Delta variant breaks through but few of those people get seriously sick if they are vaccinated

ALBION – Covid-19 cases are on the rise locally, and about 25 percent of those new cases are among people who are vaccinated, said Paul Pettit, the public health director in Genesee and Orleans.

So far in August there have been 452 new Covid cases in the two counties and 112 were among people who were fully vaccinated or 24.8 percent of the total. That includes 17.1 percent of the cases in Orleans so far August – 34 out of 171 – and 30.8 percent in Genesee – 78 out of 253, Pettit said in a news briefing this afternoon.

The vaccines are working, however, because Pettit said few of the vaccinated people who get Covid show serious symptoms. Most are asymptomatic or have minor symptoms.

“It is keeping people out of the hospital,” he said about the vaccine.

He continues to encourage eligible people to get vaccinated if they haven’t already.

The latest Covid surge, after there were few cases in early summer, include people of all ages, including children, Pettit said.

“We do know the Delta variant is likely the cause of it,” Pettit said about the current Covid surge. “We know that it is here.”

Genesee currently has 77 active cases and 15 of those are hospitalized. In Orleans, there are 64 actives cases and two are in the hospital due to Covid.

In the past seven days, Genesee has 114 new cases and a 5.8 percent positivity rate, while Orleans has 55 new Covid cases and a positive test rate of 5.3 percent, Pettit. Those positivity rate are above the state and regional averages.

Pettit said the two counties are lagging behind the regional and state averages for vaccinations. The Health Department continues to make reaching the eligible unvaccinated (those 12 and older) to get the shot, while also preparing to offer booster shots beginning on Sept. 20.

“Our focus truly remains on the unvaccinated,” Pettit said. “We can’t stress enough to get more people vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

The Health Department this week is holding get-back-to-school vaccination clinics, including one on Thursday at Albion Central School. Click here for more information.

Pettit also addressed the mandate from Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Department of Health, requiring students, teachers, staff and visitors inside schools to wear masks. Pettit said the decision frustrated many local school districts that had already developed safety reopening plans.

Pettit said the local districts are committed to have all students back for in-person learning with as few disruptions as possible this school year. The mask mandate has an added benefit of reducing the need to quarantine students if they have been in close contact with another person in school who tests positive for the virus.

“The quarantines were very disruptive to students’ learning,” Pettit said.

NY will require weekly testing for unvaccinated school staff

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul delivers a Covid-19 briefing at the University at Buffalo today. (Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

BUFFALO – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new measures to combat the Covid-19 Delta variant.

Speaking at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine, the Governor announced she will be working with localities, the state health department and the Public Health and Health Planning Council in the days ahead to put in place mandatory weekly Covid-19 testing for unvaccinated public and charter school employees, and to establish a vaccination requirement for all staff at state-regulated facilities and congregate settings.

The governor announced $65 million will be available to local health departments across the state to support the quick and reliable distribution of booster shots.

“Last year every community across the state came together in a profound way to say, ‘we can do this’,” Governor Hochul said. “This war is not over and the Delta variant is a serious threat, especially for people who are still unvaccinated. We all need to remain vigilant to protect each other – and that means coming in to get your shot and booster shot, wearing masks in indoor spaces, and exercising basic safety measures that we are all familiar with by now.”

Getting children back to school where they can learn most effectively and protecting the students, teachers and staff are top priorities for Governor Hochul. Building on the state department of health’s directive requiring universal masking for anyone entering schools, the governor will be working with localities, the department of health and the Public Health and Health Planning Council in the days ahead to implement a mandatory weekly Covid testing for school staff who are not vaccinated.

Following the department of health’s announcement last week that all staff in health care facilities need to be vaccinated, the state is exploring how to expand this requirement to include staff at all state-regulated facilities.

Local health departments will be supporting the distribution of booster shots in New York, enabling them to use their knowledge and workforce to quickly deliver booster shots to their communities. The governor is making $65 million available to local health departments to build the infrastructure for these efforts.

Hospitalizations up from 10 to 15 in Genesee since Thursday

Genesee and Orleans counties combined have 72 new cases of Covid-19 since Thursday, and the two counties also are reporting 72 more people have recovered from Covid, where they completed a 10-day isolation and were removed from mandatory isolation.

While new cases and recoveries are the same, Genesee County has an increase in hospitalizations due to Covid, going from 10 on Thursday to 15 today. Orleans County remains at two people hospitalized due to Covid, according to the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments.

In the update this afternoon from G-O Health, Orleans has 29 new active cases and those individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. Orleans also is reporting 29 more recoveries.

In Genesee County, there are 43 new cases and the individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 90s. The county also is reporting 43 more recoveries.

The two counties combined have 141 active cases, with 64 in Orleans and 77 in Genesee. That compares to 102 a week ago when there were 49 in Orleans and 53 in Genesee. It’s down from the 149 cases on Thursday when Orleans reported 64 active cases and Genesee had 85.

Percent positive for Covid tests: The 7-day positive testing average state-wide is 3.31 percent. It is higher locally with Orleans at 5.4 percent and Genesee at 5.8 percent positive in the past seven days.

‘Your tireless efforts embody public service’ – Lynne Johnson

Photos by Tom Rivers

BATAVIA – Paul Pettit, public health director in Genesee and Orleans counties, speaks during an appreciation luncheon on Wednesday at GCC in Batavia. He praised more than 400 people in the two counties who volunteered and worked at Covid-19 testing and vaccination clinics so far during the pandemic.

The volunteers and municipal workers teamed with the Genesee and Orleans County health Departments to administer about 30,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines and also do about 10,000 Covid tests during drive-through rapid test clinics.

The volunteers and workers in Orleans County administered 10,736 Covid vaccine doses with most of those at the mass vaccination clinics at the Ridgeway Fire Hall from March through May.

The 117 volunteers and workers in Orleans also administered 3,465 rapid Covid tests at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

“It’s been monumental and we couldn’t have done it without you,” Pettit told the group.

Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, addresses more than 200 people at the luncheon at GCC. The photos on the screens show volunteers and staff at Covid testing and vaccination clinics.

In Genesee, there were 279 volunteers and workers who administered 18,675 vaccine doses and 6,659 rapid Covid tests. There were also 49 other volunteers and workers who assisted in both counties.

“You’re tireless efforts embody public service,” Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, told about 200 people during a luncheon at the GCC.

Paul Pettit said the group of volunteers and workers (typically county employees in other departments, as well as some staff from towns, villages and school districts) will likely be needed again to help administer booster vaccine shots. Pettit would also like to see more already eligible residents step forward and get their initial doses of the vaccine.

He also expects the vaccine, currently only approved for those 12 and older, will soon get clearance for those under age 12 and there could be a need for more mass vaccination clinics

“This is an evolving process,” Pettit said. “We’re still in the pandemic. We’re still taking steps to make sure our community is as safe as we can be.”

Johnson said the volunteers and workers have been critical in the community’s response to Covid so far.

Shelley Stein, Genesee County Legislature chairwoman, said many community members have been selfless in serving others during the pandemic.

Shelley Stein, chairwoman of the Genesee County Legislature, also addressed the group and thanked them for their service and courage, with many stepping up over many months to help administer Covid tests and run the vaccine clinics.

“You came forward for others,” Stein said. “You gave so much more than we could have asked for. God bless you all and thank you.”

The Genesee and Orleans County health Departments put a call for volunteers in October to help run the rapid test clinics which started in November. The mass vaccination clinics started in March, although the vaccine supply was low for the counties then.

It took at least 40 people to run the testing and vaccine clinics, with 60 volunteers and staff at some of the clinics.

“So many people put in so much effort,” said Dr. David Bell, emergency preparedness coordinator for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

The Health Departments continue to run smaller vaccination clinics and offer rapid tests. He thanked GCC and the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company for making their facilities available for the vaccinations.

“Having the support of GCC and Ridgeway was invaluable,” Bell said.

State Sen. Ed Rath addressed the group and said he received his vaccination shots at GCC.

“I was amazed at the hard work and professionalism by each and everyone,” he said. “Covid fighters I want to say thank you.”

The volunteers and staff carried on their duties “despite tremendous unknowns,” Rath said.

Paul Pettit speaks from the podium and offer heartfelt appreciation to the staff at the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. In addition to assisting at the rapid test and mass vaccination clinics, the staff were essential in planning those events and with contact tracing whenever someone tested positive for Covid, which includes 3,275 cases in Orleans and 5,572 in Genesee since March 2020.

“I truly want to thank the staff in Genesee County and Orleans County,” Pettit said. “You truly are the unsung heroes in this pandemic.”

The Emergency Management Office in both counties, the county manager/administrator and each County Legislature also were very supportive in making rapid tests and vaccinations available to the public, Pettit said.

This photo from late April shows Jessica Sutch, an employee with the Job Development Agency in Orleans County, holding a sticker given to people who get vaccinated at a mass clinic at the Ridgeway fire hall. She was among the volunteers for several months at the vaccine clinics and the Covid testing sites before that run by the Health Department.

Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer, assisted at a rapid test clinic in early January at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. He is shown in a driver’s side mirror of a car in line. The volunteers wore lots of personal protective equipment and running the rapid test clinics during the winter.

Dan Doctor, a co-principal at Wise Intermediate School in Medina and the district’s community liaison, served at the rapid test and mass vaccination clinics. He said on Wednesday he felt the testing was the most critical, helping to identify who had the virus and get them and their close contacts in quarantine.

Doctor tested positive before one of the clinics and then had to self-isolate. He was positive despite no symptoms. He said he felt sick after about 10 days but it didn’t last long.

He encourages people to get vaccinated to reduce their risk of getting seriously ill from the virus.

Connie Ferris of Barre has worked as a nurse for 58 years. She agreed to help give the vaccination doses at clinics in both counties.

She said residents, including people from outside the two counties, were very appreciative to get their vaccine doses.

“It’s been wonderful to see the enthusiasm from the people,” she said.

CDC puts Orleans back in red zone for high community transmission

There are 30 new Covid-19 cases in Orleans County since Monday, and 64 more in Genesee. The number of active cases in the two counties has increased from 102 on Monday to 149 today, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.

The active cases include 64 in Orleans (up from 49 on Monday) and 85 in Genesee (up from 53 on Monday).

In Orleans, the 30 new cases are in the age groups 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s,  and 60s.

There are currently two residents hospitalized due to Covid. The county is reporting 15 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

The CDC has changed Orleans from an orange zone with “substantial” community spread of Covid to the highest level of red. Genesee County also remains in the red zone.

Genesee County is reporting 64 new positive cases of Covid since Monday. Those new cases include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

There are currently 10 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid. The Health Departments also reported 21 more of the previous positive individuals completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

Emergency rooms also treat more people with drug overdose

Provided photo: Melissa Vinyard, a peer advocate at GCASA, shares her story of recovery at Wednesday’s Overdose Awareness Day at Austin Park in Batavia. Vinyard said drugs and alcohol use nearly killed her, but she sought help and now has been sober since Dec. 30, 2017.

By Mike Pettinella, GCASA Publicist

BATAVIA – Over the 12 months prior to September of 2020, there were 90,237 opioid overdose deaths in the United States – a 30 percent increase from the previous year.

In 2020, there were 15 overdose deaths in Genesee County and seven in Orleans County.

Those staggering figures reveal the extent of the epidemic that continues to devastate society.

Healthcare and mental health professionals in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties on the front lines of this scourge came together on Wednesday afternoon at Austin Park for the annual International Overdose Awareness Day observance.

Representatives of a dozen agencies plus area residents whose lives have been affected by opioid use attended the event, which was to raise awareness and to remember those who have been lost due to an overdose.

Genesee/Orleans Public Health Director Paul Pettit shared that in 2020, 58 people from Genesee County went to the emergency room and 38 from Orleans went to the ER due to drug overdoses – both up from 2019.

“That can be attributed to Covid; people were isolated and feeling alone,” he said.

Pettit had encouraging words about the efforts of the GOW Opioid Task Force, an organization comprised of people from various sectors of the community.

“We’ve been working together for many years and are making great strides,” he said, mentioning an increase in the access to care and the amount of Narcan training being done. “We want to get more people trained. We have a medication that can save lives.”

He said that since 2018, about 3,500 people have been trained.

“We’re making gains but we still have a ways to go,” he said.

John Bennett, executive director of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, spoke about the impact of Overdose Awareness Day throughout the world, noting that events such as the one in Batavia are taking place throughout the state and in around 40 countries.

International Overdose Awareness Day was created in 2001 by Sally J. Finn at The Salvation Army in St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia.

“As we come together today, not only think about those locally who have lost their lives, but this is a worldwide problem that’s killed over a million people,” he said.

Agencies taking part in the event included GO Health, Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Erie County Health Department, Spectrum Human Services, The Recovery Station, Wyoming County Mental Health, Fidelis Care, Rochester Regional Healthy, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Horizon Health.

GOW Opioid Task Force Coordinator Christen Ferraro said the Old County Courthouse in Batavia will be lit up on Aug. 31 and signs commemorating awareness day will be placed in the front of the building.

Orleans County currently has 49 active Covid cases, which is the same since Thursday when the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments last updated the local Covid data.

Orleans has had 28 new reported cases since then – and also 28 recoveries where previous positive individuals completed their 10-day isolation and were removed from mandatory isolation.

Those 28 new cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. There are three Orleans County residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Orleans currently remains in an orange zone from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That signifies “substantial” community spread of Covid, but is down from being in a red zone for “high” community spread.

Genesee County is currently in a red zone, like 89 percent of the counties in the United States, according to the CDC database.

Genesee is reporting 39 new positive cases of Covid since Thursday, and 35 more recoveries. That increases the county’s number of active cases to 53. The new cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

There are 10 Genesee residents currently hospitalized due to Covid, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

If bat comes inside house, Health Dept. has tips for catching it

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Rabies is a deadly but 100 percent preventable viral disease of mammals that is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.

Each year, the vast majority of rabies cases reported occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes.

“It is very important to get your pets vaccinated and not to touch or handle any stray or wild animals including baby animals and bats,” stated Paul Pettit, Director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Remember not to touch animals out in public as they may be scared and bite or scratch out of fear.”

Bats can occasionally find their way into houses, which most often occurs during the summer nights. What should you do when you find a bat in your home? It is extremely important to safely capture the suspected animal if it has or may have been in contact with people, pets or livestock so it can be tested for rabies. If the bat cannot be captured, you should call the health department for advice and next steps. If you are certain that the bat did not come in contact with a person or pet, close the room and closet doors, open the windows and watch the bat until it leaves your house.

In some situations, it is possible that a bat bite could go undetected. For example, when a bat is found in a room with a sleeping person or a bat is found next to an unattended young child.

“If the bat is available for testing and the test results are negative, post exposure treatment will not be needed,” stated Pettit. Rabies post exposure prophylaxis is recommended for all persons with a bite, scratch or mucus membrane exposure to a bat, unless the bat is available for testing and is negative for evidence of rabies.

To safely capture a bat:

• Turn on room lights and close all the windows.
• Close the room and closet doors.
• Wait for the bat to land.
• While wearing thick leather-like gloves, place a coffee can, pail or similar container over the bat. (Never handle a bat with your bare hands).
• Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat.
• Firmly hold the cardboard in place against the top of the container, turn it right side up and tape the cardboard tightly to the container.

By avoiding contact with stray or wild animals, saving the bat or animal that may have had contact with humans or domestic animals, and reporting an incident to your local Health Department, we may be able to avoid unnecessary medical treatment that averages over $3,000 per person. As a pet owner, if you see your pet bite someone or know that your pet bit someone, please report it to the health department so we can get rabies verification. This will help avoid unnecessary medical treatment for the victim.

Please take note of our upcoming free drive thru anti-rabies immunization clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets in Genesee and Orleans Counties.

Orleans County: Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 RT. 31, Albion, NY)

• Oct. 2 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Genesee County: Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY)

• Sept. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m.
• Oct. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Active cases increase from 81 to 99 in 2 counties since Monday

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported an increase in the number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 from three Monday to 11 today. That includes three in Orleans and eight in Genesee.

The number of active Covid cases in the two counties also is up from 81 on Monday to 99 today.

The G-O Health Departments provided the first Covid update today since Monday. There are 19 new cases in Orleans in the three days and 30 in Genesee.

The 19 new positive cases in Orleans include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. The three Orleans residents who are hospitalized are up from one on Monday. Orleans also is reporting 18 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

In Genesee, the 30 new cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 80s. The eight people who are hospitalized with Covid is up from two on Monday. Genesee is also reporting 10 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Orleans and Genesee are in the Finger Lakes region where the 7-day positivity rate for Covid tests is at 4.1 percent, and 3.5 percent on Wednesday when the region had 234 positive tests out of 6,634. The Capital Region currently has the highest 7-day positivity rate at 4.7 percent.

State-wide the positivity rate on Wednesday was 3.03 percent or 5,138 positive tests out of 169,710. This is the first time the state is over 5,000 new cases in a day since April 17 when there were 5,704 new cases. A year ago, there were 631 new cases in the state and the positivity rate was 0.8 percent.

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that up to $500 million in American Rescue Plan emergency rural health care funding will be newly available, Senator Gillibrand is encouraging all eligible New York entities to apply ahead of the deadline.

Applicants may apply for Impact Grants by October 12^th and Recovery Grants on a continual basis until funds are expended. Senator Gillibrand fought hard to pass the American Rescue Plan package, which included this funding to expand access to Covid-19 health care services and nutrition assistance for New York State’s rural health care facilities, tribes, and rural communities.

“The federal government is delivering on its promise to provide direct relief to our nation’s rural communities. I am so pleased to announce that up to $500 million in emergency federal funding will help bring immediate relief to thousands of rural health care systems struggling to recover from the economic impacts of the ongoing pandemic and will help strengthen their long-term sustainability,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I strongly encourage all eligible New York entities to apply before the October 12th deadline.”

Who is eligible to apply for this program?

1. Public bodies
2. Community-based nonprofits
3. Federally-recognized Tribes

What is an eligible rural area?

Rural areas including cities, villages, towns, townships, and federally-recognized Tribal lands with no more than 20,000 residents as determined by the latest U.S. Census data are eligible for this program. Facilities and projects must be located in — and primarily serve — rural areas. Population statistics may be adjusted to exclude long-term prison populations, and the first 1,500 service members living in government quarters on a military installation.

How to apply

Recovery Grants are available to help public bodies, nonprofit organizations and tribes provide immediate Covid-19 relief to support rural hospitals, health care clinics and local communities. Recovery Grant applications will be accepted on a continual basis until funds are expended. These funds may be used to:

• Increase Covid-19 vaccine distribution and telehealth capabilities;
• Purchase medical supplies;
• Replace revenue lost during the pandemic;
• Build and rehabilitate temporary or permanent structures for health care services;
• Support staffing needs for vaccine administration and testing;
• Support facility and operations expenses associated with food banks and food distribution facilities.

Impact Grants are available to help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits, and tribes solve regional rural health care problems and build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system in response to the pandemic. Impact Grant applications must be submitted to your local USDA Rural Development State Office by 4 p.m. local time on Oct. 12. USDA encourages applicants to plan and implement strategies to:

• Develop health care systems that offer a blend of behavioral care, primary care, and other medical services;
• Support health care as an anchor institution in small communities;
• Expand telehealth, electronic health data sharing, workforce development, transportation, paramedicine, obstetrics, behavioral health, farmworker health care, and cooperative home care.

USDA encourages potential applicants to review the application guide at www.rd.usda.gov/erhc.

This map from the CDC shows the levels of transmission for each of the counties in the state. Red means there is high transmission, while orange (the next level down) shows substantial transmission and yellow means moderate community spread of Covid-19.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now lists Orleans County in the red zone as a community with high transmission.

In Western New York, only Orleans and Monroe counties are in the red zones. Genesee is listed in the orange zone, the next level down, with “substantial” community transmission based on new cases last week.

Wyoming and Livingston counties are at moderate levels or the yellow zone. The CDC map shows nearly the entire state is in either a red or orange zone.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments today are reporting 19 new cases in Orleans since Thursday and 27 more in Genesee County.

The number of active cases in each county has increased 26 a week ago in Orleans to 48 today, and 21 in Genesee a week ago to 33 today.

Of the 19 new cases in Orleans, the individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Orleans also is reporting 17 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

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

In Genesee County there are 27 new positive cases and they are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s  and 90s.

Genesee is reporting 16 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

There are currently two Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Genesee also reports a death from Covid

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments also is reporting a death of a Genesee County resident under age 65 due to Covid.

“No other information will be shared to protect the privacy of this individual,” the Health Departments said. “Our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of this person.”

According to the State Department of Health, there have been 124 Covid-related deaths in Genesee County and 83 in Orleans during the pandemic.

G-O Health Departments urge people to get vaccinated; No mask mandate in either county

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments issued a news release this afternoon about the community Covid spread:

“We continue to encourage everyone to follow the public health prevention precautions as noted below. It is important for those who are not currently vaccinated to talk with their primary care provider to determine whether getting vaccinated is right for them.

“There are currently no masking mandates that have been issued by either county, however, per the CDC recommendations for communities with substantial or high spread of Covid-19, we encourage everyone, vaccinated and unvaccinated, to wear masks when indoors in public and when at crowded outdoor settings.

“Everyone should continue practicing the following public health prevention precautions:

• 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.
• 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.

“The best way to protect yourself from Covid-19 or health complications from Covid-19 is to get vaccinated,” stated Paul Pettit, public health director in the two counties. “Now is the best time to take advantage of getting vaccinated for COVID-19 before the new school term starts and the weather changes and we start moving back indoors.”

Home testing kits: For those who are using home testing kits, please note that the Health Departments are unable to verify the results and will not be able to provide paperwork for your employer/insurance company.

Home tests that need verification will have to complete a follow-up test with an approved provider for documentation and state reporting purposes. If you do either a home test or a test at approved provider, it is important to remember to self-isolate until you receive test results. For home testing, you are to self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days from onset of symptoms or getting your test result.  Contact your primary care physician for further instructions.

Employees at hospitals, long-term care facilities need first dose by Sept. 27

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that all healthcare workers in New York State, including staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, adult care, and other congregate care settings, will be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by Monday, September 27.

The State Department of Health will issue Section 16 Orders requiring all hospital, long-term care facilities, and nursing homes to develop and implement a policy mandating employee vaccinations, with limited exceptions for those with religious or medical reasons. To date, 75% of the state’s 450,000 hospital workers, 74% of the state’s 30,000 adult care facility workers, and 68% of the state’s 145,500 nursing home workers have completed their vaccine series. Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration was briefed prior to the announcement.

“The Delta variant is spreading across the nation and across New York – new daily positives are up over 1000% over the last six weeks, and over 80 percent of recent positives in New York State are linked to the Delta variant,” Cuomo said. “We must now act again to stop the spread. Our healthcare heroes led the battle against the virus, and now we need them to lead the battle between the variant and the vaccine.”

Cuomo also announced that the Department of Health has authorized a third Covid-19 vaccine dose for New Yorkers with compromised immune systems, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation last week. Eligible New Yorkers can receive their third dose 28 days after the completion of their two-dose vaccine series, effective immediately.

The CDC is currently recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose, including people who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood;
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medications to suppress the immune system;
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system;
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome);
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection;
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, cancer chemotherapy that causes sever immunosuppression, or other medications that may suppress your immune response.

New Yorkers should contact their healthcare provider about whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them at this time.

Event is chance to raise awareness and remember the lives lost due to overdose

Press Release, GCASA

BATAVIA – Backed by that clear but hard-hitting mission statement, members of the GOW Opioid Task Force will be coming together on August 25 to host their version of the International Overdose Awareness Day observation.

The event is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. at Austin Park in Batavia.

“We’re thankful to be able to welcome everyone to join us in recognizing the significance of the opioid epidemic upon the residents of our community,” said Christen Ferraro, project coordinator for the GOW Opioid Task Force, which is funded by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation. “Those in attendance will be able to hear first-hand from those who have experienced loss due to overdoses.”

Representatives of local human services agencies will be on hand to share information, and free Narcan training and kits will be offered, Ferraro said. Free food and refreshments will be served.

Attendees also will be offered the opportunity to leave a heart on the task force’s memory board for a deceased loved one.

International Overdose Awareness Day was created in 2001 by Sally J. Finn at The Salvation Army in St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, and now is held on an annual basis. Locally, it took place virtually last year due to Covid-19. In 2020, there were 602 Overdose Awareness Day events held in 37 countries.

To register for this year’s event, click here. Those interested in having a vendor table are asked to contact Ferraro at cferraro@gcasa.org.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Do you know a dad that has been in a public place with their baby and unable to find a changing table inside the men’s restroom?

Changing table inequalities have been in existence for years. In 2018, they came to the forefront when a father from Florida posted a picture on social media showing that he had to squat and change his son’s diapers on his lap because there wasn’t a changing table available in the men’s restroom.

A nationwide survey found that 9 out of 10 dads have gone into a public restroom unable to find a changing table. As a result, Pampers created the “Love the Change” campaign to provide changing tables to businesses and not-for-profits across the United States to install in men’s restrooms. Pampers has already donated 3,557 changing tables, but they are pledging to donate 1,000 more by the end of 2021.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are collaborating with Pampers to identify local businesses and not-for-profits throughout Genesee and Orleans counties that would be interested in receiving a changing table for their men’s restroom. This is 100 percent free of charge and the only requirement is that businesses install their own changing table.

If you are a not-for-profit or business owner that is interested in receiving a changing table for your men’s room, please contact the Genesee County Health Department by calling 585-344-2580 ext. 5578 or emailing Kayla.Shuknecht@co.genesee.ny.us.