Photos by Tom Rivers

RIDGEWAY – Zach Busch, a junior-senior high music teacher in Holley, received his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine this afternoon. Connie Ferris gave him the shot.

“It’s peace of mind,” said Busch, 27. “I feel it’s important to protect not only myself but my students and my colleagues.”

Many of the people vaccinated today were school employees, who are in the 1b eligibility group.

Ferris has been a nurse for 54 years. She volunteered at the vaccination clinic today at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company at the corner of Ridge Road and Horan Road.

Today was the first Covid vaccination clinic run by Orleans County. The slots filled up quickly and 100 doses were given out. The site could accommodate up to 600 people in a day.

Paul Pettit, the public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties, looks forward to more doses being available locally. If there is a big increase in doses, the clinic could have expanded hours each day and be available on multiple days during the week.

The Health Department ran smaller-scale vaccination clinics about a decade ago for H1N1 at the Health Department building in Albion, and the department also runs flu vaccine clinics.

But Pettit said the Covid-19 clinics will be a much larger scale and for a longer duration.

Orleans Community Health, Oak Orchard Health and some of the local pharmacies also have been administering vaccine doses.

Dan Doctor, in front at right, served as a greeter at the clinic. He works as the community outreach liaison at Medina Central School. He is chatting with David Bell, the emergency preparedness coordinator for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Many community members volunteered to run the clinic today from 1 to 4 p.m. Volunteers don’t need a medical background. There are other roles as greeters, runners, observers and data recorders.

People interested in volunteering at a clinic can contact the Health Department at (585) 589-3278 or the Orleans County Emergency Management Office at (585) 589-4414.

Jeanne Crane, left, and Carla Wahls draw the vaccine. Each vial of the vaccine from Moderna had about 10 doses. Some had 11. The nurses make sure each shot had the right amount to be administered.

Crane is a retired nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital. She retired in 2003, and heeded the call for assistance at the vaccination clinics.

“I feel very strongly that the vaccine will help us to get out again and I saw the need to volunteer,” Crane said. “The Health Department doesn’t have the necessary staff during this pandemic. So I called them.”

Those who received a vaccine today should get a second dose of the vaccine in 28 days. Carla Wahls, the registered nurse, acknowledged the vaccine is in high demand.

“This is like liquid gold right now,” she said.

Orleans and Genesee counties today are reporting 69 more cases of Covid-19 in the two counties, for a total of 5,897 since last March, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

In Orleans County, there are 33 new confirmed cases for a total of 2,120 positive cases. The new cases reported today are residents of 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, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Of the new cases, 5 were on quarantine prior to testing positive.

The new cases also include 12 residents at the Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina, which has now had 104 of its residents test positive for Covid during the pandemic.

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

The county also has 11 residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.

Rapid Testing Results: Orleans County conducted a rapid testing clinic on Wednesday at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Of the 316 tests, there were 18 positives, including 17 from Orleans County.

This was going to be the last scheduled rapid test clinic, but the Health Department is planning to do another one next week on Wednesday at the Fairgrounds.

Medina Central School is reporting a middle school student has tested positive for Covid-19. After consultation with the Orleans County Health Department, the district is in the process of notifying all the families of those who will be quarantined, Mark Kruzynski, district superintendent, wrote in a letter on the school website.

In Genesee County, there are 36 new positive cases reported today for a total of 3,777 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, 70s, 80s and 90s.

The new cases also include a resident of the Batavia VA Medical Center and resident of the New York State Veteran’s Home at Batavia.

Genesee is reporting that 27 more previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are 20 Genesee residents currently hospitalized with Covid, the G-O Health Departments said.

The Health Departments confirmed the death of a person over age 65 who was a resident at the Leroy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility. The death from the State Department of Health said this is the 107^th death in Genesee County from Covid, and the sixth reported since Friday.

The state data also shows another death from Covid in Orleans County for 75 Covid deaths in the pandemic. Click here to see the state data on Covid deaths.

This chart from the Governor’s Office shows each region’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results over the last three days.

The Finger Lakes Region, which had nearly 1,000 people in hospitalized due to Covid a month ago, now has 634 in the hospital, according to data from the Governor’s Office.

Besides reducing hospitalizations from 964 to 634 since Dec. 28, the region’s percentage of positive Covid tests has dropped from near 9 percent to less than 5 percent.

The current 7-day average of positive tests is 4.67 percent, the third lowest of the 10 regions.

State-wide, the numbers of hospitalizations due to Covid dropped by 251 on Wednesday to 8,520.

The statewide positivity rate is currently 5.34 percent. A month ago is 7.14 percent statewide.

“New York State is once again making our way down the mountain after experiencing a holiday surge,” Governor Cuomo said today. “Our infection and hospitalization rates are steadily declining thanks to the actions of New Yorkers, but there is still more work to be done. While more vaccines are on the way from the Biden administration, we must continue actively working to protect our hospitals and their staff to help ensure they do not become overwhelmed.”

Orleans and Genesee counties each have 28 new confirmed Covid-19 cases to report today, bringing the combined total for the two counties to 5,828 since March.

In Orleans County, the 28 new positive cases bring the county’s total to 2,087 confirmed cases during the pandemic. The new 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, 60s and 70s, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting.

Of the new cases, three are residents of the Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina and one is an inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility, a men’s prison in Albion.

In addition, 8 of the new positive individuals were on quarantine prior to testing positive.

Correction from the G-O Health Departments: The following cases were determined not to be Orleans County residents and have been retracted from today’s data: Case in his/her 50s from the West Region and 0-19 from the East Region.

The county also is reporting 15 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are 11 county residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.

Albion Central School is reporting an elementary student tested positive for Covid-19. As the student was last in school on Jan. 21, the Department of Health has determined there is no need to quarantine any additional students or staff due to the 48-hour look-back period, the district posted on its website.

Holley Central School said two staff members have tested positive for Covid-19, one at the Middle School/High School and one at the Elementary School. The last day each person was in the district was Jan. 26.

“The health department is still processing these cases and we will cooperate with them,” Brian Bartalo, district superintendent, posted on the HCS website. “If warranted, any official decision on mandatory quarantining of students or additional staff members will come directly from the health department. If the health department indicates to us that there is quarantining required for the students who may have had close contact with these staff members, we will reach out to those families ASAP. In the meantime, if you don’t hear from the school district or the department of health, there’s nothing for anyone to do at this time.”

At Lyndonville Central School all 5th grade students will be on remote learning tomorrow, January 28^th, due to a precautionary Covid-19 quarantine.

“Fifth grade families/students impacted by this positive Covid-19 case will be contacted tomorrow with further information and more details after we gather more information and direction from the Health Department,” said Superintendent Jason Smith.

In Genesee County, the 28 new positive cases bring the total to 3,741 confirmed cases during the pandemic.

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.

Genesee is reporting that 27 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 23 residents hospitalized with Covid.

The local Health Department said a resident over age 65 has passed away from Covid-19. The state Department of Health website (click here) shows 2 more Genesee residents have died from Covid since the last update on Tuesday, and 5 more since Friday, for 106 total now in Genesee.

County may add more testing clinics if needed, but will shift to vaccination clinics

There is a rapid Covid-19 testing clinic today from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. This is the last one scheduled by the Orleans County Health Department.

It will be shifting its focus to vaccination clinics, with the first one Thursday at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company. The appointments are full for that clinic where about 100 people will be vaccinated. That clinic will have the capacity to do 600 vaccinations a day once the county gets more vaccine doses, said Paul Pettit, the public health director for Orleans and Genesee.

“We’re ready to go it’s just a matter of getting the vaccine,” he said.

He praised local volunteers for stepping up to run the rapid test clinic and now the vaccination effort. More people are needed to run the vaccination clinics. Anyone interested in volunteered at the vaccination clinics can reach out to Justin Niederhofer, deputy director of the Orleans County Emergency Management Office, at (585) 589-4414.

The county has been testing about 500 people at the weekly clinics at the Fairgrounds. As of 8:50 this morning, there were still 66 spots open. Click here to register and click here to fill out a form from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Pettit said the county and region’s daily new Covid cases and percentage of positive tests have been trending downward. He expects the governor today to announce some restrictions to be lifted in the micro-cluster zones in Genesee, Niagara, Monroe and Erie counties. Orleans wasn’t designated in one of those zones.

He said public health officials around the state has been frustrated by the “very slow” distribution of the vaccines so far.

“It is an issue throughout the state,” he said on a conference call Tuesday evening with local officials. “Rural, urban it doesn’t matter. We are all proportionally hurting.”

The supply so far from the federal government has been “anemic,” Pettit said.

“The volume we’re getting is a pittance of what we need,” he said.

Orleans received 200 doses this week, but the Health Department is putting in requests for thousands of vaccine doses.

“We’re doing what we can to advocate from our end,” Pettit said. “Everybody is in the same boat.”

State data shows 3 more deaths from Covid in both Orleans and Genesee since Friday

Orleans and Genesee counties today are reporting 49 more cases pf Covid-19 for 5,774 cases in the two counties since March, with 2,061 in Orleans and 3,713 in Genesee.

The two counties have each had three more deaths from Covid since Friday and now are at 74 deaths in Orleans and 104 in Genesee. Click here to see the state data.

In Orleans County, there are 23 new positive cases of Covid-19. They reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).

Of the new cases, two are residents at the Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center.

The 23 individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported. Of the new cases, three were on quarantine prior to testing positive.

Correction from the G-O Health Departments: The following case was determined not to be an Orleans County resident and has been retracted from today’s data: a person in his/her 30s from the West Region.

Orleans is reporting 28 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are currently 10 Orleans County residents hospitalized with Covid.

Albion Central School is reporting a student from the high school has tested positive for Covid-19. Because the student was last in school on Jan. 21, the Department of Health has determined there is no need to quarantine any additional students or staff due to the 48-hour look-back period, the district stated on its website.

Medina Central School reported a student from the middle school has tested positive for Covid. The student has not been in school for almost two weeks. The Health Department has determined no further quarantines are necessary, said Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.

In Genesee County, there are 26 new positive cases of Covid-19. 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). Of the new cases, one is a resident of the Batavia VA Medical Center.

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

Genesee is reporting 32 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 21 residents hospitalized due to Covid.

The Health Departments noted two of the deaths in Genesee, both over age 65. One resided at Genesee Senior Living and one was at the Batavia VA Medical Center.

Vaccine Information: At this time all appointments are full. The G-O Health Departments encourage eligible people to keep monitoring in case people have canceled. People are encouraged to cancel their appointment if:

• they are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, the flu or a cold;
• if they have been placed on mandatory quarantine because they are identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive for Covid-19;
• or they can’t make the appointment for any other reason.

Canceling the appointment as soon as you are aware you can’t make it will open up a new appointment for someone else. Please make sure you cancel using the information on your confirmation sheet or by calling the provider. The health departments cannot cancel appointments for other providers.

To check for vaccination clinics in Genesee and Orleans counties, click here.

Number of active cases drops from 495 on Jan. 12 to 301 today

Orleans and Genesee counties today are reporting 100 new Covid-19 cases in the first update from the G-O Health Departments since Friday. That brings the combined total to 5,726 in the two counties since March with 3,687 in Genesee and 2,039 in Orleans.

In Orleans County there are 33 new positive cases of Covid-19. 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 and 80s. Of the new cases, 6 were on quarantine prior to testing positive.

Orleans also is reporting 66 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The number of active cases in the county has dropped 243 on Jan. 12 to 134 today. Six days ago on Jan. 19 there were 158 active cases in the county.

Orleans has 9 residents hospitalized due to Covid. There were 18 hospitalized on Jan. 19.

Albion Central School is reporting a middle school student and staff member have both tested positive for Covid-19.

“As the student learns fully remotely and hasn’t been in school since Nov. 30 and the staff member was last in school on Dec. 15, the Department of Health has determined there is no need to quarantine any additional students or staff due to the 48-hour look-back period,” the district posted on its website.

In Genesee County, there are 67 new positive cases since Friday. 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, 80s and 90s.

Of the new cases, 4 are residents of the Batavia VA Medical Center.

Correction from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments: The following case was double counted and has been retracted from today’s data; Case in his/her 20s from Bergen.

Genesee is reporting 130 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The number of active cases in the county is at 167 today, which is down from 199 on Jan. 19 and 252 on Jan. 12.

Genesee is reporting 24 residents are hospitalized due to Covid, which is more than double the 11 on Jan. 19.

• Vaccine Information: At this time all appointments are full, however the G-O Health Departments encourage those eligible to keep monitoring in case people have canceled. People are encouraged to cancel their appointment if they are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, the flu or a cold; if they have been placed on mandatory quarantine because they are identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19; or they can’t make the appointment for any other reason.

Canceling the appointment as soon as you are aware you can’t make it will open up a new appointment for someone else. Please make sure you cancel using the information on your confirmation sheet or by calling the provider. The health departments cannot cancel appointments for other providers.

To check for vaccination clinics in Genesee and Orleans counties, click here.

Statewide: Cuomo says state’s rate of transmission has dropped below 1

Data and chart from Gov. Cuomo’s Office: This is each region’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days.

Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced that New York State’s rate of transmission, or Rt, has dropped below 1. An Rt of 1 or more means Covid-19 will spread quickly, Cuomo said.

Cuomo also announced that elective surgeries can resume in Erie County following a sustained decline in Western New York’s positivity rate. The county’s positivity has steadily declined for nearly three weeks, going from 8.6 percent on January 7 to 5.2 percent. Hospitalizations have declined from 427 on Dec. 31 to 323. The county’s hospital capacity is at 48 percent.

“We predicted that increased social activity would lead to a spike in Covid cases, and that the spike would eventually dissipate, and the ongoing fulfilment of that prediction is good news,” he said. “The rate of transmission—one of the most important numbers—has now declined below 1, meaning the virus is no longer spreading quickly. And when those numbers decrease, you can increase economic activity.”

Today’s data is summarized briefly below:

Today’s statewide data includes:

• Test Results Reported – 219,538
• Total Positive – 12,003
• Percent Positive – 5.47%
• Patient Hospitalization – 8,730 (+117)
• Number ICU – 1,522 (-5)
• Deaths – 167 (Total deaths in pandemic – 34,242)

Press Release, Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

BATAVIA – Next month’s Stand Up For Recovery Day is a virtual event this year but the question it poses reflects the reality that everyone can contribute to helping those suffering with substance use disorders.

Staff at The Recovery Station, a program of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, are asking those who wish to support the effort to post a video or picture that answers the following:

“What do you stand up for when it comes to recovery?”

Sue Gagne, coordinator of The Recovery Station, is inviting all community members to voice their support or showcase their artistic talents for the cause.

“Whether you are an individual in recovery, family member, friend, or ally, you are an important part of our recovery community,” Gagne said. “We hope you join us in showing support for the recovery movement in Genesee and Orleans counties. You are not alone!”

Stand Up For Recovery Day is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, and features a full agenda of activities promoted by Friends of Recovery – New York (www.for-ny.org/surd-registration), including:

• Networking and sponsor presentations;
• Opening plenary session including entertainment by Katharine Pettit Creative (KPC) and George Feaster Band;
• Inspirational message, remarks by For-NY Board President Chacku Mathai and Executive Director Dr. Angelia Smith-Wilson;
• Presentation of the group’s policy statement by statewide recovery advocates;
• Remarks by partners from the New York state government and legislature;
• Presentations on advocacy by Richard Buckman and Ashley Livingston;
• Video Rally.

Optional events including a legislature chat session and virtual visits with area legislators.

Friends of Recovery –New York (FOR-NY) is a statewide Recovery Community Organization working on behalf of millions of individuals and families in New York to educate decision makers and the general public about recovery from addiction.

Leaders anticipate nearly 1,000 recovery warriors from various Recovery Community Organizations throughout the state to gather virtually in order to both celebrate recovery from addictions, but more so, to educate decision-makers and the general public about the recovery movement.

FOR-NY has identified its four priorities when it comes to help those in recovery as housing, personalized treatment and treatment on demand, recovery oriented systems of care, and transportation. It also supports racial justice as well as a public health response to Covid-19 which is inclusive of the recovery community.

For more information about the Stand Up For Recovery Day or The Recovery Station, contact Gagne at 585-815-5248. To support recovery efforts in Orleans County, call 585-210-8750.

Instead of 2,500 doses, G-O Health Departments getting 300

Press Release, Geneee and Orleans County Health Departments

Genesee and Orleans counties continue to work diligently to distribute the limited supply of vaccine received in their continued response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We were hoping to receive 2,500 doses of the vaccine between Genesee and Orleans counties but were made aware that is not going to occur because of the statewide shortage,” said Paul Pettit, Director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “We realize that those who hoped to schedule appointments this week are going to be very upset as well and we are disappointed to have to give them this news.”

The state allocations were the same as the week before at 250,000, but the county health departments are only receiving 300 doses total between the two this week which will be utilized for 1B essential workers per the state’s directive.

Those over 65 should continue to seek vaccine from their providers, pharmacies and the state sites. Appointments for vaccine are currently online ONLY. Last week the county-run clinics were able administer approximately 1,050 doses.

“At GCC on Friday alone, we were able to administer approximately 550 doses of the vaccine in a seamless fashion. On average, people got their shots and were able to leave the testing sites within 20 minutes,” Matt Landers, Genesee County Manager said. “As a result of our experience in operating the Covid-19 testing sites, our workforce and community volunteers have been able to replicate this into a smooth operation at the vaccination sites when vaccine supplies are readily available.”

We ask those who are 65 and older, part of Priority Group 1B, to continue to check the clinic schedules and as requested by the state, to use the pharmacy links. Pharmacies and other sites that are part of the “retail network” are working to provide vaccine to the 65 and older population as they receive vaccine.

How the pharmacies set up their appointments are determined by the pharmacies and the state. The local Health Departments or OFAs do not have insight on how pharmacy clinics are run. Keep checking the site links as many of the pharmacies may not have received vaccine.

If you do not have a computer/internet access, please contact your Office for the Aging for assistance. For Genesee County call 585-813-2457 between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and for Orleans County call 585-589-3191 between 9:30-4:30 Monday through Friday and they will assist you as best as they can.

Please check the following links: For clinic schedules when vaccine is available and information about vaccination clinics, click here. Please note the registration links are subject to change and will be updated.

For the NYS-run Vaccine Clinics, click here. Clinics are only open when there is vaccine available. You currently can only register for an appointment online. Each provider is responsible for their own registration and setup. The Health Departments are only responsible for the clinics they sponsor. Please do not call the host sites for the County Vaccination Clinics…they are only providing the space and cannot assist with registration or questions.

You must return to the provider where you initially got your first shot, for your second shot. You must also get the same vaccine brand as your first shot. The appointment is to be made for you while you are there for your first shot.

Currently 3^rd lowest of 10 regions in the state for positive percentage

The Finger Lakes Region, which had the highest positivity rate for Covid-19 tests in the state earlier this month, now is the third lowest of the 10 regions.

As recently as Jan. 7, the Finger Lakes had a seven-day average for positive tests over 10 percent (10.22 percent). Orleans and eight other counties are considered to be in the Finger Lakes by the state.

It dropped below 6 percent on Friday (5.78 percent) for the seven-day average. On Saturday the seven-day average dipped to 5.52 percent. Only the Southern Tier at 3.23 percent and Central New York at 5.34 percent were lower. (Western New York was at 5.89 percent and Long Island had the state’s highest percent at 6.99 percent.)

State-wide the governor said New York is making progress but the numbers are still too high.

Hospitalizations state-wide due to Covid declined by 189 on Saturday to 8,613. The Finger Lakes had 692 people hospitalized with Covid on Saturday. The Region hit a high for Covid hospitalization on Dec. 28 with 964.

“The Covid war still needs to be fought, and while many feel Covid fatigue, that is a luxury we cannot afford,” Gov. Cuomo said in a statement today. “If we tire before the enemy, the enemy wins – it’s that simple. I am confident that we can defeat this and rebuild stronger than ever before. Until that day comes, I encourage all New Yorkers to keep fighting the good fight together – wear a mask, social distance and avoid gatherings.”

Orleans County is reporting 24 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, which puts the county past 2,000 since last March.

The county is now at 2,006 cases during the pandemic. That represents 5 percent of the county’s population of 40,352.

Of those cases, 71 have resulted in deaths of Orleans County residents. The vast majority, 1,566, have recovered and been released from mandatory isolation. Those recoveries don’t include cases in nursing homes and prisons, which are regulated by the state Department of Health. Orleans also currently has 167 people on mandatory isolation who have tested positive.

Of the new cases reported today, they live 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.

Of the new cases, five of the individuals were on quarantine prior to testing positive. One of the new cases is a resident of the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.

Orleans is also reporting 26 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The county has 13 residents hospitalized due to Covid.

• Albion Central School is pleased to announce there weren’t any new positive cases of Covid-19 reported to the district over the course of this week.

“We’d like to thank our staff, students, and community members for continuing to participate in proper handwashing, wearing face masks covering your nose and mouth, physical distancing and limiting your group activities, especially where social/physical distancing is difficult,” the district posted on its website. “You’ve helped to keep our students learning, safely in school and we appreciate all of your support.”

• Medina Central School is reporting three new confirmed cases of Covid-19 among students. Two of those are in the high school and in both cases the students had not been in school prior to becoming symptomatic so no further quarantines are necessary. The other student is in the elementary school and had been on quarantine. The Health Department has determined no further quarantines are necessary, said Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.

In Genesee County,  there are 76 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported today for a total of 3,621 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).

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

Correction from yesterday: The following case was double counted and has been retracted from today’s data – a case in his/her 30s from Batavia.

Of the new cases reported today, 5 are residents of the Leroy Village Green Residential

Healthcare Facility, 2 are residents of the Batavia VA Medical Center, and 2 are residents of the New York State Veteran’s Home at Batavia. (Correction: 1 of the previously reported cases is a resident at the New York State Veteran’s Home at Batavia.)

Genesee also is reporting 37 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments also said 18 Genesee residents are currently hospitalized due to Covid.

• Health Alert – People should monitor themselves for symptoms of Covid-19 if they were at Batavia Downs Gaming on Jan. 17 from about 2 to 5 p.m.

If the symptoms develop, contact a primary care provider to seek testing immediately and self-isolate until the test results are received.

Symptoms of Covid-19 include but are not limited to fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

• NY Allowing High-Risk High School Sports – As a region, the local health departments of the Finger Lakes (including Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Livingston, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Seneca and Yates counties) are in support of re-opening high-risk sports but want to make sure it’s done safely and uniformly.

“As a region, we will be discussing and drafting additional guidance with our school partners to ensure a consistent, regional approach,” the G-O Health Departments stated in this evening’s news briefing. “We are planning to provide that guidance early next week.”

2 counties have 3 more deaths from Covid

Orleans and Genesee counties combined are reporting 75 more cases of Covid-19 today for a total of 5,529 cases during the pandemic.

The two counties combined also have three more deaths from Covid with two in Orleans for 71 total during the pandemic and one in Genesee for 101 total during the pandemic.

In Orleans County, there are 37 new positive cases reported today for a total of 1,983 confirmed cases since March.

The positive cases are residents 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.

None of the new positive individuals were on quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

Of the new cases, 8 are residents of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina and 1 of the new positive cases is an inmate at the Albion Correctional Facility.

Orleans also is reporting 20 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The county also has 12 residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.

• Rapid Test results from clinic at Fairgrounds: Orleans County conducted a rapid test clinic on Wednesday at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. There were 382 people tested and 3.9 percent of the total or 15 were positive for Covid, including 12 Orleans County residents.

There is another rapid test clinic set for Jan. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Fairgrounds. Click here to be directed to the state site for registering for the free test.

• Lyndonville Central School is reporting that afternoon the district was notified that a student has tested positive for Covid-19. The student was last present on district property on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Contact tracing was completed in collaboration with the Orleans County Health Department.  As a result, some students and staff members were placed under quarantine by the Orleans County Health Department.

“We will continue to support the Health Department by providing any required information for their process and will adhere to their directives,” District Superintendent Jason Smith said in a letter posted on the district website.

In Genesee County, there are 38 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 3,546 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases are residents 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 80s.

Genesee also is reporting 28 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 17 residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.

Courtesy of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments: Here are graphs showing the 90-day rolling average in Genesee and Orleans counties.

• Covid-19 related fatality data: The G-O Health Departments said they are only able to report the number of Covid-related deaths that are provided by the hospitals, nursing homes and family members.

The hospitals and nursing homes are not required to report these deaths to the local health departments, but have been as they are able. Please note the chart will now include the state fatalities link on Monday through Thursday and will include the state’s updated data on the Friday report. Click here to see the state data on Covid deaths per county.

Orleans will have clinics at Ridgeway Fire Hall while GCC hosts the events in Genesee

Orleans and Genesee counties are announcing they will be hosting vaccine clinics.

Orleans will administer Covid-19 vaccinations on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. starting Tuesday, January 26, at the Ridgeway Fire Hall (11392 Ridge Road, Medina, NY).

Vaccinations for the Orleans County vaccine clinic are through online appointment only (click here for more information).

Genesee will administer the vaccines on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Genesee Community College (1 College Road, Batavia, NY) starting Monday, January 25.

Vaccinations for the GCC clinics are through online appointment only (click here for more information).

Vaccinations at both sites will be conducted inside and are based on the availability of the vaccine, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

“As we have stressed since the vaccine became available and the number of people eligible to receive the vaccine has increased significantly, we are urging people to be patient,” said Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments Director Paul Pettit. “Everything regarding scheduling a vaccine appointment no matter if you are trying through the county health department, through a local pharmacy or for the state-run clinics is being funneled to the state’s data management page.”

People should not be calling the health departments, vaccination sites such as pharmacies or their provider to schedule a test, the local public health officials said.

The registration links will direct people to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) website specific to available appointments for that provider. If a person visits the Genesee County Department of Health Vaccine Webpage, click the Clinic Schedule button and click one of the listed provider links to schedule an appointment. People will be directed to the appointment page on NYSDOH data management system for that provider’s vaccine clinic.

Those making appointments should be aware that the state appointment system has experienced technical issues due to the volume of people trying to access it for appointments.

If a person tries to schedule an appointment at a local pharmacy e.g. Tops Markets, Rite-Aid, etc. by visiting their website, whatever link you click on will direct you to the NYSDOH website for that location. Providers’ clinic schedules are subject to change based on vaccine availability.

Pettit noted that there are approximately 50,000 residents in Genesee and Orleans currently eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccine and approximately 1,600 doses available this week, although all appointments are full. Vaccine allocation is on a week-by-week schedule, with the possibility of no vaccine to each of the providers requesting it.

“This is resulting in people receiving the message of ‘no appointments available’ when clicking on the link and we are being told anecdotally that some people keep clicking on the link for hours at a time and getting this same message,” Pettit said. “We don’t want to deter people for going on-line and trying to schedule an appointment, but we want to make them aware of what to expect because it can get frustrating very easily.”

Please continue to monitor the local vaccine site and the state site for a list of additional clinics to receive the vaccine.

Genesee County reaches 100 deaths from Covid

There are 83 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Genesee and Orleans counties today, bringing the combined total in the two counties to 5,454 since March.

Genesee County is reporting the death of a resident over age 65 who lived at Genesee Senior Living in Batavia. This is the 100^th death from Covid in Genesee County, according to the state Department of Health.

“We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individual and their family,” the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said in a news briefing today. “Our deepest condolences to the family and friends during this very difficult time.”

Orleans County also is reporting a death from Covid, a person over age 65. This person wasn’t a nursing home resident and lived in the community, the Health Departments said. The state DOH data says Orleans County has had 69 residents die from Covid during the pandemic.

In Orleans County today there are also 28 new confirmed cases to report for a total of 1,946 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 and 70s.

None of the new cases were people on quarantine prior to testing positive.

Of the new cases, four are residents of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Orleans is reporting 20 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The county currently has 13 individuals hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County, there are 55 new positive cases of Covid for a total of 3,508 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). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Genesee is reporting that 57 more people have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The county has 15 residents hospitalized due to Covid.

• Covid-19 related fatality data: The G-O Health Departments said they are only able to report the number of Covid-related deaths that are provided by the hospitals, nursing homes and family members.

The hospitals and nursing homes are not required to report these deaths to the local health departments, but have been as they are able. Please note the chart will now include the state fatalities link on Monday through Thursday and will include the state’s updated data on the Friday report. Click here to see the state data on Covid deaths per county.

GCC will host vaccine clinics in Genesee County, beginning this week

Vaccine clinics will begin this week in Genesee County at GCC in Batavia and next week in Orleans County at the Ridgeway Fire Hall.

That doesn’t mean there is an abundance of vaccine locally. Paul Pettit, the public health director for Genesee and Orleans, said supply still is far short of demand.

He said doing the clinics at a lower volume in the beginning will have the two counties prepared when the vaccine supply increases.

GCC in Batavia will host the vaccine clinics on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while Ridgeway hosts the events in Orleans on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Some of the details are still being worked out and Pettit said the local health Departments will release more information soon.

The Orleans County Health Department this week is expecting 200 doses of the vaccine, with another 100 at Orleans Community health, and additional supply at some pharmacies. Pettit said the registrations to sign up for the vaccines quickly fill up.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is trying to get more vaccines from the federal government, to then release to the regions of the state to distribute. He knows many people are frustrated by the process so far, with many people declared eligible for the vaccine, but not nearly enough is available to fill the need right now.

“We are doing the best we can with what we have been given,” Pettit told elected officials in Orleans County in a conference call this evening.

The public clinics at GCC and Ridgeway will be “vaccine pending,” Pettit said.

“If more vaccine becomes available we’ll be able to scale up,” he said.

The two counties combined this week expect to have 1,600 doses, which includes the pharmacy providers in both counties, the hospitals in both counties and both Health Departments. Some of the people vaccinated with the first dose also will soon need the second dose of the vaccine.

At this time all appointments are full, the Health Department said, but encouraged people to check in case people have canceled. People are encouraged to cancel their appointment if they are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, the flu or a cold, and if they have been placed on mandatory quarantine because they are identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive.

To check for vaccination clinics in Genesee and Orleans counties, click here.