Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments
BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department has received a positive Covid-19 test from an individual who was at Bourbon & Burger restaurant in Batavia on:
Thursday, Nov. 5, between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 6, between 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 7, between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 9, between 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Contact tracing is in progress. However, unidentified individuals may have unknowingly been in contact with the positive case.
We advise all individuals who were at Bourbon & Burger on the stated dates and times to monitor their symptoms for 14 days. If symptoms of Covid-19 develop, contact your primary care provider to seek testing immediately and self-isolate until you receive your test results.
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 November 2020 at 5:06 pm
Orleans County has 12 more confirmed cases of Covid-19, including, for the first time, three inmates in the county jail. Orleans has now had 494 people test positive for Covid-19 since March.
The new positive cases reside in Albion, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway and Shelby. The individuals are in the following age groups: 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.
Three of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Orleans also has had 14 more people recover from Covid and have been removed from the isolation list, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
Two county residents are currently hospitalized due to Covid.
• Medina Central School also advised the community in a letter that two staff members tested positive for Covid-19. They have been on mandatory quarantine since Nov. 9.
Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, said there likely won’t be any contact tracing at the school because the two employees have been home since Nov. 9. The Health Department will decide if any additional action is needed.
The data isn this chart is cumulative going back to March.
Genesee County received 30 new positive cases of Covid-19. This is reflective from the cases reported yesterday, Health Department officials said.
Due to the volume of positives cases received today, data from Genesee will be updated as soon as possible, the department said. Staff is working on contact tracing.
The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield, Pavilion and Pembroke. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.
One of the individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee also has 19 more recoveries from Covid and they have been removed from the isolation list.
Genesee has 3 residents in the hospital due to Covid.
• The Health Department has been notified of a two positive staff members at Batavia Middle School. The individuals are on mandatory isolation until they recover. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual. The school will remain open unless otherwise announced.
• The Health Department has been notified of a two positive students and one positive staff member at Pavilion Middle School. The individuals are on mandatory isolation until they recover. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual. The school will remain open unless otherwise announced.
• 3-county data: Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. There are 212 active cases in the three counties, with 98 in Genesee, 67 in Orleans and and 47 in Wyoming.
A reminder the numbers listed as positive/active are current community cases. The recovered numbers are only for community cases and do not include non-county regulated facilities. The total positive cases includes community active/positive, community recovered and all those from non-county regulated facilities.
Additional updates from the Health Departments:
• New restrictions – Effective today 13 at 10 p.m., bars, restaurants and gyms, as well as any State Liquor Authority-licensed establishment, must close in-person service from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily.
Effective today, indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences will be limited to no more than 10 people.
• Faith-based organizations: Consider continuing or reinstating remote worship due to increased numbers of positive Covid-19 cases to protect your more vulnerable population.
For those who are at risk of complications for Covid-19 or the flu, consider to connect with your house of worship remotely to lessen the risk of contracting Covid-19 or the flu.
If you are sick or experiencing new symptoms, stay home and worship remotely. Don’t share your germs with others.
• Time-Distance-Masks-Hands!: In order to limit the spread of Covid-19 you need to rethink any upcoming gatherings. The more time you spend with non-household members, the more at risk of spreading the virus and putting our counties in a micro-cluster which will increase restrictions. Even small gatherings have the potential to have an impact on our hospital systems as we are seeing an increase in hospital admissions and ICU admissions.
Limit time with non-household members…Keep at least 6 feet or more…Properly wear a mask/face covering over your nose and mouth…and wash your hands frequently with soap and water or 60% alcohol hand sanitizer, as well as sanitizing frequently touched surfaces/items.
• Gathering size: According to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.45, all non-essential gatherings of up to 50 individuals of any size for any reason at venues (celebrations, weddings, or other social events at public facilities or private venues) unless otherwise designated (ex. religious gatherings), are allowed as long as there is appropriate social distancing, wearing cloth masks/face coverings over their mouth and nose, and cleaning and disinfection protocol requirements followed.
With the recent uptick of individuals testing positive and the stricter guidance placed by the governor, it is important to remember that those who plan and host non-essential gatherings (whether at a venue or a private residence) as noted above, can be fined up to $15,000, and/or cause our counties to be considered a micro-cluster which will place the area under stricter restrictions.
Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes Region, which had the highest positivity rate of Covid tests in the state on Thursday.
• Statewide data includes new record for tests: New York set a new record on Thursday with 203,721 tests reported. Of those 5,401 were positive or 2.65% of the total.
The positive testing rate in all Focus Zone Areas is 4.58 percent while the rate outside the Focus Zone Areas is 2.29 percent.
Total hospitalizations from Covid were at 1,737 in the state. There were also 24 fatalities yesterday from Covid in New York.
“We are testing more than just about any other state in the nation, reaching new record highs in the number of tests we perform in a single day,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “The good news is our infection rate is one of the lowest in the nation. The bad news is we are in the midst of a sea of Covid rising around us. You look at the international numbers, and they are frightening – countries are locking down. You look at states around the country and the numbers are all going up quickly.”
Cuomo also announced that an emergency summit will be held this weekend with the governors of Northeastern states to discuss aligning policy in light of rising Covid-19 cases in the region and throughout the country.
“The reality is the virus is mobile and we’re in the holiday season and people will travel more,” he said. “These are all elements that conspire to increase the spread. We believe we’re going to have to be taking additional steps, and to the degree we can share information and align action with other regional states, we’ll do that.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 November 2020 at 11:12 am
The Genesee County Health Department has issued a health alert after receiving a positive Covid-19 test from an individual who was at Batavia’s Original on Friday, November 6th, and Saturday, November 7th, between the hours of 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Contact tracing is in progress. However, unidentified individuals may have unknowingly been in contact with the person who tested positive, the Genesee County Health Department said today.
“We advise all individuals who were at Batavia’s Original on Friday or Saturday between the stated hours to monitor their symptoms for 14 days (through Nov. 20th or Nov. 21st),” the Health Department stated in a news release. “If symptoms of Covid-19 develop, contact your primary care provider to seek testing immediately and self-isolate until you receive your test results.”
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, diarrhea.
Batavia’s Original is closing the pizza business just for this weekend after five workers at the pizzeria tested positive or were in close contact with someone who tested positive. Several more employees are in mandatory quarantine for two weeks and can’t come to work, according to The Batavian.
Kathy Ferrara, the pizzeria’s owner, told the Batavian that three of workers likely contracted Covid at Halloween parties, while another hosted a card game and the other believes it was contracted from a family member.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 November 2020 at 4:32 pm
A reminder the numbers listed as positive/active are current community cases. The recovered numbers are only for community cases and do not include non-county regulated facilities. The total positive cases includes community active/positive, community recovered and all those from non-county regulated facilities. Geneses’s total should say 512.
There are 30 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County, and 40 more in Genesee in the first update since Tuesday afternoon, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today.
In Orleans County, the 30 new positive cases of Covid bring the county’s total to 482 cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in Albion, Barre, Clarendon, Gaines, Murray, Ridgeway, Shelby and Yates.
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. Ten of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Orleans has also had five of the previous positive individuals recover and be removed from the isolation list.
The Health Department has been notified of a positive student at Holley High School, Albion High School and Lyndonville High School. All of the students were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Albion also has one staff member at the district office test positive. That person was not on quarantine prior to testing positive.
The individuals are on mandatory isolation until they recover. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual.
One Orleans County resident is hospitalized due to Covid.
Genesee County received 40 new positive cases of Covid-19 and has now had 512 positive cases since March.
Due to the volume of positives, further data will be updated tomorrow, the Health Department said. Staff are working on contact tracing.
The Health Department has been notified of a positive staff member at Batavia High School. The individual is on mandatory isolation until recovered. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual. The school will remain open for learning unless otherwise announced.
The Health Department has been notified of a positive student at Byron-Bergen Jr. /Sr. High School. The individual is on mandatory isolation until they recover. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual. The school will remain open for learning unless otherwise announced.
Please note the Genesee County data will be updated tomorrow.
More updates from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• New Restrictions: Effective November 13th at 10:00 p.m. bars, restaurants and gyms, as well as State Liquor Authority-licensed establishments, must close in-person service from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. daily.
Effective November 13th at 10:00 p.m. indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences will be limited to no more than 10 people outside your family unit currently living at home. We will report future guidance as it is released.
Time-Distance-Masks-Hands!: In order to limit the spread of Covid-19 you need to rethink any upcoming gatherings. The more time you spend with non-household members, the more at risk of spreading the virus and putting our counties in a micro-cluster which will increase restrictions.
Even small gatherings have the potential to have an impact on our hospital systems as we are seeing an increase in hospital admissions and ICU admissions. Limit time with non-household members…Keep at least 6 feet or more…Properly wear a mask/face covering over your nose and mouth…and wash your hands frequently with soap and water or 60% alcohol hand sanitizer, as well as sanitizing frequently touched surfaces/items.
This is each region’s percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days. Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes Region.
• Statewide update: The statewide positivity rate was 2.95 percent on Wednesday with 4,797 new positive cases out of 162,627 tests.
Governor Andrew Cuomo noted that the positive testing rate in all focus areas under the state’s Micro-Cluster strategy is 4.86 percent, and outside the focus zone areas is 2.53 percent. Within the focus areas, 28,906 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 1,406 positives. In the remainder of the state, not counting these focus areas, 133,721 test results were reported, yielding 3,391 positives.
There were 1,677 total hospitalizations from Covid in the state on Wednesday and 29 deaths, bringing the statewide total to 26,055 people who have died from Covid.
“Covid is raging nationally, setting record numbers of cases and hospitalizations with each passing day,” Cuomo said. “While New York is doing better than just about any state in the United States, we are not immune from the national trend. Now it’s up to what we do.
“There is no pre-destined future here. It’s a pure consequence of our actions. If we stay New York Tough and don’t fall subject to Covid fatigue and we stay smart through the holidays, through Thanksgiving, through Christmas, through Hanukkah, we’ll keep it under control. New Yorkers just have to continue to take it seriously. I know it has been a long time, but these next weeks are going to be key and we really need people to buckle down to fend off the tide.”
Provided photo: The GOW Opioid Task Force has been honored with the 2020 Community Star from the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. From left are Charlotte Crawford, chief executive officer, Lake Plains Community Care Network; Julie Gutowski, vice president of Clinical Operations and Services, Spectrum Health & Human Services; John Bennett, executive director of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse; Christen Ferraro, task force project coordinator, and Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee/Orleans County Health Departments.
Posted 11 November 2020 at 7:08 pm
By Mike Pettinella, GCASA Publicist
When it comes to commitment and dedication to battling opioid addiction in rural areas, the Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force shines brightly.
That’s the viewpoint of the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, which has awarded the local collaborative organization with a 2020 Community Star.
The award is given to only one rural entity in New York State.
“We are deeply honored to be recognized by the NOSORH,” said Christen Ferraro, GOW Opioid Task Force project coordinator. “It is a tribute to the efforts of the hundreds of people in the tri-county area who volunteer their time and work together to help end opioid addiction and overdose.”
The honor is being presented in conjunction with National Rural Health Day on Nov. 19, according to the NOSORH.
Ferraro said an e-book publication featuring the GOW Opioid Task Force’s story, along with the other winners, will be released on that date on the NRHD website. The link to the story also will be posted on the GOW Opioid Task Force website – www.gowopioidtaskforce.org – and on its Facebook page.
The NOSORH singled out the local outreach for its flexibility in delivering key services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the pandemic hit Western New York, the task force shifted its education efforts online. Virtual Narcan trainings were held and kits were mailed to participants. Since these online trainings began, more than 150 community members have been trained, and for 2020, more than 300 have received this training.
“We knew we had to make adjustments so our community could continue to have access to these needed resources,” Ferraro said. “The positive response we received from the community was overwhelming, and we definitely plan to utilize this new way of education to help continue supporting our rural community in these difficult times.”
The task force, which is supported by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, currently has more than 400 members from across the tri-county region.
Members represent various sectors of the community, including public health, mental health, human services, local government, substance use disorder treatment and recovery agencies, law enforcement, EMS, faith-based groups, health systems and medical practitioners, education, businesses, concerned individuals, families, and individuals in recovery.
The NOSORH founded National Rural Health Day as a way to showcase rural America, increase awareness of rural health-related challenges and promote the efforts of NOSORH, State Offices of Rural Health and others in addressing those challenges, said Teryl Eisinger, the agency’s chief executive officer.
An estimated 57 million people – nearly one in five Americans – live in rural and frontier communities throughout the United States.
“These small towns, farming communities and frontier areas are wonderful places to live and work; they are places where neighbors know each other and work together,” Eisinger said. “The hospitals and providers serving these rural communities not only provide quality patient care, but they also help keep good jobs in rural America.”
These communities also face unique healthcare needs.
“Today more than ever, rural communities must tackle accessibility issues, a lack of healthcare providers, the needs of an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, and larger percentages of un- and underinsured citizens,” she said. “Meanwhile, rural hospitals are threatened with declining reimbursement rates and disproportionate funding levels that makes it challenging to serve their residents.”
All 50 states maintain a State Office of Rural Health, each of which shares a similar mission to foster relationships, disseminate information and provide technical assistance that improves access to, and the quality of, health care for its rural citizens.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 November 2020 at 4:37 pm
Orleans County has 13 more confirmed positives case of Covid-19 today for a total of 452 positive cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in Albion, Carlton, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway and Shelby. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 30s, 40s, 50s and 70s.
Two of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today.
Three of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list. One Orleans County resident is currently hospitalized due to Covid.
• Holley high schooler tests positive: The Health Department has been notified of a positive student at Holley High School. The student was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. The individual is on mandatory isolation until they recover. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual.
• Worker in Holley Elementary tests positive for Covid: The Holley school district also notified the community that an adult who works in the Holley Elementary School building tested positive for Covid. The individual does not work directly for the school district, Brian Bartalo, district superintendent, said in a letter to the community.
The last day this person was on our campus was Friday, November 6. The district is unable to legally disclose any additional details or personal identifiable information about this individual per the federal privacy laws.
The district will work with the Health Department to assist with any contact tracing if that is deemed necessary. The DOH will typically go back 48 hours from the onset of symptoms or the date of the test to determine any order of quarantining of individuals of close contact with this person. In this situation, since the individual was last here four days ago, it’s not known if anyone will be contacted. Any communication of the need for quarantine will come directly from the Health Department, Bartalo said.
In Genesee County, there are 7 new positive cases of Covid for a total of 472 positive cases since March.
The data below includes the 43 reported cases since Friday. The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Bethany, Darien, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield, Pavilion and Stafford.
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Fourteen of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee also reports that 17 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
Two Genesee residents are hospitalized due to Covid.
• 173 active cases in 3 counties: To see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here. There are currently 173 active cases in the three counties – 87 in Genesee, 47 in Orleans and 39 in Wyoming.
More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
• No updates on Veterans Day: Due to the Veterans Day holiday, both Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will be closed. We will not be updating numbers or the map until Thursday afternoon. A very special thank you to those who have served in any of the armed forces. We appreciate your service and the sacrifices you and your families have endured to keep our country safe.
BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department has received a positive Covid-19 test from an individual who attended Trivia Night at TF Brown’s on Tuesday, November 3, between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Contact tracing is in progress, however unidentified individuals may have unknowingly been in contact with the person who tested positive.
We advise all individuals who attended the Trivia Night on Nov. 3 to monitor their symptoms until November 17th. If symptoms of Covid-19 develop, contact your primary care provider to seek testing immediately and self-isolate until you receive your test results.
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 November 2020 at 6:14 pm
Orleans also reporting a death due to Covid-19, first since July 15
Orleans and Genesee counties both are reported a big increase in Covid-19 cases since Friday, when the local Health Department last updated the community about new confirmed cases.
In Orleans County there are 18 more cases since Friday while Genesee has 43 more confirmed cases.
Orleans also is reporting a death from Covid-19, a person over age 65. This is the first Covid death in the county since July 15. The county has now had 56 residents die after contracting Covid.
“We are deeply saddened to report we have had an Orleans County community member pass away due to Covid-19,” the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments stated in a news release. “Out of respect for the family we will not release any further details about this individual. We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this person and encourage our community members to be respectful of the family’s time of grieving.”
Orleans has now had 439 positive cases since March. The 18 new positive cases include residents in Albion, Barre, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway, Shelby and Yates.
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
Three of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments said.
Orleans is also reporting six recoveries from Covid and those people have been removed from the isolation list.
• The Health Departments have been notified of a positive student at Lyndonville High School and a positive student at Medina High School. The students were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. The individuals are on mandatory isolation until they recover. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual.
• Albion Central School also said one of its students has tested positive for Covid-19. The student is a hybrid learner in the high school.
As the student has not been in school since Oct. 26, the Health Department determined there is no need to do further contact tracing in the school due to the look-back period, the school district stated on its website.
In Genesee County, the 43 new positive cases bring Genesee’s total to 465 positive cases since March.
Due to the volume of positives, further information will be updated tomorrow, the Health Departments said. Staff are working on contact tracing.
• The Genesee County Health Department was notified of two teachers testing positive at Jackson Primary School in Batavia. The individuals have been placed under mandatory isolation where they will remain until they have recovered.
Contact tracing is in process to identify close contacts. Out of an abundance of caution, Jackson Primary School will be 100 percent remote virtual learning until Monday, November 30.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 November 2020 at 5:10 pm
2 neighboring counties in danger of more restrictions if cases continue to rise
Two of Orleans County’s neighbors, Monroe and Erie, have been designated with yellow precautionary zone focus areas due to rising Covid cases.
The state’s yellow zone restrictions include a 25-person maximum capacity on mass gatherings, 4-person to a table maximum while dining and 20 percent weekly testing of in-person students, faculty in schools. Bars and restaurants located in Yellow Precautionary Zones must close at midnight.
The two counties could see more restrictions if cases continue to rise.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the cluster strategy has worked so far, with increased testing, awareness and actions to rein in Covid.
For example, Brooklyn was changed from the most restrictive red zone to an orange warning zone based on reduced Covid cases. The change to an orange zone allowed many businesses to reopen.
“Covid is surging across the country and the globe, and we expect the rates will continue to go up through the fall and into the winter,” Governor Cuomo said today. “The long-term prognosis is get a vaccine as quickly as possible, and administer the vaccine as quickly, fairly and equitably as possible. In the meantime, we manage the increase by doing more testing and targeted restrictions where necessary, and being more aggressive on enforcement.”
The state designated large portions of Erie, Monroe and also Onondaga counties with yellow zones today.
• Erie County – Over the past 10 days, parts of Erie County have had 7-day average positivity rates above 2.5 percent, and cases per 100,000 and new daily hospital admissions have increased, meeting the metrics for a yellow zone designation. (Click here to see a map of the county in the yellow zone.)
• Monroe County – Over the past 10 days, parts of Monroe County have had 7-day average positivity rates above 3 percent, and cases per 100,000 and new daily hospital admissions have increased, meeting the metrics for a yellow zone designation. (Click here to see a map of the county in the yellow zone.)
• Onondaga County – Over the past 10 days, parts of Onondaga County have had 7-day average positivity rates above 3%, and cases per 100,000 and new daily hospital admissions have increased, meeting the metrics for a yellow zone designation. (Click here to see a map of the county in the yellow zone.)
‘I know people are tired – Covid fatigue is real. But the virus isn’t tired.’ – Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Identifying and Implementing Focus Zone
Daily data monitoring enables the state to identify areas that are experiencing a concerning increase in Covid spread, Cuomo said.
Once an area meets certain metrics – detailed below – that demonstrate substantial spread, it may be designated a focus zone.
• Red Zone — Micro-Cluster: A “Red Zone” focus area is put in place to contain spread from a specific, defined geographic area.
• Orange Zone — Warning/Buffer: An Orange Zone area either is put in place primarily in densely populated urban areas as a tight buffer zone around a Red Zone micro-cluster (“Orange Buffer Zone”) area or is implemented independently as a focus area based on metrics.
The purpose of an Orange Buffer Zone is to 1) restrict activity to prevent further spread from Red Zone area; 2) provide a defined geographic area where metrics can be monitored daily to ensure Covid is not spreading beyond the Red Zone.
• Yellow Zone — Precautionary/Buffer: A “Yellow Zone” area either is put in place as a broader buffer area to ensure Covid outbreak is not spreading into the broader community or is implemented independently based on the metrics.
The purpose of a Yellow Buffer Zone is to 1) restrict some activity to help prevent further spread from Red and/or Orange Warning Zone area; 2) provide a larger defined geographic area where metrics can be monitored daily to ensure Covid is not spreading beyond the Red Zone or Orange Warning Zone.
The restrictions for the three cluster zones include:
• Red Zone — Cluster Itself
Houses of Worship: 25 percent capacity, 10 people maximum
Mass Gatherings: Prohibited
Businesses: Only essential businesses open
Dining: Takeout only
Schools: Closed, remote only
Orange Zone — Warning Zone
Houses of Worship: 33 percent capacity, 25 people maximum
Mass Gatherings: 10 people maximum, indoor and outdoor
Businesses: Closing high-risk non-essential businesses, such as gyms and personal care
Dining: Outdoor dining only, 4 person maximum per table
Schools: Closed, remote only
Yellow Zone — Precautionary Zone
Houses of Worship: 50 percent capacity
Mass Gatherings: 25 people maximum, indoor and outdoor
Businesses: Open
Dining: Indoor and outdoor dining, 4 person maximum per table
Schools: Open with mandatory weekly testing of students and teachers/staff for in-person settings with percentage of students and teachers to be tested to be established by the New York State Department of Health.
A county or area can be downgraded in zone designation or have the designation ended if the positivity data, cases per capita, and daily hospital admissions over a 14 day period go down, showing there are no signs of broader spread from the focus area that prompted the zone creation.
“I know people are tired – Covid fatigue is real,” Cuomo said. “But the virus isn’t tired. The red, orange and yellow zones are our way of saying the virus is making headway and we’re going to increase restrictions and we’re going to increase enforcement. When we see a small increase, we attack that small increase – and the numbers show it works.”
Limited visitation to continue for specific groups
Press Release, Rochester Regional Health
BATAVIA – Due to the rapidly increasing prevalence of Covid-19 in the Finger Lakes Region, Rochester Regional Health will suspend general visitation at all hospitals effective Sunday, November 8 at 7 p.m.
This includes Rochester General Hospital, Unity Hospital in Greece, Unied Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, and Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic in Clifton Springs, Ontario County. Newark-Wayne Community Hospital in Newark, Wayne County suspended visitation last week.
Limited visitation will be allowed in the following cases:
Pediatric patients may have one support person on-site at a time. Two support people can alternate visitation.
Obstetrical patients may have one on-site support person and a doula.
Patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, and cognitive impairments, including dementia or who have conditions protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, may have a support person who is medically necessary for their care.
Visitation at end of life.
In the above cases, visitation will only be allowed under the following conditions:
Visitors/support people will have their temperature checked before entering the hospital and then again every 12 hours while in a clinical area.
If a visitor/support person has a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or more) or displays symptoms, they are not allowed into the hospital.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 November 2020 at 4:51 pm
New cases include a student at Albion and one at Elba
Orleans County has 7 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 421 positive cases since March.
The new positive cases are residents in Albion, Barre, Carlton, Ridgeway, Shelby and Yates. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 40s, 50s, 60s and 80s.
One of the individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, said the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
Due to the new “test-out” option and the discrepancies in reporting domestic
Travel, the Health Departments will currently not be reporting precautionary quarantine data.
In Orleans, one person remains hospitalized due to Covid, and one more person has recovered and been removed from the isolation list.
• The Health Department has been notified of a positive student at Albion Elementary School. The student was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, therefore no school impact, the Health Departments said.
The individual is on mandatory isolation until recovered. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual.
In Genesee County there are 11 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 422 cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in Alexander, Batavia, Byron, Elba, LeRoy,
Pembroke and Stafford. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 50s and 60s.
None of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments reported this afternoon.
Two residents of Genesee are hospitalized due to Covid.
• The Health Department has been notified of a positive student at the Elba Elementary School. The student was not in school two days prior to testing positive, therefore no school impact, the Health Departments said.
The individuals is on mandatory isolation until recovered. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual.
• 3-county database: To see an online database of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here. There are currently 107 active cases in the three counties, with 54 in Genesee, 25 in Orleans and 28 in Wyoming.
More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
Flu Tracking: For the 2020-2021 Flu Season we will provide data on Fridays on the current influenza activity. To check the data, click here.
For the current week ending date Oct. 31, Genesee and Orleans both have no cases. There are 88 cases statewide. This is up 42% from previous week.
Cases statewide for the season to date: 282. This data is influenza that is confirmed by laboratory testing. Not everyone seeks testing for confirmation of the flu.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 November 2020 at 10:28 pm
Orleans has highest positive rate of 3 counties
The three rural counties of Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming crossed a milestone this week when they exceeded 1,000 cases of Covid-19 combined since March.
On Monday, the combined cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming were at 990. Today, they were at 1,045.
Orleans has had the most cases among the three counties since March with 414, despite a smaller population than neighboring Genesee, which has had 411 cases. Wyoming has had 220 cases.
Orleans and Wyoming are similar in size at about 40,000 people. (Orleans had 40,352 in the 2019 Census estimate, while Wyoming had 39,859 in the Census estimate from last year. Genesee has closer to 60,000 people at 57,280.)
All three counties have seen the rate of cases rise significantly in the past month. Genesee has 88 new cases since Oct. 5, while Orleans has 96 more and Wyoming, 86 more Covid cases.
Compare that with July 6 to Aug. 5, when Genesee added 35 cases, Orleans was up 13 and Wyoming had 20 more cases.
Here are where the three counties were in cases in the past four months:
Genesee County
• July 6, 228 cases; Aug. 5, 263 cases; Sept. 4, 283 cases; Oct. 5, 232 cases; and Nov. 5, 411 cases.
Orleans County
• July 6, 267 cases; Aug. 5, 280 cases; Sept. 4, 290 cases; Oct. 5, 318 cases; and Nov. 5, 414 cases.
Wyoming County
• July 6, 90 cases; Aug. 5, 110 cases; Sept. 4, 120 cases; Oct. 5, 140 cases; and Nov. 5, 226 cases.
The three counties combined have done 88,747 Covid tests with 1,045 positive for a positivity rate of 1.18 percent.
The positivity rates for the three counties include:
Genesee, 411 out of 40,844 tests, 1.01 percent positive
Orleans, 414 out of 21,626 tests, 1.91 percent positive
Wyoming, 220 out 26,277 tests, 0.84 percent positive
To see an online map about the Covid cases and tests in three counties, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 November 2020 at 4:50 pm
Orleans County has 6 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 for a total of 414 positive cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in Gaines, Lyndonville, Clarendon, Ridgeway and Albion. The individuals are in their 20s, 50s and 60s.
None of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County health Departments reported this afternoon.
There are 15 new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
Orleans is reporting one more recovery from Covid and that person has been removed from the isolation list.
One Orleans resident remains hospitalized due to Covid-19.
Genesee County has received 10 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 411 positive cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in Batavia, Bethany, Darien, Elba and Pembroke. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 80s.
Three of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments said.
Genesee has 15 more people are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
Genesee also has six more recoveries and they have been removed from the isolation list.
Two from Genesee remain hospitalized from Covid.
• The Health Departments have been notified of a positive student at the Alexander Middle/High School. The individuals are on mandatory isolation until recovered. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual.
• The Health Departments have been notified of a positive student at the Batavia High School. The student was not in school two days prior to testing positive, therefore no school impact. The individuals are on mandatory isolation until recovered. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual.
• Active cases in 3 rural counties:Click here to see an online database of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. There are currently 118 actives cases in the three counties, with 43 in Genesee, 19 in Orleans and 56 in Wyoming.
Here is each region’s percentage of positive test results as reported over the last three days. Orleans County is the Finger Lakes Region, which had the highest rate in the state on Wednesday.
• State-wide update: The statewide positivity rate is 1.86 percent while the positive testing rate in all Focus Zone Areas is 3.04 percent. The positivity rate outside all Focus Zone Areas is 1.70 percent.
Within the focus areas, 19,814 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 602 positives. In the remainder of the state, not counting these focus areas, 141,205 test results were reported, yielding 2,395 positives.
“Every expert told us come the fall cases would go up, and that’s what’s happening around the country and the globe,” Governor Cuomo said. “We got ready here in New York: we have our micro-cluster strategy and we have our additional testing. That’s why we have the third lowest positivity rate in the country.”
“But Covid fatigue is creeping up and there are serious caution flags in Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and in other communities across the state, so it is more important than ever that we be vigilant. Wear masks, wash your hands, adhere to social distancing rules, and enforce the public health guidelines that are there to save lives.”
More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• A reminder the numbers listed as positive/active are current community cases. The recovered numbers are only for community cases and do not include non-county regulated facilities. The total positive cases includes community active/positive, community recovered and all those from non-county regulated facilities.
• Gathering Size: According to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.45, all non-essential gatherings of up to 50 individuals of any size for any reason (celebrations, weddings, or other social events at public facilities or private venues) unless otherwise designated (ex. Religious gatherings) are allowed as long as appropriate social distancing, wearing cloth masks/face coverings over their mouth and nose, and cleaning and disinfection protocol requirements are followed.
With the recent uptick of individuals testing positive and the stricter guidance placed by the Governor, it is important to remember that those who plan and host non-essential gatherings (whether at a venue or a private residence) as noted above, can be fined up to $15,000, and/or cause our counties to be considered a micro-cluster which will place the area under stricter restrictions.
• Micro-clusters: The initiative will take the most significant action within the cluster (Red Zone), moderate action in the area surrounding the cluster to stop the spread (Orange Zone), and precautionary action in the outlying communities (Yellow Zone). To learn more about the Cluster Action Initiative, click here.
• Travel Advisory: As of Nov. 4 there will be new travel guidelines. Out-of-state travelers to New York will be able to “test out” of the mandatory 14-day quarantine if they have a negative Covid-19 test result at least 3 days prior to entering New York and after a 3-day quarantine starting on their arrival in New York, test negative on day 4 of their quarantine.
If you choose not to test prior to entering New York you will be on 14-day quarantine. In both instances you are responsible to complete the New York State Traveler Health Form. If you traveled to another state for less than 24 hours, you do not need a test prior to your departure from the other state and do not need to quarantine upon arrival in NYS. The traveler must still fill out the NYS Traveler Form and take a Covid-19 diagnostic test 4 days after their arrival in New York. For more information on this new advisory, click here.
The Governor is also encouraging that non-essential travel to/from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont as they may meet the criteria for NYS travel advisory.
AAA shares advice for Drowsy Driving Prevention Week
Press Release, AAA of Western and Central New York
This week is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week and AAA has advice for motorists to avoid the dangerous habit.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 35 percent of U.S. drivers sleep less than the recommended minimum of seven hours daily. In a 2018 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey, nearly all drivers (96 percent) say they view drowsy driving as a serious threat to their safety and a completely unacceptable behavior.
However, 29 percent admitted to driving when they were so tired they had a hard time keeping their eyes open at some point.
The AAA Foundation also conducted in-depth drowsy driving research in the U.S. using footage of everyday drivers. It found that the percentage of crashes involving drowsiness is nearly eight times higher than federal estimates.
In the 2018 study, researchers examined video of drivers’ faces in the three minutes leading up to a crash. Using a scientific measure linking the percentage of time a person’s eyes are closed to their level of drowsiness, the researchers determined that 9.5 percent of all crashes and 10.8 percent of crashes resulting in significant property damage involved drowsiness. Federal estimates indicate drowsiness is a factor in only one to two percent of crashes.
The difficulty in detecting drowsiness following a crash makes drowsy driving one of the most underreported traffic safety issues.
Knowing the warning signs of drowsiness can help drivers avoid dozing off behind the wheel. The most common symptoms include:
Having trouble keeping your eyes open
Drifting from your lane
Not remembering the last few miles driven
Drivers however should not rely on their bodies to provide warning signs for drowsiness and should instead prioritize getting at least seven hours of sleep before hitting the road. AAA recommends that drivers:
Travel at times of the day when they are normally awake
Avoid heavy foods
Avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment
For longer trips, drivers should:
Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles
Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving
Do not underestimate the power of a quick nap. Pulling into a rest stop and taking a quick catnap – at least 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes of sleep – can help to keep you alert on the road.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 November 2020 at 6:15 pm
School staff at Kendall, Alexander and Batavia BOCES have confirmed cases
Orleans County is reporting six new cases of Covid-19 since Monday, when the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments last updated the community.
The new positive cases reside in Gaines, Barre, Clarendon and Murray. The individuals are in their 20s, 30s, 50s and 60s.
Three of the individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Orleans has now had 408 people test positive for Covid since March.
The county is also reporting 22 new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
The county also has had four more recoveries and those residents have been removed from the isolation list. Orleans has now had 232 recoveries in the community from Covid. One of the positive individuals is hospitalized.
The Health Department has been notified of a positive staff member at the Kendall Central School District. The individual is under mandatory isolation. All close contacts have been identified and placed under the NYS Contact Tracers and placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from last contact with the positive individual.
Genesee County received 20 new positive cases of Covid-19 and has now had 401 positive cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Batavia, Bergen, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield and Pembroke.
The individual are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 80s. Two of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee has 28 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
Genesee also is reporting 16 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list, bringing Genesee’s total recoveries to 299 in the community.
There 2 people from Genesee County currently hospitalized due to Covid.
The Health Department has been notified of 2 positive students and 1 staff member at the Alexander Middle/High School and 1 Alexander Central School District staff member. The individuals are on mandatory isolation until recovered. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual.
The Health Department also has been notified of a positive staff member of the Genesee Valley BOCES, Batavia Center. The individual is on mandatory isolation until recovered. Contact tracing is in process for those who are considered close contacts and will be placed on mandatory quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the positive individual.
Click here to see an online map of the confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. There are 74 active cases in the three counties with 39 in Genesee, 14 in Orleans and 21 in Wyoming.
Here is each region’s percentage of positive test results as reported over the last three days. Orleans County is the Finger Lakes Region.
Statewide Data: The statewide positivity rate is 1.59 percent. The positive testing rate in all Focus Zone areas is 2.69 percent. The positivity outside the focus zone areas is 1.42 percent.
Within the focus areas, 18,581 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 499 positives. In the remainder of the state, not counting these focus areas, 114,953 test results were reported, yielding 1,627 positives.
“The surge in cases around the country and the globe is a stark reminder that this pandemic is far from over, and while we are doing a good job keeping our positivity rate comparatively low, the numbers in Western New York are a caution flag,” Governor Cuomo said. “We’re staying on top of this situation by continuing our aggressive micro-cluster strategy, expanding testing capacity and enforcing compliance of the public health law.”
