Not nearly enough supply as state expands priority groups, including people 65 and older

Orleans County officials are working to set up Covid vaccination clinics, possibly at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds later this month.

The county Health Department is being inundated with calls from residents who want the vaccine, but there is far too little supply so far, said Paul Pettit, the county’s public health director.

So far the Health Department, Orleans Community Health and Oak Orchard Health Center have been administering the vaccine mostly to Priority Group 1A. With the recent addition of Priority Group 1B and the addition of those aged 65 and older, the supply of vaccine is not meeting the demand.

“At this time, Orleans County would like to ensure the public that we are working tirelessly to administer the limited doses we have on hand immediately, and we will continue to get vaccine to the qualifying populations in the most efficient and equitable manner possible,” said Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman.

“As the quantity of available vaccine doses increases and we begin to have some confidence in delivery amounts and timing from the state, the county will communicate with those in the priority groups and the general public to notify them of vaccination opportunities,” Johnson said. “In the meantime we are asking our residents, to be patient.”

The county is planning Point of Dispensing (POD) mass vaccination clinics for Priority Groups 1A and 1B. Residents can check their eligibility to either of these groups by clicking here.

Links for pre-registration are updated on a week to week basis based on vaccine availability.  If appointments become full, check the state vaccine web page by clicking here or go to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments Health Vaccine web page (click here).

Due to high traffic volume, the registration links may temporarily become unavailable. Continue to try again if experiencing any errors with registration, the Health Departments advised.

The process of getting the vaccine out to priority groups and eventually the general public is going to take many weeks and months, the Health Departments said.

For more information about the vaccine and access for those who are 65 and older who do not have internet access, contact the Office for the Aging in Orleans County at 585-589-3191 between 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and leave a message.

In Genesee County, the Office for the Aging can be reached at 585-813-2457 for Covid-19 Vaccine assistance between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and leave a message and someone will return the call.

Orleans reports another death from Covid for 64 during pandemic

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported 88 more cases of Covid-19 today in the two counties.

In Orleans County, there are 39 new confirmed cases of Covid from Tuesday through earlier today for a total of 1,783 positive cases since 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 and 70s.

Of the new positive cases, one is a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina, which has now had 67 of its residents test positive during the pandemic.

The county is reporting 8 of the new 39 positive individuals were on quarantine prior to testing positive. The county has had 26 more people recover from Covid and be removed from the isolation.

Orleans currently has 14 residents hospitalized due to Covid.

The county also is reporting a resident has passed away due to Covid. The individual was younger than 65. This is the 64^th resident to die from Covid during the pandemic.

• Albion Central School is reporting today that a staff member from the High School has tested positive for Covid-19.

The staff member was last in school on Jan. 8. Students and staff members deemed to have been in close contact with the individual have been identified by the district and will be notified by the Department of Health, the district stated on its web site.

• Lyndonville Central School is reporting today that a student and staff member have tested positive for Covid-19.

The student who tested positive was last present on district property on Jan. 11 and has immediately begun isolation at home. Contact tracing was completed in collaboration with the Orleans County Health Department. As a result, two students were placed under quarantine and no staff.

The staff member who tested positive was last present on district property on Jan. 8. Contact tracing was completed in collaboration with the Orleans County Health Department. As a result, no students or staff have been placed under quarantine.

• Medina Central School is reporting today that three students and two staff members have tested positive for Covid.

One of the students is in the high school but is 100 percent virtual. The Department of Health has determined that no further quarantines are required from school contact.

A middle school student also tested positive. The district is in the 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 class will switch to 100 percent virtual during the quarantine period, Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, said in a letter on the district website.

An Oak Orchard Elementary school student also tested positive. The district is in the 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 class will switch to 100 percent virtual during the quarantine period.

The two staff members are not based in a school building. The has notified anyone who needs to be quarantined.

In Genesee County there are 49 new positive cases Covid for a total of 3,184 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, 4 are residents of Premier Genesee Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Batavia and 6 are residents of the LeRoy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility.

In Genesee, 47 more of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 16 residents currently hospitalized with Covid.

• Health Alert – People should monitor themselves for symptoms of Covid-19 if they were at Batavia’s Original from noon to 1 p.m. on Jan. 9.

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.

Genesee reports 2 more deaths from Covid; 2 counties have now had 100 residents die from Covid during pandemic

Orleans County chart info hasn’t been updated to include new cases reported since Monday afternoon. The total should say 1,773 in Orleans County.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments announced today they will no longer be reporting mandatory quarantine data “due to the volume and rapidly changing numbers.”

There are 108 new confirmed Covid cases in the two counties since the last update Monday.

In Orleans County, there are 29 new cases for a total of 1,773 cases since March. The data on those cases will be included in the Wednesday news briefing from the Health Departments.

Today’s data is from the 100 cases in Orleans from Friday through Monday morning. Those 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, 1 is a resident of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina, 2 are inmates at the Orleans Correctional Facility, and 1 is an inmate at the Albion Correctional Facility.

Of those new 100 cases, 14 were on quarantine prior to testing positive.

Orleans is reporting 114 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation.

Orleans has 19 residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.

• Holley Central School said a Middle/High School Teacher has tested positive for Covid-19. The last day the teacher was in school was Monday, January 11.

“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.”

• Lyndonville Central School was notified today that a staff member tested positive for Covid-19. The staff member was last present on district property on Jan. 8, District Superintendent Jason Smith said in a notice on the school website. Contact tracing was completed in collaboration with the Orleans County Health Department.  As a result, no students were quarantined and one staff member was quarantined, Smith said.

• Medina Central School is reporting a staff member in the high school and a staff member in the middle school have both tested positive for Covid-19. The Department of Health has determined that no further quarantines are required from school contact other than those who have already been notified, Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, wrote in a letter posted on the district website.

In Genesee County, there are 79 new positive cases for a total of 3,135 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 Genesee Senior Living, 2 are residents at the Batavia VA Medical Center, 2 are inmates at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center, and 2 are residents at the New York State Veteran’s Home at Batavia.

Genesee is reporting 35 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 21 residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.

The county is reporting two more deaths from Covid. They both resided at Genesee Senior Living and were older than 65. Genesee has now had 37 residents pass away from Covid during the pandemic, including 30 since Dec. 1.

Genesee passes 3,000 Covid cases during pandemic

In the first update since Friday, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported 100 new Covid-19 cases in Orleans and 170 in Genesee.

Orleans County is only reporting 100 positive cases since late Friday through Monday. The Health Departments expect the data will be updated in tomorrow’s report. There will be no data chart for today.

• Albion Central School reports a hybrid learner from the High School has tested positive for Covid-19. The high school student was last in school on Jan. 5.

Students and staff members deemed to have been in close contact with the student have been identified by the district and will be notified by the Department of Health.

• Holley Central School reports two students have tested positive for Covid-19. The first is a high school student in the Alternative High School program and the second is an Elementary School student.

The last day the Alternative High School student was in person was Monday, Jan. 4, and the Elementary School student was last in school on Thursday, Jan. 7.

The health department has informed the district that students and staff connected to both of these cases will be quarantined. Given the unique setting of the Alternative High School, that program will be fully remote for all students at least until Friday, Jan. 15. The students and staff who will be quarantined for close contact of the Elementary School student have also been notified.

In Genesee County, the 170 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 3,056 positive cases. ( The county’s population totaled 57,280 in the 2019 Census estimate.)

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 155 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

There are 21 Genesee residents who are hospitalized due to Covid.

Of the new cases, 8 are residents at the Leroy Village Green Residential Healthcare Facility, 7 are residents at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Batavia, and 2 are residents at the Batavia VA Medical Center.

• Health Alert – People should monitor themselves for symptoms of Covid-19 if they were at Tully’s Good Times in Batavia from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 3rd.

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.

‘There is nowhere near the amount of vaccine for the number of people who are eligible to receive it. This whole process will be determined by the supply of the vaccines and as such we need to be flexible as we anticipate the situation will continue to change. We ask and urge patience among our residents.’ – Shelley Stein, Genesee County Legislature chair

Press Release, Genesee County Legislature

With New York State under increasing pressure to allocate the various Covid-19 vaccinations that in some instances have been destroyed or continue to be stored without being used, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on January 8 that a new group of recipients would be eligible to receive the vaccinations.

This new group – categorized as 1b – is confined to those 75 years and older as well as utility workers, corrections officers, first responders (police, firefighters, EMTs and support personal) and primary through grade 12 school faculty and staff, including licensed childcare providers.  For a full list of priority workers, click here.

People age 75 and over will primarily be vaccinated at pharmacies and other sites that are part of the “retail network.” Use the online tool to find a location. Beginning at 4 p.m. today, the Covid-19 Vaccination Hotline will open for scheduling vaccination appointments for eligible New Yorkers: 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).

“Residents need to be aware that we have already received reports where people are being contacted by scammers about how they can get a vaccine,” said Genesee County Legislature Chair Shelley Stein. “We are asking those who are eligible for the vaccine to please register on-line or call the Covid-19 Vaccination Hotline to schedule an appointment.”

For others in groups 1a and 1b they can see local information about clinics and clinic schedules (click here) and fill out a registration form and schedule an appointment. Clinics may fill quickly, so please be patient and check the site periodically.

In Genesee County there are approximately 4,892 residents/employees in 1a and in Orleans County there are about 4,321 residents/employees in 1a.

There are approximately 8,525 residents/employees in 1b in Genesee County, including 4,809 age 75 years and older and 6,032 residents/employees in 1b Orleans County, including 2,959 age 75 years and older.

To date, approximately 200 doses of the vaccine have been received by both counties (400 total). Not all of the doses of the vaccination have been administered, but all of the doses are already scheduled for vaccination over the next few days.

“As the numbers demonstrate, there is nowhere near the amount of vaccine for the number of people who are eligible to receive it,” Stein said. “This is a rapidly changing situation, so we understand the frustrations, questions and concerns that we are receiving from many residents. This whole process will be determined by the supply of the vaccines and as such we need to be flexible as we anticipate the situation will continue to change. We ask and urge patience among our residents.”

Groups now eligible to make appointments in 1B  also include first responders, corrections officers, teachers and other school staff, in-person college instructors, childcare workers, grocery store workers, transit workers and individuals living and working in homeless shelters

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the  New Yorkers within priority group 1B can now begin scheduling appointments with individual providers, including pharmacies, local health departments, and hospitals, to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

Those now eligible to receive the vaccine include individuals 75 and older, first responders, public safety officers, teachers and other school staff;  in-person college instructors, childcare workers, public-facing grocery store workers, transit workers and individuals living and working in homeless shelters.

Eligibility determinations and a list of nearby providers where appointments can be scheduled can all be done through New York’s new “Am I Eligible” app. New Yorkers can begin calling the New York State Vaccination Hotline at 4 p.m. on Monday, January 11: 1-833-NYS-4VAX (1-833-697-4829). Click here to determine eligibility and schedule appointments with administrating providers.

Since federal supply severely limits the ability to distribute vaccine, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.

New York’s vast distribution network and large population of more than 4 million eligible individuals in this priority group dwarf the vaccine supply coming from the federal government, which is arriving at a rate of approximately 300,000 doses per week. As such, eligible New Yorkers should be prepared to receive an appointment date as far as 14 weeks in the future.

“After 10 long months, the expansion of eligibility for additional New Yorkers to begin making their Covid-19 vaccination plan is a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Governor Cuomo. “The vaccine is the weapon that will end the war, and as we continue to prioritize healthcare workers as hospital capacity necessitates, New York is proud to have reached this milestone and we strongly encourage all who are newly eligible to schedule their free vaccination appointment as soon as possible.”

Under New York’s expanded eligibility, the following individuals will now be eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment:

Individuals Age 75 and older

First Responders and Support Staff of First Responder Agencies

• Fire Service
• State Fire Service, including firefighters and investigators (professional and volunteer)
• Local Fire Service, including firefighters and investigators (professional and volunteer)
• Police and Investigators
• State Police, including Troopers
• State Park Police, DEC Police, Forest Rangers
• SUNY Police
• Sheriffs’ Offices
• County Police Departments and Police Districts
• City, Town, and Village Police Departments
• Transit of other Public Authority Police Departments
• State Field Investigators, including Department of Motor Vehicles, State Commission of Correction, Justice Center, Department of Financial Service, Inspector General, Department of Tax and Finance, Office of Children and Family Services, and State Liquor Authority

Public Safety Communications

• Emergency Communication and Public Safety Answering Point Personnel, including dispatchers and technicians

Other Sworn and Civilian Personnel

• Court Officers
• Other Police or Peace Officers
• Support of Civilian Staff of any of the above services, agencies or facilities

Corrections

• State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Personnel, including correction and parole officers
• Local Correctional Facilities, including correction officers
• Local Probation Departments, including probation officers
• State Juvenile Detention and Rehabilitation Facilities
• Local Juvenile Detention and Rehabilitation Facilities

P-12 Schools

• P-12 school or school district faculty or staff (includes all teachers, substitute teachers, student teachers, school administrators, paraprofessional staff, and support staff including bus drivers)
• Contractors working in a P-12 school or school district (including contracted bus drivers)
• In-Person College Instructors
• Employees or Support Staff of Licensed, Registered, Approved or Legally Exempt Childcare Setting
• Licensed, Registered, Approved or Legally Exempt Childcare Providers
• In-Person College Instructors

Public-Facing Grocery Store Workers

Public Transit

• Airline and airport employees
• Passenger railroad employees
• Subway and mass transit employees (i.e., MTA, LIRR, Metro North, NYC Transit, Upstate transit)
• Ferry employees
• Port Authority employees
• Public bus employee

Individuals living in a homeless shelter where sleeping, bathing or eating accommodations must be shared with individuals and families who are not part of your the same household

Individuals working (paid or unpaid) in a homeless shelter where sleeping, bathing or eating accommodations must be shared by individuals and families who are not part of the same household, in a position where there is potential for interaction with shelter residents

Until this point, 2.1 million New Yorkers in priority group 1A have been eligible to receive the vaccine. This includes patient-facing health care and other critical hospital workers, seniors living in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, and people with disabilities living in congregate settings.

Distribution sites were established directly within hospitals, FQHCs, and urgent care clinics to provide direct access to all those eligible. To further accelerate the vaccination rate of priority health care workers, and begin the vaccination of group 1B essential workers and 75-plus year olds, New York has established a network of distribution sites that will supplement the work being done in hospitals to prevent any one hospital from becoming overburdened.

This new network will utilize doctors’ offices, Federally-Qualified Health Centers, county health departments, ambulatory centers and pharmacies to get doses in the arms of eligible New Yorkers.

More than 1,200 pharmacies have already committed to participating in this network, with nearly 500 scheduled to come on-line this week. Providers across the state will begin accepting vaccination reservations on Monday, January 11, when a centralized state website goes online that lists nearby providers where appointments can be scheduled.

Pharmacies will be provided vaccines for New Yorkers aged 75 and older, while hospitals will continue vaccinating 1A healthcare workers, and local health departments and union-organized efforts will serve essential workers in 1B.

Press Release, VA Western New York Healthcare System

VA Western New York Healthcare System announced Dr. Philippe Jaoude was selected as chief of staff.

Dr. Jaoude

Dr. Jaoude is a board-certified physician in Sleep, Critical Care, and Pulmonary Medicine and is certified as Diplomate in the American Board of Internal Medicine. He has been with VAWNYHS since 2013 and has held several chief and director level positions to include Acting Chief of Staff, Chief of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, along with Chair of the Cardiac Arrest Committee.

He received his M.D. from Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2000 and later completed his internship there in 2001. Dr. Jaoude then went on to complete his residency in internal medicine in 2004, a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care in 2011 and a sleep medicine fellowship in 2012 from The State University of New York at Buffalo.

His professional appointments include several years as an attending physician at Buffalo General Hospital and VAWNYHS. He has held a variety of appointments at SUNY Buffalo since 2001 to include Assistant and Associate Professor for Clinical Medicine.

Dr. Jaoude is a member of CHEST (a peer reviewed medical journal and society), The American Thoracic Society, and The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He has published over 18 peer reviewed journal articles including several book chapters and abstracts covering his experiences, findings, and outcomes in multiple medical specialties. He resides in Williamsville with his family.

VA Western New York Healthcare System is a Joint Commission accredited multi-site health care system with medical centers in Buffalo and Batavia and eight Community Based Outpatient Clinics employing over 2,200 employees who care for over 50,000 veterans.

Proposals would expand mental health and substance use disorder services in underserved and rural communities

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced legislation to expand and improve access to telehealth for all as part of the 2021 State of the State. The Covid-19 pandemic laid bare the inequities in our healthcare system and showed that telehealth is a critical tool to expand access and lower costs for low-income communities, especially for behavioral health support. During the crisis, the Governor took executive action to expand access to remote care, and these proposals codify and build on those successful reforms.

In partnership with the Reimagine New York Commission, the Governor will enact comprehensive telehealth reform to help New Yorkers take advantage of telehealth tools and address existing roadblocks.

These reforms will address key issues like adjusting reimbursement incentives to encourage telehealth, eliminating outdated regulatory prohibitions on the delivery of telehealth, removing outdated location requirements, addressing technical unease among both patients and providers through training programs, and establishing other programs to incentivize innovative uses of telehealth.

“While New York State has been on the cutting edge of promoting telehealth for its residents, the adoption of telehealth by both patients and providers has been slow,” Cuomo said. “Covid-19 has changed not only the way we live, but the way healthcare providers support their patients, especially in regard to mental health. New Yorkers have adapted throughout 2020, but it is time to push telehealth to the next level in New York State and fully integrate it into our existing healthcare system. These proposals will better allocate our healthcare and technological resources for the 21st century.”

Governor Cuomo proposes comprehensive reforms to permanently adopt Covid-19-era innovations that expanded access to physical health, mental health and substance use disorder services including:

Unlocking the Benefits of Telehealth Through Policy Modernization

The Governor’s proposal includes the following regulatory and statutory changes to allow for greater flexibility in where and when patients use telehealth, while maintaining oversight to ensure high-quality care is delivered:

• Eliminating obsolete location requirements by requiring Medicaid to offer telehealth reimbursement for services rendered to patients regardless of where the patient or provider is located in a non-facility setting;
• Developing interstate licensing reciprocity with states in the Northeast region for specialties with historical access shortages to ensure that there is sufficient access to medical and behavioral health professionals; and
• Continuing Covid-era flexibilities for mental health and substance use disorder services by allowing certain unlicensed staff, such as Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor trainees or Peer Specialists, to deliver substance use disorder and mental health services. This also includes eliminating the remaining in-person evaluation requirements before telehealth services can be delivered, expanding the types of staff who can deliver remote services, developing a regulatory structure for a predominantly virtual outpatient substance use disorder treatment program and exploring the expansion of existing initiatives that extend behavioral health services into nursing facilities. This will include reimbursement of all mental health and substance abuse provider types, including certified recovery peer advocates so patients and providers can choose the care setting that best suits their needs.

Ensuring Coverage and Reimbursement for Telehealth

Telehealth played an indispensable role in providing quality care to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. To build on what we have learned during the crisis, the Governor’s proposal will:

• Require commercial health insurers to offer a telehealth program to members, and provide Medicaid coverage, subject to federal approval, to cover services furnished telephonically when medically appropriate;
• Ensure that telehealth is reimbursed at rates that incentivize use when medically appropriate; and
• Require providers to disclose to patients in writing or through their websites whether they provide telehealth services. Require insurers to provide up-to-date information in their provider directories about which providers offer telehealth services. Any telehealth platforms offered as part of a mandatory telehealth program will be required to participate in the Statewide Health Information Network for New York or otherwise demonstrate interoperability with other providers in the insurer’s provider network.

Expanding the Use of Technological Advancements in Health Care

The Governor’s proposal will also facilitate the adoption of innovations in technology to ensure higher quality and more efficient care for patients by:

• Requiring insurers to offer members an e-triage or virtual emergency department platform that enables individuals to receive a symptoms assessment and a referral to a network of providers or a nearby Emergency Department when warranted, allowing New Yorkers, particularly in underserved areas that lack health infrastructure, to receive better and faster care in times of emergency;
• Facilitating the use of expert consultations between providers via telehealth by encouraging insurers to reimburse providers directly for engaging in e-consults or permitting the inclusion of insurers’ costs associated with e-consult platforms within the health care service costs. The increased use of e-consults will empower primary care providers to make accurate treatment decisions and help patients avoid unnecessary and costly care; and
• Streamlining the SHIN-NY patient consent process to increase interoperability and record access amongst health care providers.

Supporting Patients and Providers Through Professional Development, Education, and Innovative Support Programs

While regulatory flexibilities have increased access to services for many New Yorkers, telehealth is new for many and education and outreach is needed to help get people comfortable connecting with a provider from their home, while providers are also learning how to most effectively use this technology. With the support of the Reimagine New York Commission and the Department of Health, two initiatives are already underway to ensure the successful adoption of telehealth by patients and providers:

• Launch of a new Telehealth Training program created with the leadership of the Reimagine New York Commission in partnership with SUNY Stony Brook and the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center, and with support from Weill Cornell Medicine, Cityblock Health and additional advisors. Designing an open access, continuing professional education curriculum on telehealth will help providers deliver higher-quality care — especially as technologies continue to develop as New York State is paving the way on these tools; and
• Pilot of an innovative telehealth facilitator program conducted by AlRnyc and Mt. Sinai Health Partners, under the guidance of Schmidt Futures and the Reimagine New York Commission. The program aims to improve comfort with and access to telehealth tools for underserved populations, including through hands-on support for the intake and onboarding process. Patient discomfort with and lack of access to technology is a deterrent and this program will help inform how New York can best assist people in learning to use telehealth and lay the groundwork for future expansion.

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.”