The number of active Covid cases in Orleans County continues to trend up and is getting close to passing the high during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Orleans was at 237 active cases on Thursday, up from 212 on Tuesday. The county’s record high was 279 cases on Jan. 7, 2021.

Orleans reported 72 new positive cases from Tuesday through Thursday, and 47 more recoveries, or people who completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

Orleans currently has three people hospitalized due to Covid, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

In Genesee, the active cases dropped from 249 on Tuesday to 195 on Thursday. Genesee reported 99 new cases in the two days, and 152 more recoveries. Genesee currently has 12 people hospitalized with Covid.

Press Release, Mental Health Association of Genesee and Orleans Counties

Photos courtesy of Marsha Rivers: RTS representatives, from left, include John Arneth, Denise Klos and Ken Boasi.

BATAVIA – The Regional Transit Service (RTS), longtime Mental Health Association employee Alan Moore, and scholarship winner Ava Flores were honored at the annual meeting of the MHA of Genesee and Orleans Counties. The event took place on Oct. 7 at Terry Hills Golf Course.

MHAGO Executive Director Tom Christensen credited the dedication of the staff for keeping the agency open through the pandemic, noting that as an essential business, MHAGO has remained open to in-person services, with no staff layoffs or reduction of hours.

“The Covid-19 crisis highlighted for us how important everyday mental health and wellness practices are to managing social isolation, anxiety, and stress,” Christensen said. “We believe our services contributed to the emotional resilience of both our participants and our community during these uncertain times.”

RTS also contributed to the community’s well-being, according to MHAGO, by providing free rides to and from medical appointments – including visits essential for mental health – for the two counties’ residents.

John Arneth, RTS’ Regional Manager for Genesee & Orleans, accepted the Constance E. Miller Award of Excellence on behalf of the organization. Constance E. Miller, along with a small group of dedicated volunteers, founded the Mental Health Association in 1993. This award honors her commitment to excellence by recognizing individuals and organizations who work to promote mental wellness, instill hope, and improve the quality of life for people living in Genesee and Orleans counties.

“We had some rigorous protocols to follow in order to keep everyone safe, but we were really happy to be able to continue to provide medical transport services during a time that created a lot of anxiety and fear for people,” Arneth said.

Alan Moore, 25-year employee of MHAGO, was recognized for his commitment to the agency.

MHA recognized Alan Moore as a 25-year staff member. Colleagues described Moore as a mild-mannered, versatile, reliable team member who “quietly supports and encourages (MHAGO) participants.”

It was also noted that he models self-care by walking regularly and “getting his steps in” each day.

MHAGO awarded the Board of Directors’ Educational Scholarship to Ava Flores, 2021 graduate of both Oakfield-Alabama High School and Genesee Community College. Flores is now studying psychology at Roberts Wesleyan College. The scholarship program provides financial support to individuals pursuing higher education in the fields of human or social services. Flores received $500 toward her studies.

Kylee Criscione, a mental health program specialist from the state Office of Mental Health – WNY Field Office, gave a presentation via Zoom. She noted, aptly, that telehealth visits represent one of several ways MHAGO has stepped up to address the challenges of meeting community needs.

In the annual report distributed at the meeting, Christensen noted that MHAGO Medicaid Managed Care HCBS services increased in 2020 to become the largest local provider of Mental Health HCBS, with 267 combined in-person and telehealth visits across 271 hours of service. “We look forward to further expansion of managed care services through the State’s newly proposed CORE (Community Oriented Empowerment Services) model,” he wrote.

Other noteworthy 2020 stats:

• A total of 256 persons were served by MHAGO programs, including 186 in the Recovery Center, 147 in the Social Club, and 50 in the Drop-In Center.
• MHAGO’s Recovery Center provided 5,009 combined in-person and telehealth visits across 3,028 hours of service.
• Social Club: 3,397 combined in-person and telehealth visits
• Drop-In Center: 1,726 combined in-person and telehealth visits
• Warmline: 2,852 outreach messages and 5,879 completed calls
• The agency also provided 1,014 one-way trips. All transportation staff also provided outreach telehealth calls and wellness checks during office hours.

Ava Flores

MHAGO reported $576,030 total support and revenue, with $618,689 in total expenses. The agency ended 2020 with $129,358 cash on hand. The 2020 Financial Statement and Auditors’ Report were prepared by EFPR Group, CPAs, PLLC. Copies of the Audit and Form 990 may be obtained by request from the Mental Health Association of Genesee and Orleans Counties, 25 Liberty Street, Batavia, NY 14020.

“Even in good times,” Christensen said, “a lack of social engagement has been a leading predictor of poor health outcomes, poor quality of life, and shortened lifespans. With Covid bringing out the worst of these troubles, our staff really stepped up and made a big difference. I’m very pleased with our team.”

Press Release, Genesee County Health Department

BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department is seeking information about the location of a dog and its owner following a dog bite incident on the late morning of Monday, October 11 at Centennial Park in Batavia (near Lincoln Avenue).

The dog is described as a gray pit bull with white markings around its neck, front paws and left ear. The dog was approximately 55 to 60 pounds and was wearing a camo collar. The dog was not accompanied by its owner and was running loose throughout Centennial Park.

It is important to locate the dog to determine whether or not it is current on its rabies shot. If the health status is not identified, post-exposure rabies shots will be offered to the victim.

If you have information about the location of the dog and its owner, please contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments today reported 271 new Covid cases the past five days in the two counties with 150 in Genesee and 121 in Orleans.

The number of active cases in the two counties is at 461, which is up from 423 on Oct. 7 and 358 on Oct. 4.

Orleans County, however, has a slight drop in active cases, down from 217 on Oct. 7 to 212 today. Genesee is up from 206 on Oct. 7 to 249 today, according to the local health departments.

Genesee currently has 10 residents hospitalized due to Covid, while Orleans has four in the hospital from Covid.

Genesee is reporting 99 more recoveries and Orleans has 122 more. These are people who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Press Release, Genesee County Health Department

BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting the last free drive-through anti-rabies immunization clinic of 2021 on Thursday, Oct. 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds on 5056 East Main St., Batavia.

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

“Rabies is a fatal, but preventable viral disease that can spread to people from pets if they are bitten and scratched by an infected animal with rabies,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “We encourage residents to take advantage of our last anti-rabies immunization clinic of 2021 and ensure their pets are protected against rabies.”

Face coverings are recommended and please follow all social distancing requirements. To save time, click here to fill out a registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

For more information, please contact the Genesee County Health Department: 585-344-2580 x.5555 or Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us.

Orleans goes over 4,000 cases during pandemic since last March 2020

The number of active Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties has topped 400. The two counties are at 423 today, with 206 in Genesee and 217 in Orleans.

Both are nearing their pandemic highs for active cases. Genesee hit a high with 269 on Dec. 7, 2020. Orleans peaked at 279 on Jan. 7, 2021.

The 423 cases in the two counties is up from 358 on Monday when there were 186 in Genesee and 172 in Orleans.

Orleans is reporting 97 more cases since Monday, while Genesee has 92 more, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

The latest update since Monday puts Orleans past 4,000 cases during the Covid pandemic since March 2020.

The number of people hospitalized due to Covid in Orleans is up from 1 to 6 since Monday, while Genesee’s Covid hospitalizations are down from 11 to 9 since Monday.

Orleans also is reported 52 more recoveries and Genesee has 72 more since Monday. These are people who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Hochul says those staff need to have vaccine by Nov. 1

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the plan to expand the healthcare worker vaccine mandate to include employees who work in certain facilities offering health care to individuals served by the Office of Mental Health and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

Under the new directive, staff who work in settings that treat some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers will be required to show proof of at least the first shot of a Covid-19 vaccine series by Nov. 1, without a test-out option. Ahead of that requirement, staff in these settings will be required to submit to weekly testing, if unvaccinated, beginning Oct. 12.

“Vaccine requirements work in getting people to do the right thing, and all professionals in health settings must take every basic precaution against Covid-19, including the vaccine, so they do not spread the virus to the people coming in for treatment,” Hochul said. “We have an obligation to extend this assurance to those who need to receive mental health services and special care, which is why we are making the vaccine mandatory for all staff who work in these facilities that fall under State jurisdiction.”

The vaccine requirement that went into effect on Sept. 27 applied only to covered personnel at facilities regulated by the Department of Health, including all hospitals and nursing homes. On Oct. 7, the vaccine requirement will take effect for covered personnel at additional facilities regulated by the Department of Health, including adult care facilities, home health agencies, long term home health care programs, AIDS home care programs, hospice care, and diagnostic and treatment centers.

This new requirement, established within OMH and OPWDD agency regulations, will apply to all individuals working at the psychiatric hospitals in the OMH network, as well as those working at the specialty hospital certified by OPWDD.

Governor Hochul plans to continue expanding the vaccine requirement into the human service and mental hygiene care settings in the coming weeks, while also taking necessary steps to ensure staffing levels continue to be appropriate across those service systems.

“Many of the people OMH serves have underlying medical conditions that make them far more vulnerable to the Covid-19 virus,” said OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan. “The vaccine has proven to be safe and effective and will protect our patients and employees as well as our families and communities. I urge everyone to get the vaccine and I applaud Governor Hochul for extending the mandate.”

There have been 152 new Covid cases in Genesee and 84 in Orleans since Thursday, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Genesee currently has 11 people hospitalized due to Covid while Orleans has one person in the hospital from Covid.

There are also 70 more recoveries and 77 in Orleans. These are previous positive individuals who completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

G-O Health reported today there are currently 358 active Covid cases in the two counties (186 in Genesee and 172 in Orleans). That is up from 352 on Thursday when there were 192 cases in Orleans and 160 in Genesee. A week ago there were 339 active cases in the two counties, with 191 in Genesee and 148 in Orleans.

The positivity rate in Orleans is 8.4 percent over the past 7 days and in Genesee it is 6.6 percent over the past week, according to the state’s Forward NY website. Over the past 14 days, the positivity rate in Orleans is 8.6 percent and in Genesee its 6.9 percent, according to the state.

2 counties pass 10,000 cases during pandemic since March 2020

Genesee and Orleans counties are reporting 397 new Covid cases during the week from Sept. 23 to Sept. 30, according to local health department data.

The number of active cases in the two counties also continues to climb and was up to 352 on Thursday, compared to 339 on Monday and 295 a week before.

In the latest update, from Monday to Thursday, Orleans is reporting 101 new cases and Genesee has 99 more. Orleans is reporting 77 more recoveries or people who completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation. Genesee is reporting 58 more recoveries.

In the seven days going back to Sept. 23, Orleans has 197 new cases and Genesee 200.

There are currently 10 people hospitalized due to Covid in Genesee and 1 in Orleans, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

The two counties crossed a milestone with over 10,000 Covid cases since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020.

There are 10,075 Covid cases out of a combined population of 98,731 in the two counties. In Orleans, there have 3,884 cases out of 40,343 residents or 9.6 percent of the population. In Genesee, there been 6,191 cases out of 58,388 people or 10.6 percent of the population.