Hall on Holley Street. It runs until Jan. 25, Monday through Friday. It will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled online – click here.

4 simple steps: get vaccinated, take a Covid test, stay home if test positive or if feel sick

Screenshot: Paul Pettit, public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties, speaks to media during a Zoom online meeting today.

Covid cases are surging dramatically locally, following the indoor gatherings over the holidays and spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Genesee had 1,509 new cases in December, which was by far the most it had during the pandemic – until this month. The county already reported 2,118 cases during the first 10 days of January.

Orleans had 1,045 cases in November, the most during the pandemic for Orleans, and followed that with 938 in December. The county already has 1,125 in the first 10 days of January.

Paul Pettit, public health director in the two counties, spoke about the “unprecedented spike in cases” today during a monthly update with local media.

The number of cases, nearly 3,000 in the two counties in the past week, has overwhelmed the local health department, forcing staff to limit contact tracing to those 18 and younger, and senior citizens (65 and older) who are more vulnerable to the virus.

Those who aren’t contacted by the health department for case investigations and contact tracing should continue to quarantine and stay home for at least five days. If they don’t have symptoms they can go out of the house but should wear a well-fitting mask in public, Pettit said.

If symptoms persist, people should continue to isolate for 10 days, Pettit said.

Both counties have done mass Covid test kit distributions and Matt Landers, Genesee County manager, said Genesee will be doing more at a drive-through distribution and by getting the kits out to town and village halls around the county.

The local schools are seeing “recond number of abseetism” with students and staff due to the Covid spread, Pettit said.

He meets with school superintendents weekly and he joins them in being committed to keeping schools open. The increased Covid testing has identified more cases and help to isolate those with the virus.

He urged parents not to send kids to school if they are symptomatic and not feeling well.

Dan Ireland, president of the United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, said the hospital is near capacity with 86 percent of beds filled.

The hospital can still do emergency surgeries and respond to the community if there are broken bones, an appendicitis and other healthcare needs. He said 36 percent of the people currently hospitalized at UMMC have Covid. That shows the hospital is tending to other healthcare needs in the community besides Covid, Ireland said.

The “strong majority” of those in the hospital with Covid weren’t vaccinated. And none of those on ventilators with Covid took the vaccine, Ireland said.

“Those who are vaccinated are faring much better than those who aren’t,” he said.

MEDINA – For anyone who has ever considered giving blood – the time is now.

According to Orleans Community Health, for the first time in its history, the American Red Cross on Tuesday declared the current situation is a national blood crisis.

Since March 2020, the American Red Cross has reported a 10% decline in overall donations, Orleans Community Health said in a press release. If donation levels do not return to normal soon, many patients in need of transfusions will not receive them, the hospital reports.

Orleans Community Health is calling on the larger community to do its part to become a blood donor. On Feb. 4, from 2 to 6 p.m., Orleans Community Health is partnering with the Orleans County YMCA to hold a community blood drive. Appointments can be made by calling 1-800-Red-Cross or visiting www.RedCrossBlood.org.

“We have continued to host blood drives throughout the pandemic, as we want to be a space where the community is welcome to help one another, when they are able to,” said Greg Reed, executive director of the Orleans County YMCA. “Bringing the YMCA, American Red Cross and Orleans Community Health together in an effort to save lives through blood donations is what social responsibility is all about.”

“Not everyone can donate blood, said Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health. “But if you can, we’re calling on you. Let’s pull together as a community and provide this life saving service.”

Anne Kawski is the laboratory director at Orleans Community Health. She regularly highlights the need to donate blood. Every two seconds blood is needed by someone in the United States, and just one donation can save up to three lives, she said.

The following facts are shared by the American Red Cross:

• More than 4.5 million patients need blood transfusion each year in the United States and Canada.
• Roughly 43,000 pints are used in the United States and Canada each day.
• Only 37% of Americans are eligible to donate blood, and only about 10% of those actually donate.
• Anyone who has received a Covid-19 vaccine is eligible to donate. They simply need to bring the name of the manufacturer with them at the time of donation.
• Patients could be forced to pass up a lifesaving organ if compatible blood is not available at the time of the transplant.
• Donating blood saves lives.

Anyone who donates blood during the month of February will receive a $10 Amazon e-gift card.

Orleans Community Health and the Orleans County YMCA ask everyone to join them in doing their part to save lives. Those eligible are urged to donate on Feb. 4 and then create a plan to donate again.

Charts compiled by Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

Both Orleans and Genesee counties are reporting a major increase in Covid cases in the past week with nearly 3,000 in the two counties.

Orleans County has 855 new confirmed cases from Jan. 5 to Jan. 11, with 622 from lab-based tests and 233 home tests, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today.

The 855 is up from 379 the previous week, Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, and 159 the week earlier, from Dec. 22 to Dec. 28.

The 855 cases in Orleans represents 2.1 percent of the total population of 40,343. Orleans has now had 7,654 positive Covid cases since the pandemic started nearly two years ago in March 2020.

Genesee is reporting 1,848 during the week from Jan. 5 to Jan. 11 with 1,523 from lab-based tests and 325 from home tests. That’s up from 383 the previous week, Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, and from 276 on Dec. 22 to Dec. 28.

“Due to the Omicron variant, the post-holiday Covid-19 surge, the delay in case investigations, and the recent change in case investigation protocol, the Genesee and Orleans County Covid-19 data reflects a dramatic increase in our cases for this week’s report,” the G-O Health Departments stated.

The 1,848 new cases in one week represents 3.2 percent of Genesee’s total population of 58,388. Genesee has now had 12,105 confirmed cases of Covid since the pandemic started in March 2020.

Genesee also is reporting another Covid-related death of a person over 65. Genesee has had 164 Covid-related deaths during the pandemic and Orleans has had 104, but none in the past week.

The local health departments today are shifting to providing weekly Covid updates on Wednesdays, instead of twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.

A Covid testing site opens Thursday at Brockport State College. It’s one of 11 new testing sites opening at SUNY campuses around the state, joining 10 other SUNY locations.

The SUNY Brockport community testing site will be at Mortimer Hall on Holley Street. It runs for as long as it is needed, Monday through Friday. It will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled online – click here.

Each site will maintain capacity for approximately 225 appointments per day and up to 50 walk-ins.

“We are not defenseless as we fight the winter surge: vaccines, boosters and testing can help us slow the spread and protect our loved ones,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “These new SUNY sites build on our ongoing efforts to make testing more available as part of our Winter Surge Plan, and will be part of more than 2,000 locations statewide where New Yorkers can easily get tested for Covid-19. We are utilizing every possible state resource to keep New Yorkers safe and protect our fragile health care system.”

Genesee has 171 new cases, while Orleans reports 113

New York set a new pandemic high for most new Covid cases in one day on Friday with 90,132, Gov. Kathy Hochul said today.

Those cases include 113 in Orleans County and 171 in Genesee.

The 90,132 cases in one day tops the previous high of 85,476 on Dec. 31.

The percentage of positive tests reported on Friday was 21.17, and the seven-day average of positivity is 22.15 percent state-wide.

The number of patients hospitalized with Covid is 11,843, which is up 295 from the previous day.

“There is an answer to this winter surge and it’s simple: the vaccine and the booster,” Hochul said. “Our vaccination rate among children is still too low. Parents and guardians don’t delay in getting your children vaccinated and boosted, if eligible. It’s safe and widely available. This is the one of the best ways to keep our numbers down, as well as wearing a mask and staying home if sick.”

Boosters also recommended for 12-15 year olds; Nursing home visitors need negative Covid tests, surgical masks

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday announced new guidance recommending booster doses for all New Yorkers ages 12 and older.

The guidance, following action by the CDC, recommends that people, including the newly authorized 12-15 year-old age group, who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine should receive a booster dose at least five months after their second dose; the previous recommended interval was at least six months.

In addition, moderately to severely immunocompromised 5-11-year-olds can receive an additional primary dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 28 days after their second dose. At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for children ages 5-11.

Additionally, the CDC on Friday recommended the same change to a five month booster interval for the Moderna vaccine, which is only authorized for people 18 years and older.

“As we continue to battle this winter surge, I strongly recommend that all New Yorkers ages 12 and older get boosted as soon they are eligible,” Governor Hochul said. “With boosters now available for all adolescents, I especially urge parents and guardians to get their children in this age group a booster dose as soon as eligible. A booster dose will provide greater protection against severe outcomes from Covid-19 and help keep our kids healthy, protected, and safe.”

Governor Hochul additionally announced her plan to require that all covered health care workers previously required to receive a Covid-19 vaccination under the Department’s August 26th Emergency regulation must also now receive a Covid-19 booster dose within two weeks of becoming eligible, absent a valid medical exemption.

Consistent with the August 26th Emergency Regulation, there is no test-out option. Following review and approval by the Public Health and Health Planning Council at their emergency meeting on Tuesday, the emergency regulation will be filed with the Department of State (DOS). Regulations are effective upon the filing with DOS.

The Governor also announced new rules for nursing home visitations. Starting Wednesday, all visitors must wear “surgical”-type masks and must present upon entry a Covid negative test taken within 24 hours of their visit. Governor Hochul further noted that 952,000 tests and 1.2 million masks are being delivered to nursing homes late this week into next.

On Jan. 5, the CDC endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s (ACIP) recommended expansion of booster dose eligibility for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 to individuals ages 12 through 15.

CDC now recommends that all adolescents ages 12 through 17 should receive a booster dose five months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series. This followed the CDC’s updated recommendations that severely immunocompromised 5-11 year-olds receive an additional primary dose of vaccine 28 days after their second dose, and that people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine series should get a booster dose at least five month after the second dose, instead of six months.

“Booster doses are a critical tool in our continued response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and I am grateful that they are now available for all New Yorkers 12 years of age and older,” said Dr. Mary T. Bassett said, the state’s acting health commissioner. “Data show that people who are vaccinated and boosted are more protected against serious illness from Covid-19, and we continue to urge all those eligible to act now. Do what you can to stay healthy and out of the hospital by getting vaccinated and boosted and wear a mask. If you have questions, talk to your health care provider or vaccine administrator.”

Genesee, Orleans and state won’t be doing contact tracing for people 19 to 64 but will for those 18 and younger, 65 and older

The big increase in Covid cases locally is resulting in a change in the contact tracing, especially for people ages 19 to 64.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments and State Health Department won’t be doing contact tracing for people 19 to 64 in the two counties but will continue for people 18 and younger and those 65 and older.

The G-O Health Departments needs to prioritize its resources, and will focus on the younger and older age groups “due to the higher risk of spread and severity,” said Paul Pettit, public health director for the two counties.

Orleans County hit a pandemic high for active Covid cases with 561 on Thursday. The county has 75 more cases reported today by the State Health Department. Genesee County has 180 more cases today, according to state data.

The State Department of Health also announced that beginning next week changes will be implemented to case investigation and contact tracing. This guidance may change, G-O Health said this evening in a news release.

Effective Monday, Jan. 10, residents who test positive for Covid-19 or who have had close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19 will be able to visit www.GOHealthNY.org and choose the red “Covid-19 Isolation & Quarantine Information” button to be directed to the isolation and quarantine documents.

Those who have tested positive for Covid-19 will be contacted by NYS by e-mail or text. Once notified of the positive result by the lab or NYS, immediately self-isolate and notify close contacts of their potential exposure, G-O health officials said.

Those in the 19-64 age group who test positive should no longer expect to receive a call from the local health department – and a call isn’t required to the local health department.

Those people in that age group who test positive for Covid should follow the general directions from the state for isolation and quarantine, and contact their healthcare provider for medical advice.

For those in need of isolation, quarantine or release documents, they are available on the G-O Health website. Complete the form(s) and print out for employer or school.

Isolation (for those who test positive for COVID-19) G-O Health says the following apply:

• Isolate for 5 days, where day 0 is the day of symptom onset or (if asymptomatic) the day of collection of the first positive specimen.
• If asymptomatic at the end of 5 days or if symptoms are resolving, isolation ends and the individual should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional 5 days.
• Individuals who are moderately-severely immunocompromised should continue to follow standard (i.e., not shortened) Isolation Guidance.
• Individuals who are unable to wear a well-fitting mask for 5 days after a 5-day isolation should also follow standard isolation guidance (i.e., 10 days, not shortened)

Quarantine (for those who have had close contact with a person who tested positive for Covid-19), G-O Health issued these protocols:

• Quarantine as follows, where day 0 is the last date of exposure:
• If not fully vaccinated or fully vaccinated and eligible for a booster but not yet boosted, quarantine for 5 days and wear a well-fitting mask while around others for an additional 5 days.
• If fully vaccinated and boosted (with the booster at least 2 weeks before the first date of exposure) or not yet eligible for a booster, no quarantine is required but these individuals should wear a well-fitting mask while around others for 10 days after the last date of exposure.
• If possible, test at day 5 with either a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT, e.g., PCR) or antigen test.
• If symptoms appear, quarantine and seek testing. In this situation, quarantine would end when the test is negative. If testing is not done, isolate according to the guidance above.

Quarantine orders and release are also included on the GOHealthNY.org website to complete and provide to employer/school.

Given the changes announced for case investigation and contact tracing the Orleans and Genesee data collection/reporting will be adjusted.  Starting next week, GO Health will be releasing limited data on Wednesdays.

For Covid-19 data, visit the state website.

561 active cases goes past previous high of 334

Orleans County is reporting 381 new cases of Covid-19 since Monday, and has a new pandemic high for active cases – 561. That is well above the previous high of 334 on Dec. 9.

The new confirmed cases include 105 from home testing kits.

The county also has passed over 7,000 cases since the pandemic started in March 2020.

While the number of cases is way up, the number of people hospitalized due to Covid remains at six, the same as on Monday.

Orleans also is reporting 89 more recoveries of people who completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

In Genesee County the number of active cases is down from 265 on Monday to 241 today.

The county is reporting 242 new cases and 260 more recoveries. Genesee also has two more deaths from Covid, both under age 65.

Genesee’s new cases include 54 from home testing kits. The county has 22 hospitalized due to Covid, the same as on Monday.

New York State is reporting 84,202 new positive cases, which is the second highest during the pandemic. The record high is 85,476 on Dec. 31.

The state’s positivity rate over the past 7 days is 22.5 percent. In Orleans it’s 16.3 percent and in Genesee it’s at 19.9 percent.

MEDINA – Marc Shurtz, CEO of Orleans Community Health, has issued five health conscious goals which he deems achievable for 2022.

Marc Shurtz

“It’s that time of year again,” Shurtz said. “We’re all thinking about the personal goals we want to achieve over the next 12 months, and in many cases trying to become more successful than the year before. Determining how these New Year’s resolutions can be sustainable beyond January is a challenging goal, and making sure they reflect a healthy lifestyle must be a priority. Simply say you plan to lose weight by going on a diet might not be the healthiest path forward.”

The focus on the community’s collective health has never been greater, Shurtz added. The team at Orleans Community Health has put together five health conscious goals for 2022 – which are achievable.

1. Be a blood donor: A suggestion from Anne Kawski, laboratory director, is to become a blood donor. It’s no secret we’re faced with a blood shortage. To make things worse, only around 37% of Americans can donate. So for those who are in that 37%, here’s an opportunity to make a difference. Plain and simple, blood donors save lives.

2. Rethink approach to dieting: Aleigha Decker, RDN, CDN and Anna O’Keefe, RD, CDN in Clinical Dietetics suggest rethinking the annual goal of dieting. By now, we all know a diet that drastically changes one’s habits is likely not sustainable and isn’t healthy. Instead, they suggest increasing activity and trying to plan healthier meals.

3. Go to doctor for annual checkup: Nicole Helsdon, practice manager at the Albion Clinic, offers the suggestion to schedule a doctor’s visit. A yearly visit is important for many reasons, she said, and allows you to spot potential problems before they are too far along.

4. Eat more fruits and veggies: From Fredderica Fuentes, director of Nutritional Services and Clinical Dietetics, comes the suggestion to add more fresh produce to your diets. Western New York is home to a vibrant agricultural community, which includes wonderful produce. Identify local farm markets and stores that allow you to eat healthy and support local growers.

5. Get enough sleep: Leighann VanAuker, RN, MSN, ANP, FNE, director of Emergency Services and Infection Control, stresses the importance of getting some rest. There is a lot of noise around us at all times, whether it’s from the television, social media, worldly affairs, our careers or even activities in which we participate. No matter what the cause of time diminishing, it’s important to focus on getting rest and much needed sleep. Sleep deprivation can have an effect on one’s weight, immune system and cardiovascular system, among other things, VanAuker said.

“As we’re gearing up for positive things to come, it’s always important to focus on our personal well- being,” Shurtz added. “These five health-conscious goals are achievable and will help position you for a positive 2022.”