Health Alert from Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

BATAVIA – Some of the Covid-19 2nd Dose Vaccine Clinic appointments scheduled for Friday at Genesee Community College in Batavia will be moved to another day due to the weather-related delay of vaccine delivery.

Anyone with an appointment between 9 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. will be contacted directly by the provided e-mail or phone number to reschedule the appointment for next week.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

UPDATED at 8:08 p.m.: Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued this statement about the vaccine shipping delays:

“The Federal government has informed New York that nearly all Covid-19 vaccine doses allocated for Week 10 — which were scheduled to be delivered between February 12th and February 21st — are delayed due to the winter storms continuing to impact much of the country. Every dose that should have shipped on Monday was held back, and only a limited number of Pfizer vaccines left shipping facilities on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“This delay will undoubtedly pose a logistical challenge for New York — but as we have shown over the last 350-plus days, we are New York Tough, and we are up to the challenge. The Department of Health is working closely with all providers, including local health departments, hospitals, pharmacies, and FQHCs to minimize the impact on their operations and reduce the number of appointments that must be rescheduled. The vaccine is the weapon that will win the war against Covid, and we will continue to work with our federal partners to expedite the delayed shipments and will keep New Yorkers updated over the coming days.”

The percentage of positive Covid-19 tests in Orleans has dropped to 3.1 percent over the past seven days.

A week ago, the 7-day average in Orleans was at 4.7 percent. On Feb. 6, Orleans was at 7.2 percent for the seven-day average, the highest in the nine-county Finger Lakes Region.

The current seven-day positivity average for the nine counties in the region includes:

• Genesee, 2.4 percent
• Livingston, 2.6 percent
• Monroe, 2.1 percent
• Ontario, 2.3 percent
• Orleans, 3.1 percent
• Seneca, 3.2 percent
• Wayne, 2.2 percent
• Wyoming, 5.3 percent
• Yates, 1.0 percent

The Finger Lakes had a 7-day positivity rate for Covid-19 at 10.29 percent on Jan. 5, among the highest in the state. Now it is well below 3 percent. The seven-day average is currently 2.39 percent for the Finger Lakes Region. The Southern Tier has the lowest rate at 0.79 percent while the Mid-Hudson is the highest at 4.40 percent.

This data from the governor’s office shows the 7-day positivity rate for the 10 regions in the state.

State-wide the daily positivity rate was 3.15 percent on Wednesday, the lowest since November 23. The 7-day average positivity rate has declined for 41 straight days, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release today.

There were also 6,434 people hospitalized due to Covid on Wednesday, which was down 140 from the previous day and a decline of nearly 3,000 from the 9,273 on Jan. 19.

The Finger Lakes hit a pandemic high with 964 hospitalized due to Covid on Dec. 28. The Covid hospitalizations was down to 265 on Wednesday in the Finger Lakes Region.

“New Yorkers fought through the holiday surge of Covid-19 and came out on the other side, and now that the numbers are decreasing we’re able to loosen the valve and increase economic activity,” Cuomo said. “We’re in a footrace between ongoing new infections and our ability to vaccinate as many New Yorkers as possible, and although we have vaccine distribution sites at the ready throughout the state, we’re limited by available supply. New Yorkers have already had huge burdens to bear, and we’re getting to the light at the end of the tunnel, but we need everyone to double down on the behaviors that make such a difference combatting this pandemic. Wash your hands, wear a mask, stay socially distanced, and be safe.”

11 of new cases are at Federal Detention Center in Batavia

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported 20 new Covid cases in the two counties, with 3 in Orleans and 17 in Genesee.

In Orleans County the 3 new positive cases bring the total of 2,351 confirmed cases since last March.

The positive cases reside in the Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon). The individuals are in the age groups of the 20s and 40s.

Orleans is reporting 2 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 2 county residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Albion Central School is reporting a staff member from the Elementary School has tested positive for Covid-19. The staff member was last in school on Feb. 4. Due to the 48-hour look-back period, the Department of Health determined there was no need to quarantine any additional individuals.

In Genesee County the 17 new positive cases bring the total of 4,087 positive cases since last March.

The new positive cases reside in the Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 80s.

Of the new cases, 11 are inmates at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center in Batavia, which has now had 67 inmates test positive during the pandemic. Another new case reported today is a resident of the LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility, where 122 residents have now tested positive for Covid during the pandemic.

Genesee is reporting 11 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 15 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

• SCAM Alert: From the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments: We have received word that several older adults in the Rochester area were called. The caller said for a small price they could get them an appointment to be vaccinated.

The caller says no hassle, no worries. The caller “gave them an appointment” and told them to go to a state-run vaccination site in Rochester. When they arrived, they didn’t have an appointment. Lost $100. Please note that no one is to ask for money to set up Covid-19 vaccine registration. If you get a call from someone saying they can get you an appointment for a “small” amount of money, hang up, it is a scam!

County working with Genesee, Wyoming for regional mass vaccine clinic

ALBION – Orleans County officials were disappointed last week when its weekly vaccine allotment was cut from 400 to 200.

This week the county received 500 doses, plus 200 second doses for those who received the first dose about 28 days ago.

Despite the increase in allotments this week, Public Health Director Paul Pettit said there is a long way to go for the county which has about 40,000 residents.

“That’s 500 doses for tens of thousands of people,” Pettit said. “It’s obviously not enough to go around.”

The breakdown of the 500 doses this week includes 200 for the Orleans County Health Department for essential workers and those with underlying conditions. (The Health Department also will administer 200 of the second doses, making those people fully vaccinated.)

Orleans Community Health will receive 100 doses for patients and those with underlying conditions.

Oak Orchard Health will receive 100 doses for patients and those with underlying conditions.

Rosenkrans Pharmacy in Medina will receive 100 doses for residents 65 and older.

Pettit bemoaned the system for signing up for vaccines has been very frustrated for people, with typically no appointments available or the state website crashing from too many users.

Pettit and Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, were on a state conference call on Tuesday afternoon with Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He said the state is working to develop regional mass vaccination sites to speed up the pace of people getting vaccinated.

Pettit and Johnson said Orleans is reaching out to Genesee and Wyoming counties for a tri-county mass vaccination clinic that may be at GCC. Pettit said the counties will apply to the state for the mass vaccination site that would include staffing from the National Guard.

Each of the three counties is too small on its own for a mass vaccination site, but Pettit said the three together have a better chance of meeting the state’s expectations and being selected for such a site.

Johnson said Cuomo, on the conference call, wants the regional clinics targeted to communities “underserved and disproportionately hit” by Covid.

“That’s us,” Johnson said in a Tuesday evening conference call with local government officials at the village, town and county level.

“Orleans County needs vaccines,” Johnson said. “As you are all aware eligibility doesn’t meet availability here in Orleans County.”

New cases reported in past 4 days include 15 in Orleans, 39 in Genesee

The number of active Covid cases in Orleans County, 38 today, is the fewest in the county since there were 37 on Dec. 1, according to data from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Genesee County, with 73 active cases reported today, is at its lowest level since it had 54 active cases on Nov. 9.

Wyoming County is reporting 61 active cases today, which is up slightly from the 58 on Feb. 9, its low in the post-holiday surge. The 58 on Feb. 9 was the fewest cases since 54 on Nov. 9.

There are currently 172 cases in the three counties. On Jan. 7 there were 718 active cases in the three counties. Orleans hit a pandemic high of 279 active cases on Jan. 7. As recently as Jan. 22, Genesee had 241 active cases. Wyoming County reached its pandemic high with 202 active cases on Jan. 8.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments provided the first update in local cases this afternoon since Friday.

Orleans County has 15 new confirmed positive cases of Covid, bringing the total to 2,348 cases since last March.

The positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 80s. One of the new cases is a resident of the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion.

Orleans is reporting 41 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. There are two county residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there 39 new confirmed cases of Covid since Friday, bringing the total to 4,070 positive cases since last March.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. One of the new cases is a resident of the Premier Genesee Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation in Batavia.

Genesee is reporting 47 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. There are 14 Genesee residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Stephanie Aquilina, X-ray technician at Medina Memorial Hospital, adjusts the new state-of-the-art 3-D mammography machine as Dr. Dale Sponaugle, director of radiology, looks on.

MEDINA – A new mammography machine at Medina Memorial Hospital will provide the most accurate diagnoses available, according to radiology staff.

Dr. Dale Sponaugle, director of radiology; Stephanie Aquilina, X-ray technician; and Erica Chutko, manager of radiology, explained the machine’s three dimensional capabilities on Friday.

“This machine allows us to see the breast three-dimensionally,” Sponaugle said. “In the past, we might have to bring a patient back in or send her somewhere else, especially women with dense breasts.”

“This machine is top notch, technically one of the most state-of-the-art in the world,” said X-ray technician Stephanie Aquilina. Since we got the machine Dec. 23, we have already caught several suspicious cases and were able to clear up a questionable area.”

Chutko explained the old two-dimensional machine provided one view from the top and one from the side, whereas, the three-dimensional machine adds an arc.

“When women have dense breasts, it is very hard to visualize what is in that tissue,” Chutko said.

“Those women are at a higher risk of something being missed,” Aquilina said.

Chutko added the new 3-D machine means there is less chance a patient will have to return for additional views, meaning she will also be subjected to less radiation.

Now there is less chance patients will have to be sent elsewhere for further testing, Aquilina said.

Since the hospital reopened its doors for elective procedures – after having to put those off due to Covid-19 restrictions, Aquilina said more than 200 patients have been X-rayed in two months.

“We used to have to send a lot of patients out for further testing, but since using our new machine, we’ve only had to send two elsewhere, she said. “That’s a huge improvement.”

Jessica Capurso, director of Wellness, Education and Marketing for Community Partners, said the new 3-D mammography X-ray machine was purchased with financial help from Orleans Community Health Foundation.

“So when you get a request for a donation, now you know where the money goes,” she said.

Orleans and Genesee counties combined are reporting 26 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, bringing their combined total to 6,364 since last March, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

In Orleans there are 14 new positive cases for a total of 2,333 during the pandemic. The positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 40s, 50s and 80s.

The county is reporting 9 more people have recovered from Covid and have been removed from isolation.

The county also currently has two people hospitalized due to Covid-19.

Correction: The Health Department removed a duplicate individual from the West Region from Thursday’s count.

Albion Central School is reporting a middle school student has tested positive for Covid-19. The student is a hybrid learner and was last in school on Feb. 8. Those determined to have been in close contact with the student have been identified and should be contacted by the Department of Health, the district stated on its website.

Medina Central School on Thursday reported an elementary school staff member and middle school student both tested positive for Covid-19. The Department of Health has investigated the case with the staff member and determined no further school-related quarantines are required, District Superintendent Mark Kruzynski said.

With the middle school student, the Department of Health is working with the school district to identify any potential close contacts and is notifying families who may have to quarantine.

In Genesee County there are 12 new positive cases of Covid for a total of 4,031 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford). One of the new cases is a resident of Genesee Senior Living.

The 12 new cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.

One of the new cases is an inmate at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center in Batavia.

Genesee is reporting 12 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. There are currently 14 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Data Update: The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will be closed on Monday for the Presidents’ Day holiday. There won’t be a Covid-19 update. The data will next be updated on Tuesday.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are warning residents about scammers who are trying to get people to pay to set up vaccine appointments.

Several senior citizens in the Rochester area have been called in this scam, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

Some people have paid $100 to the scammer, believing they had an appointment set up at a state-run vaccination site in Rochester. When they arrived, there was no appointment and there were put the $100.

“Please note NO ONE is to ask for money to set up Covid-19 Vaccine Registration!” the Health Departments said. “If you get a call from someone saying they can get you an appointment for a “small” amount of money, hang up, it is a scam!”

Genesee County passes 4,000 cases during pandemic

Orleans and Genesee counties combined are reporting 36 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, bringing their combined total to 6,339 since last March.

In Orleans there are 16 new positive cases for a total of 2,320 during the pandemic. The positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

The new cases include 6 residents of The Villages of Orleans Health & Rehab in Albion and 4 inmates at the Orleans Correctional Facility, a men’s prison in Albion.

In Orleans, 12 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed

from the isolation list, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

There are currently 2 residents from the county hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there 20 new positive cases of Covid for a total of 4,019 positive cases since March. Genesee has now had 7.0 percent of its 57,280 residents have confirmed cases of Covid.

The cases have surged since October. At the end of October, Genesee had 375 cases through the first eight months of the pandemic. Genesee had 579 in November, 1,495 in December and 1,419 in January. (The county has had 152 cases so far this month.)

The 20 new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford). One of the new cases is a resident of Genesee Senior Living.

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

Genesee is reporting 24 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. There are currently 15 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Genesee also has had two more residents die from a Covid-related illness, bringing the total number of Genesee residents to pass away from Covid to 117 since last March. The two deaths reported today are both over age 65. One was a resident of New York State Veterans’ Home in Batavia and the other was a resident at the Batavia VA Medical Center.

“Our deepest condolences to the families and friends during this very difficult time,” the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments stated.

This data from the governor’s office shows the 7-day positivity rate for the 10 regions in the state.

The percentage of positive Covid-19 tests is decreasing in Orleans County, the Finger Lakes Region and the state.

Orleans County’s had the highest seven-day positivity rate in the nine-county Finger Lakes Region on Feb. 6 with a rate of 7.2 percent. That rate over the past seven days now is down to 4.7 percent. Orleans no longer leads the region. Wyoming County has the highest percentage at 5.8 while Genesee is lowest at 2.2 percent.

The Finger Lakes had a 7-day positivity rate for Covid-19 at 10.29 percent on Jan. 5, among the highest in the state.

The seven-day positivity rate has dropped to 2.66 percent on Wednesday, with the state-wide rate at 4.16 percent. That state-wide rate over seven days is the lowest since Dec. 1.

The state-wide rate for one day was at 3.54 percent on Wednesday, the lowest since Nov. 25.

The rate has now declined over 34 consecutive days, is down by 48 percent from the early January post-holiday peak, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today.

The number of people hospitalized in the state due to Covid was 7,351 on Wednesday, which was down by 251 from Tuesday and down nearly 2,000 from the 9,273 on Jan. 19.

The Finger Lakes hit a pandemic high with 964 hospitalized due to Covid on Dec. 28. The Covid hospitalizations was down to 345 on Wednesday in the Finger Lakes Region.

“Across the state, from hospitalizations to infection rate, our numbers are continuing to decline – a sign of hope to all and proof of the dedication New Yorkers have shown to defeating this beast,” Cuomo said. “We are headed in the right direction, but we are not at the end of the tunnel yet. Until the day the war is won and everyone who wants one has the vaccine, we must continue to practice the guidelines we know work – washing your hands, wearing a mask and avoiding gatherings.”

‘This updated guidance is not an all-clear for New Yorkers to let their guard down.’

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people who are fully vaccinated from Covid-19 don’t need to quarantine if they have been exposed to someone with Covid– for within 90 days after getting the second shot.

“Fully vaccinated persons who meet criteria will no longer be required to quarantine following an exposure to someone with Covid-19,” the CDC said in the updated guidance Wednesday.

People are considered fully vaccinated if they have both shots of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines – and at least two weeks have gone by since the second dose was administered.

However, people who have had both shots should quarantine if they have had Covid exposure more than three months after being vaccinated because it is unclear how long the vaccine will be effective.

The CDC said vaccinated people should follow all other health guidance, including wearing a mask and social distancing when possible.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Dr. Howard Zucker, commissioner of the state Department of Health, issued this statement this afternoon:

“Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance regarding quarantine following exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. According to the guidance, ‘asymptomatic fully vaccinated individuals’, meaning those who have received both shots and at least two weeks have passed since the second shot, are no longer required to quarantine within 90 days after the second shot.

“From the outset of the pandemic, New York State has followed the science and listened to the experts, and quarantine requirements only for New Yorkers who have received both shots will be similarly updated to reflect the CDC’s new guidance. However, the science regarding Covid transmissibility post-vaccination remains unsettled, and this updated guidance is not an all-clear for New Yorkers to let their guard down.

“All New Yorkers, including those who have been fully vaccinated, should continue to wear masks, social distance, and be smart until herd immunity is reached and this pandemic is fully relegated to the history books.”

3 Covid-related deaths also reported in Genesee County

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported 10 new confirmed Covid cases in Orleans County and 13 more in Genesee.

The 10 new cases in Orleans County bring the total to 2,304 positive cases since March. The positive cases reported today reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 30s, 40s, 60s, 80s and 90s.

Of the new cases, one was on quarantine prior to testing positive. Three of the new cases are residents of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina.

Orleans is reporting 13 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed

from the isolation list. The number of active cases in the county dropped from 73 on Tuesday to 67 today.

The county is reporting 2 residents are currently hospitalized due to Covid.

Albion Central School reported a middle school student and two high school students have tested positive for Covid-19.

The student from the middle school is a hybrid learner and was last in school on Feb. 5.Those determined to have been in close contact with the student have been identified and should be contacted by the Department of Health, the district stated on its website.

The two high school students are also both hybrid learners. One was last in contact with other students on Feb. 5. The other high schooler was last in school on Feb. 8. Those determined to have been in close contact with the student have been identified and should be contacted by the Department of Health, the district said.

In Genesee County the 13 new positive cases bring the Genesee total to 3,999 positive cases since last March.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Genesee is reporting 19 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. The number of active cases in the county is down from 92 on Tuesday to 82 today.

Genesee has 15 residents currently hospitalized due to Covid-19.

The county also has had three more residents die from Covid who were all over age 65. That brings the total deaths in the county to 116 from Covid.

“Our deepest condolences to the families and friends during this very difficult time,” the Health Departments stated today in a news briefing.

ALBION – Paul Pettit, the public health director for Orleans and Genesee counties, was expecting more vaccine doses this week for the two counties.

Paul Pettit

Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week said the state would be getting 16 percent more vaccine doses from the federal government. Today, he said the amount would be up another 5 percent from the 16.

But for Orleans and many other rural counties in the state, Pettit said the vaccine allotments have been cut. For Orleans County this week, it will only be getting 200 doses, down from 400 a week ago. Genesee is down from 600 last week to 500 this week.

“Vaccines continue to be a great frustration to us,” Pettit said this evening during a conference call with government officials in Orleans County. “I can’t rationally explain this to anyone. It was supposed to be more.”

In the county, 100 doses will go Walgreens in Albion to be given to eligible residents 65 and older. The County Health Department will administer the other 100 doses to essential workers.

Last week in Orleans, the Health Department received 200 doses, while Rosenkrans and Orleans Community Health in Medina both had 100. (The Health Department also distributed a one-time allotment of 100 doses for groups homes in the county, which isn’t included in the 400.)

Next week the eligibility pool will be significantly expanded after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier this week people under age 65 with underlying health conditions would be eligible for the vaccine. Pettit said people are going to be frustrated as the demand and eligibility increase for the vaccine, while the supply is so low.

“We urge patience,” he told the local officials. “But don’t be surprised if we get some angst next week as additional people get into the pool but can’t get the vaccine.”

The Health Department and Orleans County Emergency Management Agency will be doing a vaccine clinic for the third time this Thursday at the Ridgeway fire hall. The slots are all filled up. Pettit said the county-run clinic has the capability of administering 700 to 800 doses a day once there is more vaccine doses available locally.

“We’re ready to go,” he said. “We will push them out, whatever we get.”

Orleans County has 3 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, one of its lowest totals in recent months.

Orleans averaged 7.5 cases a day in November, followed by 24.3 a day in December and 25.4 a day in January.

With the 3 new cases reported today, Orleans County is at 2,294 positive cases since last March, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.

The new positive cases reside in the Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19 and the 40s.

Two of the new positive individuals were on quarantine prior to testing positive.

The county is reporting that 13 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. The number of active cases in the county dropped from 83 on Monday to 73 today.

There are 3 residents currently hospitalized due to Covid-19.

Albion Central School is reporting a high school and elementary school student have tested positive for Covid-19.

The elementary student is a hybrid learner and was last in school on Feb. 2. Due to the 48-hour look-back period, the Department of Health determined there was no need to quarantine any additional students or staff, the district stated on its website.

The high school student is a hybrid learner and was last in contact with other students on Feb. 5. Those determined to have been in close contact with the student have been identified and should be contacted by the Department of Health, the district stated.

In Genesee County there are 28 new positive cases for a total of 3,986 confirmed cases since last March.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Genesee is reporting that 30 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are 17 Genesee residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.

There also is one death of the Genesee resident reported today due to Covid. That brings the total deaths in Genesee from Covid to 115. For more information on Covid fatalities in counties in the state, click here.

Cases are down significantly so far in February

January was another month of huge Covid-19 caseloads in the three local rural counties of Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming.

The three counties combined had 2,814 cases. That isn’t as many as in December when there were 2,993 confirmed cases in the three counties, but it is still near the peak of the pandemic, which is nearing a year locally.

The three counties had nearly 3,000 cases each of the past two months. That is far more than the 2,108 cases in the three counties – from March through November.

The cases began a sharp upward trajectory in November with 1,133 cases in the three counties.

So far in February, the numbers are going down significantly.

Genesee, which averaged 45.8 new cases a day in January, so far is averaging 13 new a day in February. Orleans has decreased from 25.4 cases a day in January to 18 so far in February. Wyoming averaged 19.6 cases daily in January and has an average of 10 so far each day in February.

The average daily caseloads in January were about how many each county had for the total of July and August, when the counties often didn’t have any confirmed cases in a day. Orleans only had 22 cases total in July and August, while Genesee had 55 and Wyoming recorded 30 in those two months.

Once the weather got colder and more activities moved inside in November, cases really took off, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo saying 74 percent of those cases were from household spread.

Here is a monthly breakdown of the Covid cases in the three counties:

Orleans County (population: 40,352)

First case reported on March 18.

• March – 6 cases (6 cumulative cases)
• April – 89 cases (95 cumulative)
• May – 126 cases (221 cumulative)
• June – 45 cases (266 cumulative)
• July – 10 cases (276 cumulative)
• August – 12 cases (288 cumulative)
• September – 29 cases (317 cumulative)
• October – 82 cases (399 cumulative)
• November – 224 cases (623 cumulative)
• December – 753 cases (1,376 cumulative)
• January – 788 cases (2,164 cumulative)

Genesee County (population: 57,280)

First case reported on March 17.

• March – 13 cases (13 cumulative cases)
• April – 136 cases (149 cumulative)
• May – 37 cases (186 cumulative)
• June – 40 cases (224 cumulative)
• July – 32 cases (256 cumulative)
• August – 23 cases (279 cumulative)
• September – 30 cases (309 cumulative)
• October – 66 cases (375 cumulative)
• November – 579 cases (954 cumulative)
• December – 1,495 cases (2,449 cumulative)
• January – 1,419 cases (3,867 cumulative)

Wyoming County (population: 40,085)

First case reported March 17.

• March – 8 cases (8 cases cumulative)
• April – 60 cases (68 cumulative)
• May – 12 cases (80 cumulative)
• June – 9 cases (89 cumulative)
• July – 18 cases (107 cumulative)
• August – 12 cases (120 cumulative)
• September – 12 cases (132 cumulative)
• October – 69 cases (201 cumulative)
• November – 330 cases (531 cumulative)
• December – 745 cases (1,276 cumulative)
• January – 607 cases (1,883 cumulative)

Source: Orleans Hub research, local health departments, Census Bureau 2019 estimates for population