Press Release, Genesee County Health Department

BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department is seeking information about the location of a dog and its owner following a dog bite incident on the late morning of Monday, October 11 at Centennial Park in Batavia (near Lincoln Avenue).

The dog is described as a gray pit bull with white markings around its neck, front paws and left ear. The dog was approximately 55 to 60 pounds and was wearing a camo collar. The dog was not accompanied by its owner and was running loose throughout Centennial Park.

It is important to locate the dog to determine whether or not it is current on its rabies shot. If the health status is not identified, post-exposure rabies shots will be offered to the victim.

If you have information about the location of the dog and its owner, please contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments today reported 271 new Covid cases the past five days in the two counties with 150 in Genesee and 121 in Orleans.

The number of active cases in the two counties is at 461, which is up from 423 on Oct. 7 and 358 on Oct. 4.

Orleans County, however, has a slight drop in active cases, down from 217 on Oct. 7 to 212 today. Genesee is up from 206 on Oct. 7 to 249 today, according to the local health departments.

Genesee currently has 10 residents hospitalized due to Covid, while Orleans has four in the hospital from Covid.

Genesee is reporting 99 more recoveries and Orleans has 122 more. These are people who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Press Release, Genesee County Health Department

BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting the last free drive-through anti-rabies immunization clinic of 2021 on Thursday, Oct. 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds on 5056 East Main St., Batavia.

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

“Rabies is a fatal, but preventable viral disease that can spread to people from pets if they are bitten and scratched by an infected animal with rabies,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “We encourage residents to take advantage of our last anti-rabies immunization clinic of 2021 and ensure their pets are protected against rabies.”

Face coverings are recommended and please follow all social distancing requirements. To save time, click here to fill out a registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

For more information, please contact the Genesee County Health Department: 585-344-2580 x.5555 or Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us.

Orleans goes over 4,000 cases during pandemic since last March 2020

The number of active Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties has topped 400. The two counties are at 423 today, with 206 in Genesee and 217 in Orleans.

Both are nearing their pandemic highs for active cases. Genesee hit a high with 269 on Dec. 7, 2020. Orleans peaked at 279 on Jan. 7, 2021.

The 423 cases in the two counties is up from 358 on Monday when there were 186 in Genesee and 172 in Orleans.

Orleans is reporting 97 more cases since Monday, while Genesee has 92 more, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

The latest update since Monday puts Orleans past 4,000 cases during the Covid pandemic since March 2020.

The number of people hospitalized due to Covid in Orleans is up from 1 to 6 since Monday, while Genesee’s Covid hospitalizations are down from 11 to 9 since Monday.

Orleans also is reported 52 more recoveries and Genesee has 72 more since Monday. These are people who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Hochul says those staff need to have vaccine by Nov. 1

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the plan to expand the healthcare worker vaccine mandate to include employees who work in certain facilities offering health care to individuals served by the Office of Mental Health and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

Under the new directive, staff who work in settings that treat some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers will be required to show proof of at least the first shot of a Covid-19 vaccine series by Nov. 1, without a test-out option. Ahead of that requirement, staff in these settings will be required to submit to weekly testing, if unvaccinated, beginning Oct. 12.

“Vaccine requirements work in getting people to do the right thing, and all professionals in health settings must take every basic precaution against Covid-19, including the vaccine, so they do not spread the virus to the people coming in for treatment,” Hochul said. “We have an obligation to extend this assurance to those who need to receive mental health services and special care, which is why we are making the vaccine mandatory for all staff who work in these facilities that fall under State jurisdiction.”

The vaccine requirement that went into effect on Sept. 27 applied only to covered personnel at facilities regulated by the Department of Health, including all hospitals and nursing homes. On Oct. 7, the vaccine requirement will take effect for covered personnel at additional facilities regulated by the Department of Health, including adult care facilities, home health agencies, long term home health care programs, AIDS home care programs, hospice care, and diagnostic and treatment centers.

This new requirement, established within OMH and OPWDD agency regulations, will apply to all individuals working at the psychiatric hospitals in the OMH network, as well as those working at the specialty hospital certified by OPWDD.

Governor Hochul plans to continue expanding the vaccine requirement into the human service and mental hygiene care settings in the coming weeks, while also taking necessary steps to ensure staffing levels continue to be appropriate across those service systems.

“Many of the people OMH serves have underlying medical conditions that make them far more vulnerable to the Covid-19 virus,” said OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan. “The vaccine has proven to be safe and effective and will protect our patients and employees as well as our families and communities. I urge everyone to get the vaccine and I applaud Governor Hochul for extending the mandate.”

There have been 152 new Covid cases in Genesee and 84 in Orleans since Thursday, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Genesee currently has 11 people hospitalized due to Covid while Orleans has one person in the hospital from Covid.

There are also 70 more recoveries and 77 in Orleans. These are previous positive individuals who completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

G-O Health reported today there are currently 358 active Covid cases in the two counties (186 in Genesee and 172 in Orleans). That is up from 352 on Thursday when there were 192 cases in Orleans and 160 in Genesee. A week ago there were 339 active cases in the two counties, with 191 in Genesee and 148 in Orleans.

The positivity rate in Orleans is 8.4 percent over the past 7 days and in Genesee it is 6.6 percent over the past week, according to the state’s Forward NY website. Over the past 14 days, the positivity rate in Orleans is 8.6 percent and in Genesee its 6.9 percent, according to the state.

2 counties pass 10,000 cases during pandemic since March 2020

Genesee and Orleans counties are reporting 397 new Covid cases during the week from Sept. 23 to Sept. 30, according to local health department data.

The number of active cases in the two counties also continues to climb and was up to 352 on Thursday, compared to 339 on Monday and 295 a week before.

In the latest update, from Monday to Thursday, Orleans is reporting 101 new cases and Genesee has 99 more. Orleans is reporting 77 more recoveries or people who completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation. Genesee is reporting 58 more recoveries.

In the seven days going back to Sept. 23, Orleans has 197 new cases and Genesee 200.

There are currently 10 people hospitalized due to Covid in Genesee and 1 in Orleans, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

The two counties crossed a milestone with over 10,000 Covid cases since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020.

There are 10,075 Covid cases out of a combined population of 98,731 in the two counties. In Orleans, there have 3,884 cases out of 40,343 residents or 9.6 percent of the population. In Genesee, there been 6,191 cases out of 58,388 people or 10.6 percent of the population.

In Orleans County, 89 percent of hospital workers have been vaccinated against Covid, and that tops the state-wide rate of 87 percent, according to data from the state.

Some of other rates in nearby counties include: Genesee, 89%; Monroe, 91%; Niagara, 86%; Erie, 87%; Chautauqua, 93%; Allegany, 82%; Cattaraugus, 75%; Livingston, 79% and Wyoming, 90%.

The state-wide vaccination mandate for hospital and healthcare workers went into effect on Monday. Governor Kathy Hochul today said no health care facilities in the state closed because of the mandate and many workers got vaccinated just before the deadline of the mandate.

“Our greatest responsibility is to protect our most vulnerable, and ensuring that the health care workers who care for our loved ones are vaccinated is critical to keeping New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “I am grateful to the facilities, unions, and health care workers who took important steps to prepare and protect New Yorkers, and we are working with facilities to ensure they remain operational. We will continue to monitor developments and work with stakeholders to troubleshoot any issues, and I stand ready to take additional action as needed.”

Since Hochul became governor on Aug. 24, vaccination rates among health care workers increased.

Hochul’s office released the following data:

• The percentage of nursing home staff receiving at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose increased to 92% as of Monday evening, up from 71% on Aug. 24 and 82% on Sept. 20.
• The percentage of adult care facilities staff receiving at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose increased to 89% as of Monday evening, up from 77% on Aug. 24 and 85% on Sept. 20.
• The percentage of hospital staff receiving at least one dose is 92% as of Monday evening based on preliminary self-reported data. The percentage of fully vaccinated is 85% as of Monday evening, up from 84% on Sept. 22 and 77% on Aug. 24.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that certain populations receive a booster shot of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at least six months after the completion of their Pfizer vaccine primary series (two doses).

In addition, the CDC recommends that individuals that are in high-risk occupational and institutional settings should also receive a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine.

Based on these recommendations, the following groups should receive a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer vaccine primary series:

• People 65 years and older
• Residents in long-term care settings
• People aged 50 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions

The following groups may consider receiving a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer vaccine primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks:

• People aged 18 to 49 who are at high risk for severe Covid-19 due to certain underlying medical conditions
• People aged 18 to 64 who are at increased risk for Covid-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting

Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are promoting booster shots to those that are eligible beginning the week of October 4th.

“We are prepared to provide booster shots to eligible residents who received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine six months ago, stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective and this will help provide these individuals with the extra protection needed against Covid-19.”

Appointments are required for booster shots. Individuals will self-attest that they fall under one of the above categories to receive a booster shot. At this time, boosters are only recommended for those who have received the Pfizer vaccine for their primary series. The CDC is continuing to evaluate the data to make recommendations for those that received Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for their primary vaccine series.

GENESEE – Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 12:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Genesee County Health Dept., 3837 W Main Street Rd. Batavia, NY 14020

Pfizer Booster: Appointment required (click here)

J&J: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

Moderna: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

Pfizer: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

ORLEANS – Thursday, Oct. 7, from 12:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Orleans County Health Dept., 14016 State Route 31, Suite 101 in Albion, NY 14411

Pfizer Booster: Appointment required (click here)

J&J: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

Moderna: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

Pfizer: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

“We also encourage anyone who has still not received their primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine, to do so and to talk with their primary care provider with questions related to the vaccine,” stated Pettit. “Everyone should also continue to practice the public health prevention precautions detailed below.”

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• If water is not readily available, use hand sanitizer, containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Wash and sanitize frequently shared/touched items.
• Stay 6 feet away from others and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Wear a face mask indoors in public and crowded outdoor settings.
• Monitor your health daily and stay home if you are experiencing any symptoms.
• Get tested if you are experiencing symptoms and self-isolate until you get your results back. If you test positive for Covid, you are to isolate for 10 days.

For more information on the Covid-19 vaccine, booster shots or to make an appointment, click here.

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

Dr. Mary Obear serves as chief clinical officer for OOH.

BROCKPORT – We are pleased to announce that Oak Orchard Health has been recertified through the New York State Patient-Centered Medical Home (NYS PCMH) program.

What does that mean? Once again, OOH has met the criteria of this program and the benefits to its patients are priceless – better health, lower costs, and better patient experiences.

The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a model of care that puts patients as the primary focus of care. PCMHs build better relationships between people and their clinical care teams. Research shows that they improve quality, patient experience, and staff satisfaction while reducing health care costs.

“Our patients not only have a primary care provider, but also a team of caregivers such as our patient engagement team that addresses housing, food, language barriers and so much more. You can’t get a patient healthy if they have transportation issues and struggle to get their prescriptions. We help solve those problems too,” said Chief Clinical Officer, Mary Obear, MD, PhD.

During the pandemic, we’ve adapted our practices to be sure our patients received the care they needed. One example is telehealth technology which allows us to communicate with patients who want to “see” their providers. This has been particularly helpful with behavioral health and improved our communication with patients who were facing stressful situations.

“Oak Orchard Health has been a certified Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) since 2012. Our certification as a PCMH by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) means our patients can count on high-quality health care delivered with an emphasis on care coordination and communication,” said Mary Ann Pettibon, CEO, Oak Orchard Health.

OOH currently serves over 26,000 patients at eleven locations. The organization is a recognized patient-centered medical home and 501(c) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center located in the towns of Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Lyndonville, Hornell and Warsaw.

2 counties report nearly 200 new cases since Thursday

Genesee and Orleans counties today are reporting nearly 200 new cases of Covid-19 since the last update on Thursday afternoon. The new cases include 94 in Orleans and 103 in Genesee.

The number of active cases in the two counties is at 339 today, which is up from 295 on Thursday and 257 a week ago.

The 94 new positive cases in Orleans include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 90s, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

There are currently 3 Orleans County residents hospitalized due to Covid.

The county also has had 81 more recoveries or previous positive individuals who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

In Genesee, the 103 new positive cases include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Genesee currently has 13 residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Genesee is reporting 125 more of the positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Genesee has passed 6,000 Covid cases during the pandemic since March 2020. The two counties are nearing 10,000 cases during the pandemic – 6,092 in Genesee and 3,783 in Orleans.

2 counties near 300 active cases; Genesee reports another Covid death

Genesee and Orleans counties have 159 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 since Monday, with 84 in Orleans and 75 in Genesee.

The two counties now have 295 active cases of Covid with 160 in Genesee and 135 in Orleans. That is up from 257 on Monday when there were 144 active cases in Genesee and 113 in Orleans.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments updates the cases twice a week on Monday and Thursday afternoons. The number of active cases recently includes 295 today, 257 on Monday, 204 on Sept. 16 (119 in Orleans and 85 in Genesee), 183 on Sept. 13 (97 in Orleans and 86 in Genesee) and 144 on Sept. 9 (77 in Orleans and 67 in Genesee).

In Orleans County, the 84 new cases since Monday  include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

There are currently six Orleans residents hospitalized due to Covid.

The county is reporting 31 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

In Genesee County the 75 new positive cases are people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

There are currently 13 Genesee residents who are hospitalized due to Covid.

The county has 61 more of the previous positive individuals who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Genesee also had had one more person pass away due to Covid, a person under age 65 who didn’t live in a nursing home.

“We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families,” according to a statement from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Our deepest condolences are extended to the families and friends during this difficult time.”

Genesee has now had 131 Covid-related deaths during the pandemic and Orleans has had 84.

157 new cases reported since Thursday in Genesee, Orleans

Six residents in Genesee County have suffered Covid-related deaths in the past two weeks, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today.

Those deaths were all among people 65 and older.

“The local health departments are not always notified in real time of Covid-related deaths and can only report when shared by family members and other reporting sources,” the G=O Health Departments said in an update on their website. “Our deepest condolences are extended to the families and friends of these individuals during this very difficult time.”

The New York State Department of Health updates the fatality data as the state DOH receives it. The state currently shows 127 deaths in Genesee County due to Covid during the pandemic since March 2020, and 84 deaths in Orleans.

“There may be discrepancies with the count as the State compiles the data from death certificates and coroners’ reports,” G-O Health officials said.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments updated the new Covid cases since Thursday and that includes 157 in the two counties.

Genesee has 86 new cases and those individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. Genesee currently has 12 residents hospitalized.

Genesee is reporting 19 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

The number of active cases in the county is at 144 today, up from 85 on Sept. 16 and 86 on Sept. 13.

Orleans County is reporting 71 new cases since Thursday, and 75 recoveries of people who have completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

The new cases include individuals who are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

There is currently one Orleans County resident hospitalized due to Covid.

The number of active cases in Orleans is at 113 today, compared to 119 on Sept. 16 and 97 on Sept. 13.

The number of active Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties is over 200 for the first time since April 28, according to data from the two counties.

The number of active cases is at 204 today, with 119 in Orleans and 84 in Genesee. That is up from 183 on Monday (97 in Orleans and 86 in Genesee). A week ago there were 144 cases in the two counties with 77 in Orleans and 67 in Genesee.

Orleans County is reporting 44 new active cases since Monday, and the new cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s  and 60s.

Orleans currently has four residents who are hospitalized due to Covid.

The county is reporting 21 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Genesee County is reporting 46 new positive cases since Monday, and those cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Genesee has 14 residents hospitalized due to Covid, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Genesee has 40 more of the previous positive individuals who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Governor also announces masks must be worn at state-certified substance abuse and mental health facilities

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a series of universal mask requirements designed to protect New Yorkers against the highly contagious Delta variant and the recent surge in Covid-19 infections statewide.

The requirement applies to New York State Office of Children and Family Services-licensed and -registered child care centers, home-based group family and family child care programs, after-school child care programs and enrolled legally exempt group programs during operational hours.

Implementing the mask regulation in child care programs will provide consistency between child care program children and school children, many of whom often share the same buildings.

New masking requirements will also apply to congregate programs and facilities licensed, registered, operated, certified or approved by the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

This includes but is not limited to certified residential and day programs, inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, substance abuse programs, juvenile detention programs, juvenile residential facilities, congregate foster care programs, runaway and homeless youth, domestic violence and other shelter programs. These requirements apply to anyone medically able to tolerate wearing a mask, regardless of vaccination status.

“With the Delta variant on the rise, requiring masks at state-regulated child care, mental health, and substance abuse facilities is a key part of our broader strategy for slowing the spread of the virus, reopening our economy safely, and protecting vulnerable members of our population,” Governor Hochul said. “For children under 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, masks are the best line of defense against Covid-19 infection. This new mask requirement ensures that children in our child care facilities receive the same protection as children in our schools.”

The new mask requirement in child care facilities brings New York State into compliance with federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance issued in July that recommends universal indoor masking for anyone age two and older who has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and is medically able to wear a mask. It also brings child care facilities in alignment with school masking requirements announced on Governor Hochul’s first day in office.

Because the Delta variant is so highly transmissible, there have been large increases in cases across all age groups. Because children under 12 years of age are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, there have been large increases in cases among children, which translates to higher numbers of severe cases. Additional protective measures will help to keep New York’s children safe at this important time.

OCFS Commissioner Sheila J. Poole said, “We have heard from many parents and residents of congregate settings asking that the state require masking because child care and congregate residential programs will not require that protection without a state requirement. We want to keep all children and staff in child care programs, as well as staff and residents of congregate residential programs, safe from the spread of infection and wearing a mask is the best tool we have. Children want to be like the adults around them and will easily adapt to the mask wearing requirement.”