By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 February 2021 at 4:51 pm
Orleans County today is reporting 25 more new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 2,189 cases since last March.
The positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Of the new cases, two are residents at the Villages of Orleans Health & Rehabilitation Center in Albion and two inmates at the Orleans Correctional Facility, a men’s prison in Albion.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are also reporting four of the new positive individuals were on quarantine prior to testing positive.
Orleans also is reporting 11 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
There are also four residents hospitalized due to Covid.
Albion Central School reports an elementary school staff member has tested positive for Covid-19. The staff member was last in school on Jan. 29.
Students and staff members deemed to have been in close contact with the individual have been identified by the district and anyone needing to quarantine has been contacted by the Department of Health, the district stated on its website.
Holley Central School reported on Monday that a Middle/High School staff member tested positive for Covid-19. The last day this person was in the district was Jan. 29.
The Health Department has indicated to us that there will be no quarantining required of any students or staff members due to close contact with this individual at the school.
In Genesee County there are 9 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 3,876 positive cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in the Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford).
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 30s, 50s, 60s and 80s.
Genesee is reporting 23 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
There are currently 20 Genesee County residents hospitalized due to Covid.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 February 2021 at 10:40 am
Genesee and Orleans counties are each hosting rapid test clinics for Covid-19 this week. There are spots open.
Genesee County is offering the testing today from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Genesee County Emergency Management/Fire Training Center, 7690 State Street Rd. in Batavia. As of 10:30 a.m., there were 122 spots open for the free tests. Click here for more information.
Orleans County will have the testing clinic on Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville. There were 203 spots available at 10:30 a.m. today. Click here for more information.
Those getting tested should fill out the Rapid Covid-19 Test Intake Form. If you are filling out the form, complete it, print it out and bring it with you. Click here for the form.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments expect to stop doing the rapid test clinics to devote more resources to Covid-19 vaccination clinics as the supply of doses increases.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 February 2021 at 6:38 pm
Genesee and Orleans top 6,000 confirmed Covid cases during pandemic
Orleans County has three more deaths from Covid, with two people under age 65 and one over 65, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this evening.
According to state fatality data, Orleans now has 78 deaths from Covid and Genesee is at 107.
One of the deaths reported today was a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina. The individual was under the age of 65, the Health Departments said.
“We will not be reporting any further information to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families,” the Health Departments said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of these individuals at this very sad time.”
Orleans County also is reporting 36 new positive cases of Covid-19 today in the first update since Friday afternoon. That puts the total cases in the county at 2,164 since last March.
The positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
Five of the new positive individuals are residents at the Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina and one is a resident at the Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion. Of the 36 new cases, 7 were on quarantine prior to testing positive.
Orleans also is reporting 56 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
The county has four residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.
Albion Central School reported an elementary staff member tested positive for Covid-19. As the staff member was last in school on Jan. 22, 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.
In Genesee County, there are 46 new positive cases for a total of 3,867 cases since last March.
Combined Orleans and Genesee now have passed 6,000 cases (6,031) in the two counties. Orleans has 40,352 people, according to the 2019 Census estimate, and Genesee is at 57,280, according to the 2019 Census estimate. The 6,031 cases represent 6.2 percent of the combined population of 97,632.
The new positive cases in Genesee 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 50 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
There are 20 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.
Active Cases: The number of active cases in the two counties declined from 292 on Friday to 249 today. That includes Orleans County dropping below 100, from 127 to 98. Genesee is down from 165 on Friday to 151 today.
This chart from the Governor’s Office shows each region’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results over the last three days.
In the Finger Lakes, the 7-day average for positive tests dropped below 4 percent on Saturday to 3.92. At the beginning of the month, the region’s positivity rate was over 10 percent.
The nine-county region also has 542 people hospitalized due to Covid. That is more than 400 fewer than the 964 on Dec. 28.
Locally, among the GLOW counties, here are the percent positive in the past 7 days:
Genesee, 4.5 percent
Livingston, 4.1 percent
Orleans, 6.2 percent
Wyoming, 7.4 percent
This is the percent positive in the past 14 days:
Genesee, 5.2 percent
Livingston, 5.4 percent
Orleans, 6.1 percent
Wyoming, 8.4 percent
Statewide the positivity rate is at 4.44 percent. It was at 7.45 percent on Jan. 1. There were also 7,976 patient hospitalizations statewide on Saturday. The hospitalizations were at 9,273 on Jan. 19.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the state 7-day average Covid-19 positivity rate has declined for 23 straight days.
“We’ve dealt with a holiday surge driven by increased social activity, the surge is reducing, and the state’s 7-day average positivity rate has declined for 23 straight days, which is a significant trend,” Cuomo said. “As we continue to vaccinate as many New Yorkers as supply will allow, with our expansive distribution network ready to vaccinate significantly more people, it’s critical that New Yorkers stay safe. All the models show a continued reduction, and so we’ve been able to loosen restrictions with micro-clusters, the orange zones, and New York City indoor dining. In the here and now, the news is very good, but keep an eye on the U.K. variants and the other variants because all of them suggest more diligence will be needed.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2021 at 4:29 pm
2 counties report 3 more Covid-19 deaths
Orleans County is reporting 8 new positive cases of Covid-19 total, which is a rare day in the past two months when the county wasn’t in double digits for new cases. Orleans has now had 2,128 people test positive for Covid since last March.
The positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon). The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 40s and 70s.
Of the new cases, 2 were on quarantine prior to testing positive. One of the cases also is a resident at the Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina.
The county also is reporting 20 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
There are currently 7 residents hospitalized due to Covid.
There are currently 127 actives cases in the county, which is down from 167 a week ago.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting another death from Orleans due to Covid. The person is over age 65. Orleans is reporting five deaths from Covid since a week ago and 76 during the pandemic due to Covid.
“We will not be reporting any further information to protect the privacy of the individual and their family,” the Health Departments stated in a news briefing this afternoon in announcing the death. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this individual at this very sad time.”
• Medina Central School is reporting four students tested positive for Covid, with two in the high school and two in the middle school.
With the four students, the Health Department is working with the school district to identify any potential close contacts and is notifying families who may have to quarantine, according to a letter on the district website from Mark Kruzynski, Medina’s district superintendent.
In Genesee County there are 46 new positive cases for a total of 3,821 confirmed 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 new cases include a resident of the Batavia VA Medical Center and a resident of Premier Genesee in Batavia.
The county is reporting 39 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
Genesee currently has 165 active cases which is down by 76 from the 241 a week ago.
The county also is reporting 21 residents are hospitalized due to Covid.
Genesee also has two more Covid-related deaths, who are both over the age of 65 and were residents of the LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility. The county had six Covid-related deaths since a week ago and now has had 107 residents pass away due to Covid since last March, according to the Health Department data.
Corrections from the G-O Health Departments: The following two cases previously identified as residents of the Leroy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility were double counted and have been retracted from today’s data: a case in his/her 80s and a case in his/her 60s. Two other cases previously reported as residents of the Leroy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility are community members and have been retracted from today’s data.
Chart from Governor’s Office: This is each region’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days.
Statewide Data: There were 12,579 new positive cases in the state reported on Thursday out of 270,518 tests for a positivity rate of 4.65 percent.
There were 8,357 people hospitalized due to Covid, which is down by 163 from Wednesday. There were also 151 deaths, bringing the total to 34,893.
Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced that assuming New York State’s Covid-19 infection rate stays on its current trajectory, indoor dining in New York City can reopen at 25 percent capacity on Valentine’s Day.
Cuomo also announced that marriage receptions will be able to resume in accordance with state guidance on March 15. Events must be approved by the local health department. There will be a 50 percent capacity limit and no more than 150 people can attend the event. All patrons must be tested prior to the event.
“As data on infection rates and hospitalizations continue to improve, we must begin taking steps to jumpstart our economic recovery as long as public health can be protected,” Cuomo said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2021 at 7:03 pm
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2021 at 4:53 pm
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 107th 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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2021 at 12:04 pm
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.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2021 at 4:26 pm
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 28th, 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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2021 at 9:00 am
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.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 January 2021 at 5:01 pm
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 January 2021 at 5:04 pm
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.”
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 January 2021 at 1:52 pm
Currently 3rd 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.”
