In Orleans County, 89 percent of hospital workers have been vaccinated against Covid, and that tops the state-wide rate of 87 percent, according to data from the state.

Some of other rates in nearby counties include: Genesee, 89%; Monroe, 91%; Niagara, 86%; Erie, 87%; Chautauqua, 93%; Allegany, 82%; Cattaraugus, 75%; Livingston, 79% and Wyoming, 90%.

The state-wide vaccination mandate for hospital and healthcare workers went into effect on Monday. Governor Kathy Hochul today said no health care facilities in the state closed because of the mandate and many workers got vaccinated just before the deadline of the mandate.

“Our greatest responsibility is to protect our most vulnerable, and ensuring that the health care workers who care for our loved ones are vaccinated is critical to keeping New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “I am grateful to the facilities, unions, and health care workers who took important steps to prepare and protect New Yorkers, and we are working with facilities to ensure they remain operational. We will continue to monitor developments and work with stakeholders to troubleshoot any issues, and I stand ready to take additional action as needed.”

Since Hochul became governor on Aug. 24, vaccination rates among health care workers increased.

Hochul’s office released the following data:

• The percentage of nursing home staff receiving at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose increased to 92% as of Monday evening, up from 71% on Aug. 24 and 82% on Sept. 20.
• The percentage of adult care facilities staff receiving at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose increased to 89% as of Monday evening, up from 77% on Aug. 24 and 85% on Sept. 20.
• The percentage of hospital staff receiving at least one dose is 92% as of Monday evening based on preliminary self-reported data. The percentage of fully vaccinated is 85% as of Monday evening, up from 84% on Sept. 22 and 77% on Aug. 24.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that certain populations receive a booster shot of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at least six months after the completion of their Pfizer vaccine primary series (two doses).

In addition, the CDC recommends that individuals that are in high-risk occupational and institutional settings should also receive a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine.

Based on these recommendations, the following groups should receive a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer vaccine primary series:

• People 65 years and older
• Residents in long-term care settings
• People aged 50 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions

The following groups may consider receiving a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer vaccine primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks:

• People aged 18 to 49 who are at high risk for severe Covid-19 due to certain underlying medical conditions
• People aged 18 to 64 who are at increased risk for Covid-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting

Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are promoting booster shots to those that are eligible beginning the week of October 4th.

“We are prepared to provide booster shots to eligible residents who received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine six months ago, stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective and this will help provide these individuals with the extra protection needed against Covid-19.”

Appointments are required for booster shots. Individuals will self-attest that they fall under one of the above categories to receive a booster shot. At this time, boosters are only recommended for those who have received the Pfizer vaccine for their primary series. The CDC is continuing to evaluate the data to make recommendations for those that received Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for their primary vaccine series.

GENESEE – Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 12:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Genesee County Health Dept., 3837 W Main Street Rd. Batavia, NY 14020

Pfizer Booster: Appointment required (click here)

J&J: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

Moderna: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

Pfizer: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

ORLEANS – Thursday, Oct. 7, from 12:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Orleans County Health Dept., 14016 State Route 31, Suite 101 in Albion, NY 14411

Pfizer Booster: Appointment required (click here)

J&J: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

Moderna: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

Pfizer: Walk-ins and appointments (click here)

“We also encourage anyone who has still not received their primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine, to do so and to talk with their primary care provider with questions related to the vaccine,” stated Pettit. “Everyone should also continue to practice the public health prevention precautions detailed below.”

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• If water is not readily available, use hand sanitizer, containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Wash and sanitize frequently shared/touched items.
• Stay 6 feet away from others and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Wear a face mask indoors in public and crowded outdoor settings.
• Monitor your health daily and stay home if you are experiencing any symptoms.
• Get tested if you are experiencing symptoms and self-isolate until you get your results back. If you test positive for Covid, you are to isolate for 10 days.

For more information on the Covid-19 vaccine, booster shots or to make an appointment, click here.

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

Dr. Mary Obear serves as chief clinical officer for OOH.

BROCKPORT – We are pleased to announce that Oak Orchard Health has been recertified through the New York State Patient-Centered Medical Home (NYS PCMH) program.

What does that mean? Once again, OOH has met the criteria of this program and the benefits to its patients are priceless – better health, lower costs, and better patient experiences.

The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a model of care that puts patients as the primary focus of care. PCMHs build better relationships between people and their clinical care teams. Research shows that they improve quality, patient experience, and staff satisfaction while reducing health care costs.

“Our patients not only have a primary care provider, but also a team of caregivers such as our patient engagement team that addresses housing, food, language barriers and so much more. You can’t get a patient healthy if they have transportation issues and struggle to get their prescriptions. We help solve those problems too,” said Chief Clinical Officer, Mary Obear, MD, PhD.

During the pandemic, we’ve adapted our practices to be sure our patients received the care they needed. One example is telehealth technology which allows us to communicate with patients who want to “see” their providers. This has been particularly helpful with behavioral health and improved our communication with patients who were facing stressful situations.

“Oak Orchard Health has been a certified Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) since 2012. Our certification as a PCMH by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) means our patients can count on high-quality health care delivered with an emphasis on care coordination and communication,” said Mary Ann Pettibon, CEO, Oak Orchard Health.

OOH currently serves over 26,000 patients at eleven locations. The organization is a recognized patient-centered medical home and 501(c) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center located in the towns of Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Lyndonville, Hornell and Warsaw.

2 counties report nearly 200 new cases since Thursday

Genesee and Orleans counties today are reporting nearly 200 new cases of Covid-19 since the last update on Thursday afternoon. The new cases include 94 in Orleans and 103 in Genesee.

The number of active cases in the two counties is at 339 today, which is up from 295 on Thursday and 257 a week ago.

The 94 new positive cases in Orleans include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 90s, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

There are currently 3 Orleans County residents hospitalized due to Covid.

The county also has had 81 more recoveries or previous positive individuals who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

In Genesee, the 103 new positive cases include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Genesee currently has 13 residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Genesee is reporting 125 more of the positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Genesee has passed 6,000 Covid cases during the pandemic since March 2020. The two counties are nearing 10,000 cases during the pandemic – 6,092 in Genesee and 3,783 in Orleans.

2 counties near 300 active cases; Genesee reports another Covid death

Genesee and Orleans counties have 159 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 since Monday, with 84 in Orleans and 75 in Genesee.

The two counties now have 295 active cases of Covid with 160 in Genesee and 135 in Orleans. That is up from 257 on Monday when there were 144 active cases in Genesee and 113 in Orleans.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments updates the cases twice a week on Monday and Thursday afternoons. The number of active cases recently includes 295 today, 257 on Monday, 204 on Sept. 16 (119 in Orleans and 85 in Genesee), 183 on Sept. 13 (97 in Orleans and 86 in Genesee) and 144 on Sept. 9 (77 in Orleans and 67 in Genesee).

In Orleans County, the 84 new cases since Monday  include people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

There are currently six Orleans residents hospitalized due to Covid.

The county is reporting 31 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

In Genesee County the 75 new positive cases are people in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

There are currently 13 Genesee residents who are hospitalized due to Covid.

The county has 61 more of the previous positive individuals who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Genesee also had had one more person pass away due to Covid, a person under age 65 who didn’t live in a nursing home.

“We do not provide any further information to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families,” according to a statement from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Our deepest condolences are extended to the families and friends during this difficult time.”

Genesee has now had 131 Covid-related deaths during the pandemic and Orleans has had 84.

157 new cases reported since Thursday in Genesee, Orleans

Six residents in Genesee County have suffered Covid-related deaths in the past two weeks, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today.

Those deaths were all among people 65 and older.

“The local health departments are not always notified in real time of Covid-related deaths and can only report when shared by family members and other reporting sources,” the G=O Health Departments said in an update on their website. “Our deepest condolences are extended to the families and friends of these individuals during this very difficult time.”

The New York State Department of Health updates the fatality data as the state DOH receives it. The state currently shows 127 deaths in Genesee County due to Covid during the pandemic since March 2020, and 84 deaths in Orleans.

“There may be discrepancies with the count as the State compiles the data from death certificates and coroners’ reports,” G-O Health officials said.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments updated the new Covid cases since Thursday and that includes 157 in the two counties.

Genesee has 86 new cases and those individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. Genesee currently has 12 residents hospitalized.

Genesee is reporting 19 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

The number of active cases in the county is at 144 today, up from 85 on Sept. 16 and 86 on Sept. 13.

Orleans County is reporting 71 new cases since Thursday, and 75 recoveries of people who have completed their 10-day isolation and have been removed from mandatory isolation.

The new cases include individuals who are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

There is currently one Orleans County resident hospitalized due to Covid.

The number of active cases in Orleans is at 113 today, compared to 119 on Sept. 16 and 97 on Sept. 13.

The number of active Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties is over 200 for the first time since April 28, according to data from the two counties.

The number of active cases is at 204 today, with 119 in Orleans and 84 in Genesee. That is up from 183 on Monday (97 in Orleans and 86 in Genesee). A week ago there were 144 cases in the two counties with 77 in Orleans and 67 in Genesee.

Orleans County is reporting 44 new active cases since Monday, and the new cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s  and 60s.

Orleans currently has four residents who are hospitalized due to Covid.

The county is reporting 21 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Genesee County is reporting 46 new positive cases since Monday, and those cases are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Genesee has 14 residents hospitalized due to Covid, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Genesee has 40 more of the previous positive individuals who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Governor also announces masks must be worn at state-certified substance abuse and mental health facilities

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a series of universal mask requirements designed to protect New Yorkers against the highly contagious Delta variant and the recent surge in Covid-19 infections statewide.

The requirement applies to New York State Office of Children and Family Services-licensed and -registered child care centers, home-based group family and family child care programs, after-school child care programs and enrolled legally exempt group programs during operational hours.

Implementing the mask regulation in child care programs will provide consistency between child care program children and school children, many of whom often share the same buildings.

New masking requirements will also apply to congregate programs and facilities licensed, registered, operated, certified or approved by the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

This includes but is not limited to certified residential and day programs, inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, substance abuse programs, juvenile detention programs, juvenile residential facilities, congregate foster care programs, runaway and homeless youth, domestic violence and other shelter programs. These requirements apply to anyone medically able to tolerate wearing a mask, regardless of vaccination status.

“With the Delta variant on the rise, requiring masks at state-regulated child care, mental health, and substance abuse facilities is a key part of our broader strategy for slowing the spread of the virus, reopening our economy safely, and protecting vulnerable members of our population,” Governor Hochul said. “For children under 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, masks are the best line of defense against Covid-19 infection. This new mask requirement ensures that children in our child care facilities receive the same protection as children in our schools.”

The new mask requirement in child care facilities brings New York State into compliance with federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance issued in July that recommends universal indoor masking for anyone age two and older who has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and is medically able to wear a mask. It also brings child care facilities in alignment with school masking requirements announced on Governor Hochul’s first day in office.

Because the Delta variant is so highly transmissible, there have been large increases in cases across all age groups. Because children under 12 years of age are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, there have been large increases in cases among children, which translates to higher numbers of severe cases. Additional protective measures will help to keep New York’s children safe at this important time.

OCFS Commissioner Sheila J. Poole said, “We have heard from many parents and residents of congregate settings asking that the state require masking because child care and congregate residential programs will not require that protection without a state requirement. We want to keep all children and staff in child care programs, as well as staff and residents of congregate residential programs, safe from the spread of infection and wearing a mask is the best tool we have. Children want to be like the adults around them and will easily adapt to the mask wearing requirement.”

There are 63 new Covid-19 cases in Orleans County since Thursday and 56 more in Genesee County, the Genesee and Orleans County health Departments reported today.

The new cases in Orleans include the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

There are currently five Orleans County residents hospitalized due to Covid, which is up from three on Thursday, according to G-O Health.

Orleans also had 43 more of the previous positive individuals complete their 10-day isolation and they have been removed from mandatory isolation.

Genesee is reporting 56 new positive and the individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

There are currently 14 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid, which is down from 16 on Thursday, G-O Health said this afternoon.

Genesee is also reporting 37 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

The active Covid cases in the two counties are up from 112 six days ago on Sept. 7 to 183 today. That includes Orleans – from 59 to 97 – and Genesee – from 53 to 86.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a free drive-through anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, September 16^th, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).

“Rabies continues to be a public health issue in Genesee County. We urge pet owners to take this opportunity to ensure their pets are protected against rabies,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Our drive-through clinics are well organized, run very smoothly and prevent animals from getting into any altercations with other animals.”

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.

Face coverings are recommended and please follow all social distancing requirements.

To save time, click here to fill out the registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them to the clinic.

The next anti-rabies immunization clinic in Orleans County will be held on October 2nd at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 Rt. 31 in Albion) from 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, please contact the Orleans County Health Department: 585-589-3278 or OCPublicHealth@orleanscountyny.gov.

The next anti- rabies immunization clinic in Genesee County will be held on October 14th. For more information, please contact the Genesee County Health Department: 585-344-2580 x5555 or Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us.