Chart information from Governor’s Office.

The Finger Lakes Region continues to have among the highest positivity rates for Covid-19 tests in the state, and the region also has the highest percent of Covid patients hospitalized in NY.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo provided an update on Saturday of the state’s fight against the spread of Covid. The state on Friday set a new record high for Covid tests, with 258,031 results reported with 16,943 positive for a positivity rate of 6.57 percent.

The Mohawk Valley had the highest percent positive at 10.50 percent, followed by the Finger Lakes at 9.83 percent.

The nine-county Finger Lakes Region, which include Orleans County, has 887 people hospitalized with Covid, for 0.07 percent of the population, well above the state-wide percentage of 0.04 percent.

The number of people hospitalized with Covid in the state declined on Friday by 34 to 8,527. There were 188 Covid-related deaths for 31,519 confirmed Covid-related deaths in the state since March.

Cuomo on Saturday also announced three additional cases of the more contagious UK strain of the Covid-19 virus have been identified in New York. Two of the cases are connected to the initial discovery of the UK strain identified in Saratoga Springs, while a third case, unrelated to the Saratoga Springs exposures, has been traced back to an individual living in Massapequa, Nassau County.

The cases were sequenced through Department of Health’s Wadsworth laboratory which has analyzed more than 2,200 viral sequences as part of the state’s UK strain testing program.

“The UK strain is here, it is real, and the Usain Bolt-like speed through which it spreads is nothing short of frightening,” Cuomo said. “There’s no mystery as to how it got here – it got on a plane and flew here from Europe, just like the original strain did. Yet, the federal government continues to refuse to learn from the spring and mandate testing for all international travelers. Their failure to act means the rest of us need to be that much more vigilant in our work to stop the spread, as well as do all we can to accelerate the distribution of the vaccine.”

The pace is increasing in administering vaccine doses of Covid-19. New York has administered 543,147 doses so far. In the first week (Dec. 14-Dec. 20) there were 33,709 doses administered, followed by 102,190 doses in the second week (Dec. 21-Dec.27), 148,165 doses in week three (Dec. 28-Jan. 3) and 259,083 doses so far in week four, which started Jan. 4.

“The good news – a new testing record has been set. The bad news – three more cases of the UK Covid strain have been found,” Cuomo said. “If we are to beat Covid once and for all, we need to win the footrace between how fast the infection rate rises and how fast vaccinations are administered.”

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has issued a press release to the public in light of the recent steady increase of Covid-19 cases in Orleans Community Hospital.

The information comes from Jessica Capurso, director of Education, Outreach and Marketing at the hospital’s Community Partners.

With the onset of Covid-19, Orleans Community Health went immediately into “ready mode” and braced for the impact this would have on the community. All elective services were mandated to be shut down, walk-in services at Medina Memorial Hospital and the Middleport lab draw station were placed on hold and a multitude of restrictions, processes and procedures were put in place to ensure the safety of residents, staff and community.

For the most part, Orleans County and Orleans Community Health’s Medina Memorial Hospital have managed to remain under the radar and had only experienced a limited amount of cases. The hospital has since been able to resume elective services and added pre-registration for all lab and imaging services.

In addition, Orleans Community Health is providing Covid-19 screening, testing, and most recently began administering Covid-19 vaccinations. Dedicated healthcare workers are taking on extra shifts and filling in for roles they would not normally be working, Capurso said. She added they are so very proud of everything they do for patients and the community members.

If one reviews the daily reports that are received from the Department of Health, they will notice for the past six weeks the number of Covid-19 positive cases has been on a steady rise, resulting in an uptick in the Emergency Room cases that are being received at Medina Memorial Hospital, along with an uptick in the number of those patients being admitted into the hospital.

The hospital is asking the community to please continue to do their part and take every precaution they can to slow the spread of Covid-19. This includes wearing a mask covering the mouth and nose (a cloth mask should be washed after every use).

Do not wear the mask under your chin or store it in your pocket between uses. Clean hands often, either with soap and water for 20 seconds or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Put distance between yourself and other people (at least six feet).

“We ask this not only because we want you to remain healthy, but because we do not want to be mandated to shut down elective services again in our community,” Capurso said. “We want to continue providing these services to our community and it takes all of us working together to achieve this goal.”

For more information on the vaccine, click here.

Information on testing is available by calling (585) 589-2273 to make an appointment at the Albion Healthcare Center on Route 31.

Other information on ways to further help the hospital can be obtained by contacting Heather Smith, Orleans Community Health Foundation director at (585) 798-8426.

Those who would like to work with the hospital can click here for more information.

There are 100 new reported cases of Covid-19 today in Genesee and Orleans counties, bringing the total to 4,530 in the two counties since March. That’s also 705 cases in the two counties so far in January.

In Orleans County, there are 32 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today for a total of 1,644 positive cases since March.

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, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Of the new cases, 6 of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Orleans also is reporting 48 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list. That reduces the number of active Covid cases in the county from 279 on Thursday, a high in the pandemic, to 263 today.

Orleans has 14 residents hospitalized with Covid.

• Albion Central School reported two students have tested positive for Covid-19. One is a hybrid learner from the high school, and the other is a hybrid learner from the elementary school.

The elementary student was last in school on Jan. 5 and the high school student was last in school yesterday, Jan. 7. The district has notified any anticipated students and staff members who are deemed to have been in close contact with the infected students, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of Health, the district stated on the school website.

In Genesee County, there are 68 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 2,886 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and the 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, 3 are residents at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, 3 are residents at the Batavia VA Medical Center, and 1 is a resident at the New York State Veterans’ Home at Batavia.

Genesee is reporting 66 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. The number of active cases is down from 238 on Thursday to 222 today.

Genesee has 26 residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Positivity rate at 6.7 percent for asymptomatic people at testing clinics

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jack Welch, Orleans County chief administrative officer, assisted at the rapid test clinic on Wednesday at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. He is shown in a driver’s side mirror of a car in line. 

Orleans County has hosted four rapid Covid-19 test clinics, with the first on Dec. 16. There have been 2,035 tests administered in the four clinics, and 136 have come back positive for a positivity rate of 6.7 percent.

The county’s public health director expects the clinics, which are free to those being tested, to continue weekly through at least the end of January.

The clinics are targeted for asymptomatic people who may have had a close contact with someone Covid positive or may need a Covid test for their job, a medical appointment or to visit a loved one in a nursing home.

“Please note if you have recently tested positive, please do not come and get tested again at these clinics,” the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments advises. “These clinics are to identify new cases, not to determine if you are now negative.”

Here are results from the first four clinics:

• Dec. 16: 12 positive out of 420 tests, 2.9 percent positive

• Dec. 21: 22 positive out of 546 tests, 4.0 percent positive

• Dec. 28: 54 positive out of 532 tests, 10.2 percent positive

• Jan. 6: 48 positive out of 537 tests, 8.9 percent positive

Orleans County will next host a clinic on Wednesday, Jan. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Click here to register on the state Department of Health website.

Genesee County will host rapid test clinics next Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Genesee County Emergency Management/Fire Training Center at 7690 State Street Rd., Batavia. Click here for registration information from the state.

Those getting tested also need to complete an intake form from the G-O Health Departments. Click here for more information.

Mike Beach of Albion greets people at the rapid test clinic, making sure they have an appointment and an intake form completed. Drivers enter the fairgrounds from the west end on Taylor Hill Road.

Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming have 718 residents currently Covid-positive

This graph is from the health departments in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. The graph for Genesee shows a high of 343 on Dec. 19, but health department officials say that should instead say 247.

The three rural counties of Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming combined have 718 active Covid-19 cases today, the most during the pandemic.

Orleans, with 279 active cases, leads the three counties. Genesee is at 238 and Wyoming is at 201.

A week ago on Dec. 31 the three counties were at 475 active cases with 202 in Orleans, 169 in Genesee and 104 in Wyoming.

An active case is someone who has tested positive but hasn’t been cleared from mandatory isolation. If people test positive for Covid, they must be in mandatory isolation for at least 10 days, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

They are cleared after they have been fever free the last 3 days with symptom improvement. Sadly, if people die after contracting Covid, that also is no longer an active case.

The cases have continued a surge that started in November, increased in December and has continued in January.

Genesee’s current active caseload of 238 is actually down from the high of 269 on Dec. 7. But Orleans and Wyoming are both at record highs of active cases during the pandemic.

Orleans reached 200 active cases for the first time on Dec. 31 with 202. It was at 241 on Tuesday, then 232 on Wednesday before jumping up to 279 today.

Wyoming County has nearly doubled in active cases in the past week, going from 104 on Dec. 31 to 201 today. Wyoming was at 160 on Tuesday, 171 on Wednesday and then went over 200 for the first time today.

Active cases top 500 in 2 rural counties

There are 137 new confirmed Covid-19 cases to report today in Genesee and Orleans counties, the local health departments reported. There are 517 active cases in the two counties, with 279 in Orleans and 238 in Genesee.

In Orleans County, there are 78 new positive cases of Covid for a total of 1,612 positive cases since March.

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, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Of the new cases, 3 were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Of the new cases, one is a resident of the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion and one is a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.

Orleans County hosted a rapid Covid test clinic on Wednesday at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville. Of the 537 who were tested, 48 were positive and 46 of those were Orleans residents.

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

There are 14 Orleans County residents hospitalized due to Covid.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments also removed one person from yesterday’s total due to the person not being a resident of Orleans County.

• Lyndonville Central School reported a staff member who was present at the district today has tested positive. That staff member has immediately begun isolation at home.

Contact tracing was completed in collaboration with the Orleans County Health Department.    As a result, no staff or students are deemed close contacts. Therefore, there are no staff or student quarantines related to this individual case, District Superintendent Jason Smith said in a letter on the district website.

A Lyndonville student has also tested positive for Covid. The student was last present on district property on Thursday. Contact tracing was completed in collaboration with the Orleans County Health Department, resulting in the quarantine of a several students. These families have been contacted by school staff, and the Health Department will also follow up, Smith said.

• Medina Central School is reporting today that a student and a staff member in the high school have tested positive for Covid-19. They were both on precautionary quarantine. The Health Department has determined that no further quarantines are required from school contact other than those that have already been notified, said Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.

An elementary student also has tested positive and the district is in process of notifying the families of anyone who may have come into close contact with the student.

“Out of an abundance of caution, this student’s classroom with switch to 100 percent virtue during the quarantine period,” Kruzynski said in a letter today posted on the district website.

In Genesee County, there are 59 new positive cases of Covid-19 reported today for a total of 2,818 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.

Of the new cases reported today, 3 are residents at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Batavia, 1 is a resident at the Batavia VA Medical Center, and 1 is a resident at the New York State Veterans’ Home at Batavia.

Genesee is reporting 39 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 26 residents hospitalized with a Covid-related illness.

Press Release, Finger Lakes Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force

ROCHESTER – Nearly 60 regional leaders will gather virtually at 4 p.m. today to ensure equity, transparency, and efficiency in COVID-19 immunization efforts, with a goal of vaccinating at least 70% of adult residents of the Finger Lakes Region.

The Finger Lakes Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force was convened by Monroe County Executive Adam Bello and Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, and will be chaired by Dr. Nancy Bennett, the lead for the Finger Lakes COVID-19 Hub at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground Health. Paul Pettit, public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties, is a member of the group.

While Covid-19 has presented an unprecedented challenge nationally and locally, the Vaccine Task Force allows the region to harness the reach and talents of organizations throughout the nine Finger Lakes counties of Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.

“The Finger Lakes Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force will play an important role in helping to answer questions and serve as a point of contact for residents across our region as we continue through the early stages of the Covid-19 vaccination process. We understand there are going to be questions, but we want to ensure everyone has accurate answers to make an informed decision about getting the vaccine,” said Bello. “The task force will be made up of members who represent the diversity of our region – from urban, suburban and rural communities, business leaders, medical professionals, community members and everything in between.”

The advisory group includes representatives from Rochester Regional Health, the University of Rochester Medical Center, safety net practices, the City of Rochester and other municipal and county governments, non-profits, residents, business, labor, education and more. The task force will advise the Finger Lakes Regional Hub, the state-designated organization for coordinating the supply, distribution and delivery of Covid-19 vaccines across the region.

It will also oversee strategies and tactics for guaranteeing that every adult in our region has the information and access they need to make an informed choice about vaccination.

“We have learned that if we don’t want to leave any populations behind, we have to make sure that historically marginalized groups have a seat at the table where decisions are made,” said Wade S. Norwood, task force co-chair.

“Different groups need different approaches, from religious communities both rural and urban to migrant workers in farming communities, to Black folks in city neighborhoods,” said Norwood. “By representing the true diversity of our region, the task force will help us build a foundation of trust and transparency among communities and organizations.”

Nancy “Nana” Bennett, MD, task force co-chair said: “I am honored to help lead our region’s efforts to deliver Covid-19 vaccine to each and every member of our community safely, quickly and fairly. The task is huge, but our community has proven time and time again that we can come together for the good of all.  The Task Force will guide us at every step of the process, and ensure that vaccine administration in our region is equitable, transparent, and efficient.”

Task Force Member Jerome Underwood, president and CEO of Action for a Better Community said: “The task force will allow us to quickly disseminate accurate information about the vaccines to people who rely on agencies like ABC for critical information. As a trusted messenger, we have an obligation to educate the individuals we serve—individuals who are often economically, socially or emotionally marginalized. We will use our deep community connections to help residents make informed decisions for themselves and their families.”

Genesee reports 2 more deaths for 28 since Dec. 1

There are 87 more confirmed Covid-19 cases to report today in Genesee and Orleans counties, including 26 at nursing homes in Batavia and Le Roy, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported in an afternoon daily news briefing.

In Orleans County, there are 34 new positive cases of Covid, bringing the total to 1,535 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and the East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. Of the new cases, 6 were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Orleans today also is reporting 42 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There 17 Orleans County residents hospitalized with Covid, down from 19 on Tuesday.

The G-O Health Departments said 1 individual has been removed from yesterday’s total due to the person not being a resident of Orleans County.

Albion Central School reports today that three staff members have tested positive for Covid-19. Two work in the Elementary School and the other works district-wide.

They were last in school on Dec. 23. Due to the 48-hour lookback period, the Department of Health determined there was no need for contact tracing or the quarantine of additional students and staff members, the district stated on its website.

Holley Central School is reporting an elementary teacher has tested positive for Covid-19. The last day the teacher was in school was Monday.

“The health department is still processing this case and we will cooperate with them,” said Brian Bartalo, the district superintendent. “If warranted, any official decision on mandatory quarantining of students or staff members will come directly from the health department. If the health department indicates to us that there is quarantining required for the students (Red Hawks) who may have had close contact with this teacher on Monday, 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.”

Medina Central School on Monday reported several cases from winter break. Anyone associated with these cases due to school contact has already been contacted, Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, said in a letter.

The positive cases include a student and a staff member in the high school, three students and one teacher in the middle school, two students and two teachers in the elementary school.

In Genesee County, 53 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 2,759 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.

Genesee also is reporting today that 47 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 25 residents hospitalized with Covid, up from 21 on Tuesday.

Of the new cases, 16 are residents at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Batavia, 7 are residents at the LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility, 2 are residents at Genesee Senior Living in Batavia, and 1 is a resident at the New York State Veterans’ Home at Batavia.

Genesee is reporting two more deaths due to Covid, for 35 during the pandemic and 28 since Dec. 1. The deaths reported today include a resident of Genesee Senior Living and a resident at Leroy Village Green. Both of the individuals were over 65 years old.

“We will not be releasing any further information to protect the privacy of the individual and their family,” the G-O Health Departments said. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of these individuals during this difficult time.”

Hospitalizations due to Covid rise in both counties

The two counties of Genesee and Orleans are reporting 116 more confirmed cases of Covid, and both counties are seeing an increase in hospitalizations due to Covid, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

In Orleans County, there are 25 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported today, bringing the total to 1,502 positive cases since March.

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, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Of the new cases, only 1 was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments reported.

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

The county has 19 residents currently hospitalized with Covid, up from 16 on Monday..

In Genesee County, there are 91 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 2,706 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.

Of the new cases, 1 is a resident at the LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility, where 90 residents have now tested positive for Covid during the pandemic.

Genesee also has 35 more of the previous positive individuals recover and be removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 21 residents hospitalized with Covid, up from 11 on Monday and 4 last Wednesday.

Genesee also is reporting two more deaths from Covid, both nursing home residents. One was a resident of Genesee Senior Living and the other lived at Leroy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility. Both of the individuals were over 65 years old.

Genesee has now had 26 residents die since Dec. 1 due to a Covid-related illness.

• Health Alert – People should monitor themselves for symptoms of Covid-19 if they were at Denny’s Restaurant in Batavia from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 29 or Dec. 30.

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.

• Vaccine Information: Limited clinics are now open for only those in the Priority Group 1A. As of this release the following are included in this group:

• All outpatient/ambulatory frontline, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care, or other staff in a position in which they have direct contact with patients (i.e. intake staff) will be eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. This includes but is not limited to individuals who work in private medical practices, hospital-affiliated medical practices, public health clinics, specialty medical practices of all types, dental practices of all types, dialysis workers, diagnostic and treatment centers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, phlebotomists, behavioral health workers, and student health workers.

• All frontline, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including those conducting Covid-19 tests, those handling Covid-19 lab specimens and Covid-19 vaccinations.
• Home care workers and aides, hospice workers, personal care aides, and consumer-directed personal care workers,
• Staff and residents of nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and adult care facilities.

For Genesee County 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 or e-mail Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us. For Orleans County 585-589-3278 or OCPublicHealth@orleanscountyny.gov. To check eligibility, click here.

The vaccine availability is limited and determined by the state. For more information on when it will be available for the general public, keep checking the Genesee and Orleans County Health Department websites or the NYS Department of Health website.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday announced the latest prioritization for New Yorkers eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

Beginning yesterday, eligibility is being expanded to include all outpatient/ambulatory front-line, high-risk health care workers who provide direct in-person patient care, as well as all public health care workers who provide direct in-person care, including those who conduct Covid-19 tests and handle lab specimens.

Beginning this week, eligibility will also be expanded to include home care workers, hospice workers, and nursing home and other congregate setting workers who have yet to receive a vaccine through the federal nursing home vaccination program.

“While we’re trying to control Covid with one hand, we’re trying to defeat it with the other and the vaccine is the weapon that will win this war,” Governor Cuomo said. “Getting this vaccine out is going to be the single greatest operation government has ever had to accomplish and we’re taking bold actions to ensure it is delivered swiftly and equitably for all New Yorkers.”

Continued Expansion of Eligibility

Under the Department of Health’s most recent eligibility guidance, beginning January 4, all Outpatient/Ambulatory front-line, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care, or other staff in a position in which they have direct contact with patients will be eligible to receive Covid-19 vaccine.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Individuals who work in private medical practices
• Hospital-affiliated medical practices; public health clinics
• Specialty medical practices of all types
• Dental practices of all types
• Dialysis workers
• Diagnostic and treatment centers
• Occupational therapists
• Physical therapists
• Speech therapists
• Phlebotomists
• Behavioral health workers
• Student health workers

Additionally, all front-line, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including individuals who administer Covid-19 tests, handle Covid-19 lab specimens, and those directly engaged in Covid-19 vaccinations are also eligible to receive the vaccine.

Eligibility also expands this week to include home care workers, those in the consumer directed programs, hospice workers, and staff of nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities and other congregate settings who did not receive the Covid-19 vaccination through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program.

• New Efforts to Expedite Vaccine Delivery and Administration

As part of New York’s effort to further expedite the delivery and administration of the Covid-19 vaccine, a number of efforts are now underway.

New ‘Am I Eligible?’ App

New York State has launched a new ‘Am I Eligible ” app to help New Yorkers determine their eligibility, connect them with administration centers, and schedule appointments. To access the app, as well as find the latest information concerning the vaccine and its administration, click here.

Supplemental Support for Federal Nursing Home Vaccination Program

Currently, 611 facilities in New York have enrolled in the federal government’s Nursing Home Vaccination Program, in which staff and residents receive vaccinations through a partnership with pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.

According to the latest data, 288 facilities – or 47 percent – have completed the first dose for residents. Through state facilitation, 234 more facilities will administer the first dose this week. This will ensure that 85 percent of facilities have administered the first dose to residents by week’s end, with the remaining 15 percent to be completed over the next two weeks.

Planning for Vaccination of General Public

As the state moves closer to the vaccination of the general public, a number of special efforts are now underway to ensure resources are in place to facilitate widespread vaccination, especially in underserved communities.

First, the state will establish a number of pop-up vaccination centers to facilitate public vaccinations, similar to the state-run mobile testing centers which were established in the spring. The state is also identifying public facilities and convention centers to also be used as vaccination centers, and is recruiting retired nurses, doctors and pharmacists to support vaccine administrations.

A main focus of these efforts will also be focused on ensuring vaccine access in underserved communities and health care deserts. The state is already in the process of building Community Vaccination Kits to support these efforts and will work with public housing officials, churches and community centers to identify the most appropriate locations for kit deployments.

Each kit includes step-by-step instructions for how to set up a site, and critical supplies and equipment such as:

• Office Supplies
• Workstation Equipment
• Communications Equipment
• Cleaning Supplies
• Lighting Equipment
• PPE
• Crowd/Traffic Control Equipment
• Vials
• Syringes
• Room Dividers
• Privacy Curtains

Ensuring Accountability Within Vaccine Administration Process

The vaccine will only be effective if it is administered quickly and fairly across every corner of the state. To facilitate this, New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker issued a letter to vaccine providers in recent days outlining the expectations which have been placed on providers to ensure an expedited administration of the vaccine. This included:

Any provider must use the vaccine inventory currently in hand by the end of week or face a fine up to $100,000;

Moving forward, facilities must use all of its vaccine allotment within seven days of receipt;

Providers who do not comply or are found to be seriously deficient can be subject to more serious sanctions and fines, including being disqualified from future distribution

Additionally, with fraud being a real concern of any operation this size, the Governor is signing an Executive Order stating that if any entity falsifies who or what they are, or if any entity does not follow state guidelines on vaccine eligibility, that provider will be subject to license revocation. The Governor will also be proposing legislation to make these acts criminal moving forward.

2 counties combined pass 4,000 cases in pandemic

There are 267 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Genesee and Orleans counties, in the first update since Thursday from the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments. The new cases put the combined total in the two counties past 4,000 to 4,092 since March.

In Orleans County, there are 101 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 1,477 positive cases since March.

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, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Of the new cases, 8 of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Orleans also is reporting 65 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.

There are 16 residents from Orleans hospitalized with Covid.

The Health Department also is reporting a resident over age 65 passed away due to Covid.

“We will not report any other details out of respect for the person and their family,” the Health Department reported. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this person during this very difficult time.”

Albion Central School reported an elementary student and elementary school staff member tested positive for Covid-19 over winter break.

“As we were not in session, the Department of Health determined there was no need for contact tracing or the quarantine of additional students and staff members,” the district stated on its website.

In Genesee County, there are 166 new confirmed cases for a total of 2,615 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.

Of the new cases, 3 are residents at the Batavia VA Medical Center, 2 are residents at the LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility and 1 is a resident at the Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Batavia.

Genesee also has had 141 of the previous positive individuals recover and be removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 11 residents hospitalized with Covid.

Genesee also is reporting that 2 residents from LeRoy Village Green have passed away due to Covid. Both of the individuals were over 65 years old.

Positive rates rise in Finger Lakes Region, state-wide

New York State has passed some grim milestones this past week with 1 million cases of Covid-19 since March 1 and more than 30,000 deaths.

After 11,368 new confirmed cases were reported to the state on Saturday, the statewide count is now at 1,017,153 who have tested positive for the virus in New York.

On Saturday, there were also 138 deaths due to Covid, bringing the number of confirmed deaths in the state from Covid to 30,476 in the pandemic.

The percent of Covid tests that are positive continues to rise. The state was at 7.78 percent positive on Saturday, which was up from 7.55 percent on Friday and 7.20 percent on Thursday.

The Finger Lakes Region, which includes Orleans, topped 10 percent positivity on Friday and Saturday.

The state reported Orleans had 19 new positive on Saturday out of 212 tests, for a positive rate of 9.0 percent. The positivity rate in Orleans the past seven days is 9.3 percent, which is actually the second lowest of the nine counties in the Finger Lakes Region.

The other counties and their positive rates the past week include: Genesee is at 12.3 percent, Livingston at 10.7 percent, Monroe at 10.1 percent, Ontario at 10.5 percent, Seneca at 10.4 percent. Wayne at 9.8 percent, Wyoming at 14.2 percent, and Yates at 8.9 percent.

Press Release, Orleans County Health Department

The Orleans County Health Department and Orleans Community Health are working together to provide more rapid testing opportunities for residents.

“We have received the rapid testing Binax cards and Abbott machines and test kits through the New York State Department of Health,” stated Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health. “We have established a drive-through testing site at our Walk-in Care Clinic and are scheduling tests that best fits the needs of the resident.”

For patients that are exposed, have symptoms, need clearance for pre-operation, travel or nursing home visitation, we are here to assist you in getting the correct test you need. Please remember for exposure you should wait at least 3-5 days post exposure as it may be too soon to test. If you would like to speak to a provider regarding your symptoms and treatment you may schedule an audio tele-med visit for assessment and the need for testing.

“This is another opportunity for county residents to be tested as needed, and the rapid tests from NYSDOH are free,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Because the rapid testing supplies are provided by the State Department of Health there are no costs to those needing tests.”

“Services are limited due to staffing and testing protocol,”,” stated Nicole Helsdon, Office Manager for the Albion Walk-in Care Clinic. “We can only process a certain amount of tests per day. We ask that people be patient and call for an appointment at our office (585-589-2273) and follow the prompts. Our staff will return your call as soon as they are able to schedule your test.”

Residents are still encouraged to limit time with non-household members, wash hands frequently with soap and water / hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available, wear masks/face-coverings when out in public and keeping at least 6’ away from others in public. Limiting time in public helps to lower the spread, especially if you aren’t having friends and family to your home.

The most important thing to remember, that if you are sick with anything, please stay home. Contact your primary care provider for instructions.

Nearly 3,000 cases reported during month in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties

This graph from the health departments in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties shows how the cases have surged recently. Click here to see a detailed chart on cases in the three counties. This graph shows Genesee nearing the 2,500-case marker, Orleans getting close to 1,500 and Wyoming over the 1,000 marker.

December saw the biggest surge in Covid-19 cases during the pandemic in the three local rural counties of Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming.

There were 2,993 cases reported in the three rural counties that combined have about 140,000 people. Before December, there were 2,108 Covid cases in the three counties – since March.

November was a big spike, too, when the 1,133 cases in the three counties were more than the total for all three counties the first eight months of the pandemic.

But December was something else entirely. Those 2,993 cases are nearly 60 percent (58.7) of the total of 5,101 cases in the three counties since March.

All three counties saw a major uptick in cases in December, with Genesee the hardest hit with 1,495 new cases and 22 deaths. Orleans was up by 753 cases and Wyoming by 745.

The three counties, from March through October, had 975 Covid cases combined. At the end of November, the combined cases was at 2,108 and is now at 5,101 after Dec. 31.

Orleans was the hardest hit by Covid in cases – before November. In Orleans the cases were driven by an outbreak in the spring at two nursing homes, which combined had 147 cases by late June. In Late October, Orleans had the most of the three counties with 399 cases, followed by 375 in Genesee and 201 in Wyoming.

But the cases have really taken off in Genesee in November and December. Genesee has had 2,070 Covid cases the past two months.

Here is a monthly breakdown of the Covid cases and deaths in the three counties.

Orleans County (population: 40,352)

First case reported on March 18.

March – 6 cases, 0 deaths (6 cumulative cases, 0 deaths)

April – 89 cases, 11 deaths (95 cumulative, 11 deaths)

May –  126 cases, 25 deaths (221 cumulative, 36 deaths)

June – 45 cases, 18 deaths (266 cumulative, 54 deaths)

July – 10 cases, 1 death (276 cumulative, 55 deaths)

August – 12 cases, 0 deaths (288 cumulative, 55 deaths)

September – 29 cases, 0 deaths (317 cumulative, 55 deaths)

October – 82 cases, 0 deaths (399 cumulative, 55 deaths)

November – 224 cases, 2 deaths (623 cases cumulative, 57 deaths)

December – 753 cases, 5 deaths (1,376 cases cumulative, 62 deaths cumulative)

Genesee County (population: 57,280)

First case reported on March 17

March – 13 cases, 1 death (13 cumulative cases, 1 death)

April – 136 cases, 2 deaths (149 cumulative, 3 deaths)

May – 37 cases, 1 death (186 cumulative, 4 deaths)

June – 40 cases, 1 death (224 cumulative, 5 deaths)

July – 32 cases, 0 deaths (256 cumulative, 5 deaths)

August – 23 cases, 0 deaths (279 cumulative, 5 deaths)

September – 30 cases, 0 deaths (309 cumulative, 5 deaths)

October – 66 cases, 0 deaths (375 cumulative, 5 deaths)

November – 579 cases, 2 deaths (954 cumulative, 7 deaths)

December – 1,495 cases, 22 deaths (2,449 cumulative, 29 deaths)

Wyoming County (population: 40,085)

First case reported March 17

March – 8 cases, 1 death (8 cases cumulative, 1 death)

April – 60 cases 4 deaths (68 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

May – 12 cases, 0 deaths (80 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

June – 9 cases, 0 deaths (89 cumulative, 5 deaths)

July – 18 cases, 0 deaths (107 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

August – 12 cases, 0 deaths (120 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

September – 12 cases, 0 deaths (132 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

October – 69 cases, 0 deaths (201 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

November – 330 cases, 3 deaths (531 cases cumulative – including 87 inmates in state prisons – 8 deaths)

December – 745 cases, 11 deaths (1,276 cases cumulative, including 142 inmates at state prisons, 19 deaths)

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

In the final day of 2020, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported 109 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the two counties, bringing the total to 3,825 in the two counties since March.

Orleans County received 34 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 1,376 cases since March.

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, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. Of the new confirmed cases, 5 of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Of the new cases, 2 are residents of the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.

Orleans also is reporting 24 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

The county has 13 residents hospitalized with Covid, which is down from 21 on Wednesday.

A resident in the county under age 65 passed with Covid, which is the 62^nd resident to die with Covid this year.

“We are saddened to report the death of one of our community members,” the Health Departments said in a news briefing. “We will not report any other details out of respect for the person and their family. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this person during this very difficult time.”

In Genesee County, there 75 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 to report today, bringing the total to 2,449 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.

The county also is reporting today that 83 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 7 residents hospitalized with Covid, up from 4 on Wednesday.

Of the new cases, 4 are residents at LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility.

Correction: Please note there was a miscount for reporting the deaths yesterday. There are 29 Covid-19 related deaths in Genesee County, not 30.

Message from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments: Please note the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will be closed for the New Year’s Day holiday and will not be updating data until Monday afternoon. We thank each of you for your encouragement, assistance, diligence during this very extraordinary year.

We look forward to continuing to provide updated health information and wish each of you a safe, healthy and Happy New Year! We encourage everyone to limit their time in public and to celebrate virtually with family and friends who don’t live with you.