Events will be Wednesdays, starting Dec. 16, for 7 weeks or longer

KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County will offer free rapid testing for Covid-19 for the first time starting next Wednesday, Dec. 16, at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

The testing is for people who are asymptomatic for Covid. Those with symptoms should consult with a medical provider on getting tested.

The events at the fairgrounds will be from 1 to 4 p.m. and are expected to last seven weeks. The times could be modified and there could be additional weeks depending on demand, Public Health Director Paul Pettit shared during a conference call with local elected officials today.

More details need to be worked out and the Health Department will be releasing more information soon about the rapid testing.

The public will need to register online, to help manage the traffic flow and stagger the arrivals. Pettit said more information and an online signup will be available soon.

People should enter the fairgrounds from Taylor Hill Road and go to the north side of the Trolley Building. After their test sample and results, they should exit from Wood Road.

Genesee County has offered rapid testing last Thursday and today at the Genesee County Emergency Management Office & Fire Training Facility on State Street Road in the Town of Batavia.

There were 400 people who were tested on Thursday and 470 today, with 32 positives today, said Pettit, who is public health director in Orleans and Genesee. The Genesee events are drawing people from six or seven counties, he said. Click here to sign up for the event at Genesee. An online registration hasn’t been set up yet for Orleans.

Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, said she appreciates free testing will soon be an option in the county.

She urged local towns and villages to dedicate some of their personnel to help run the events, which she said will take about 20 to 25 people to manage.

Pettit said the county officials have been pressing the state for months for free testing options in Genesee and Orleans.

“I think we’re finally moving the needle on this,” he said.

Genesee and Orleans counties are reporting 44 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the two counties today. Genesee also is reporting two deaths from Covid, and Orleans also had a resident die from a Covid-related illness.

In Orleans County, there are 23 new positive cases, bringing the total to 741 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in Albion, Barre, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway, Shelby and Yates. The individuals are in the age groups of 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

Two of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said in an afternoon news briefing.

The resident who passed away from a Covid-related illness was community member over the age of 65 who wasn’t in a nursing home. Orleans has now had 59 people die due to Covid.

“We will not be releasing any further information to protect the individual and their family,” the Health Departments said. “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of this community member during this very difficult time.”

The county also reported 20 of the previous positive individuals recovered and have been removed from the isolation list. Six of the current positive individuals are hospitalized, which is down from nine the previous day.

• Albion Central School reported today that two elementary school staff members tested positive for Covid-19. Contact tracing and the quarantine of students and staff members was implemented according to Health Department guidelines, the district stated on its website.

• Lyndonville Central School was notified today that a staff member tested positive for Covid-19. The staff member was last on campus on Friday, Dec. 3. No students or staff need to be quarantined after confirmation from the Orleans County Health Department, the district stated on its website.

In Genesee County, there are 21 new positive cases for a total of 1,237 Covid cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in Batavia, Bergen, Bethany, Byron, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield and Pembroke. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 70s.

The county is reporting 57 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. Genesee has 17 people hospitalized due to Covid, which is down from 20 the previous day.

The two residents who died due to a Covid-related illness are both community members over the age of 65. They weren’t nursing home residents. Genesee has now had 10 people die this month due to Covid, and 17 during the pandemic.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments has a new format for announcing when there is a time when they can’t contact potential close contacts.

The above chart will replace several press releases and will be reported as needed.

“We encourage all businesses to take down names/contact information and time in attendance at their business to assist with contact tracing should someone be positive for Covid-19,” the Health Departments said. “This may eliminate the need for a press alert if we are able to contact potential close contacts.”

For people who were at these establishments at the state times and 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.

• 3-County Data: Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in the three rural counties of Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming. There are currently 422 active cases in the three counties, with 231 in Genesee, 92 in Orleans and 99 in Wyoming. That is down from the 449 in the three counties on Monday, which was the peak for active cases during the pandemic.

The three-county combined numbers were down even though the active cases are up in Orleans (from 89 to 92) and Wyoming (from 91 to 99). Geneses’s active cases dropped from 269 to 231 since Monday.

MEDINA – The Covid-19 pandemic has changed lives for everyone, especially for the nation’s hospitals.

Orleans Community Health and Medina Memorial Hospital are no exception.

Jessica Capurso, director of Outreach, Education and Marketing, has documented some of the steps Medina’s health care professionals have undertaken to insure staff, patients and visitors are safe.

First, all staff must complete Covid-19 screening and temperature checks every time they enter the hospital after being off the hospital campus.

All patients must complete Covid-19 screening and temperature checks upon arrival for appointments, and all patients are required to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth. All staff are also required to wear masks covering their nose and mouth. In addition, staff must wear surgical or N-95 masks, as well as goggles and/or face shields while interacting with patients and/or co-workers.

Extra office cleaning protocols have been put in place. After patient rooms are stripped and cleaned by Environmental Services, a Clorox Total 360 System machine is utilized to spray the entire room with disinfectant cleaner that kills 99.9% of bacteria. This machine helps to reach places that may have been missed by the human hand or places that are out of reach.

Not only are these practices more time-consuming, they also incur added expenses for the hospital.

Other changes resulting from the pandemic are the absence of the Twig volunteers, who manned the greeter desk in the lobby and the reception desk in registration area, saving the hospital money and saving hospital staff extra work.

At Medina Memorial Hospital, all services are by appointment only. No visitors are allowed in the lobby, so patients must enter by themselves, with the exception of minor children and those with a mental or physical disability which hospital staff is unable to support.

Emergency Room patients’ families have to leave a number which is given to the treatment team so the ER can provide updates.

Appointments can be made by calling 798-2000.

Middleport lab services at Dr. Stahl’s office are by appointment only unless there is/was a scheduled office visit there on the same day. Appointments can be made by calling 798-2000.

The Albion Walk-in Medical Clinic continues to offer walk-in services with no appointments. Services available can be viewed by clicking here.

Genesee also has 3 more deaths, for 8 so far in December

Orleans and Genesee counties are reporting 162 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 since Friday, with Genesee also reporting three more deaths, according to a news briefing from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Orleans County has 32 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 718 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in all 10 towns in the county: Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall, Murray, Yates, Ridgeway and Shelby.

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s 70s and 80s. Four of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

The county also had 20 of the previous positive individuals recover and be removed from the isolation list.

Orleans has 9 residents hospitalized due to Covid, which is up from 8 on Friday and 6 on Thursday.

• 2 Albion staff members test positive for Covid-19. The school district announced this afternoon it was notified today that the staff members tested positive over the weekend. One of the staff members works in the high school and the other works in district office.

Contact tracing and the quarantine of students and staff members was implemented according to health department guidelines, the district said.

• Lyndonville Central School was notified that a staff member tested positive for Covid-19. The staff member hasn’t been on campus since Friday, December 4, according to a letter on the school website.

The district has communicated with the Health Department. Lyndonville parents will be notified if their child is deemed a “close contact” and what directions to follow.

• Medina Central School said it has had three new positive cases reported to the district. A high school student who is 100 percent remote tested positive. No school-related quarantines are necessary, the district said.

A middle school student also tested positive who was on mandatory quarantine poor to onset of symptoms. The Health Department determined on further school-related quarantines are necessary.

A transportation employee also tested positive. The district and Health Department are working to identify contacts of the individual and will notify people who need to quarantine, according to a letter from the district.

In Genesee County, there 130 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 1,216 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Bethany, Byron, Darien, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield, Pavilion, Pembroke and Stafford.

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Of the new cases, two are residents at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Batavia, one is a resident at the NYS Veteran’s Home, and one is at the VA Medical Center.

Genesee also is reporting that 38 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 20 people hospitalized due to Covid, up from 15 on Friday.

Genesee also was notified that three residents have died of Covid. One is a resident at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Batavia. Two of the deaths were community members. All three individuals were over the age of 65.

“To protect the individual and their family we will not be releasing any further information,” the Health Departments stated. “We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this community member during this very difficult time.”

The three deaths bring that total to eight in December in Genesee County and 15 during the pandemic.

• 3-County Data: Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in the three rural counties of Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming. There are currently 449 active cases in the three counties, with 269 in Genesee, 89 in Orleans and 91 in Wyoming. That is up from 370 in the three counties on Friday.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

BATAVIA – The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have received a positive Covid-19 test result from an individual who was at Sport of Kings in Batavia on:

• Monday, November 30^th, from 2 to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 1^st, from 2 to 8 p.m.

Contact tracing is in progress, However, unidentified individuals may have unknowingly been in contact with the positive cases.

We advise all individuals who were at Sport of Kings 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.

Press Release, Genesee County Health Department

BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department has received a positive Covid-19 test from an individual who was at Applebee’s Grill + Bar in Batavia on Friday, Nov. 27, from noon to 2 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 Applebee’s on Nov. 27 between noon and 2 p.m. to monitor their symptoms for 14 days (until Dec. 11).

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.

Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming had more than 1,000 cases combined last month

This graph from the health departments in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties shows how the cases have surged in the past month. Click here to see a detailed chart on cases in the three counties.

The number of Covid cases in the three local rural counties of Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties soared in November, with the combined total of 1,133 new cases topping that the first eight months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The three counties, from March through October, had 975 Covid cases combined. At the end of November, the combined cases was at 2,108.

Orleans had been the most hard hit by Covid through October, driven by an outbreak in the spring at two nursing homes, which combined had 147 cases by late June. In Late October, Orleans had the most of the three counties with 399 cases, followed by 375 in Genesee and 201 in Wyoming.

But the cases have really taken off in Genesee in November and so far in December. Genesee reported 575 new cases in November, with 132 more the first four days of December.

Wyoming also has more in November than in the previous eight months, with 330 new cases in November, compared to the 201.

Orleans didn’t see as much of an increase as Genesee and Wyoming last month, but the 224 new cases is still the most in a month for Orleans. Although the cases are on the rise in Orleans, the severity isn’t as bad as in the spring and early summer, when the county suffered 55 deaths from Covid, including 54 in nursing homes. Orleans has now had 58 residents die from Covid through the first nine months of the pandemic, by far more than Genesee and Wyoming.

Wyoming has suffered eight deaths while Genesee was at seven the end of November, but has added five more so far in December.

Here is a monthly breakdown of the Covid cases and deaths in the three counties.

Orleans County (population: 40,352)

First case reported on March 18.

March – 6 cases, 0 deaths (6 cumulative cases, 0 deaths)

April – 89 cases, 11 deaths (95 cumulative, 11 deaths)

May –  126 cases, 25 deaths (221 cumulative, 36 deaths)

June – 45 cases, 18 deaths (266 cumulative, 54 deaths)

July – 10 cases, 1 death (276 cumulative, 55 deaths)

August – 12 cases, 0 deaths (288 cumulative, 55 deaths)

September – 29 cases, 0 deaths (317 cumulative, 55 deaths)

October – 82 cases, 0 deaths (399 cumulative, 55 deaths)

November – 224 cases, 2 deaths (623 cases cumulative, 57 deaths)

(The county is now up to 686 cases with 63 cases reported first four days of December, plus one more death.)

Genesee County (population: 57,280)

First case reported on March 17

March – 13 cases, 1 death (13 cumulative cases, 1 death)

April – 136 cases, 2 deaths (149 cumulative, 3 deaths)

May – 37 cases, 1 death (186 cumulative, 4 deaths)

June – 40 cases, 1 death (224 cumulative, 5 deaths)

July – 32 cases, 0 deaths (256 cumulative, 5 deaths)

August – 23 cases, 0 deaths (279 cumulative, 5 deaths)

September – 30 cases, 0 deaths (309 cumulative, 5 deaths)

October – 66 cases, 0 deaths (375 cumulative, 5 deaths)

November – 579 cases, 2 deaths (954 cumulative, 7 deaths)

(There are now 1,086 cases with 132 the first four days of December, plus five additional deaths.)

Wyoming County (population: 40,085)

First case reported March 17.

March – 8 cases, 1 death (8 cases cumulative, 1 death)

April – 60 cases 4 deaths (68 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

May – 12 cases, 0 deaths (80 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

June – 9 cases, 0 deaths (89 cumulative, 5 deaths)

July – 18 cases, 0 deaths (107 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

August – 12 cases, 0 deaths (120 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

September – 12 cases, 0 deaths (132 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

October – 69 cases, 0 deaths (201 cases cumulative, 5 deaths)

November – 330 cases, 3 deaths (531 cases cumulative – including 87 inmates in state prisons – 8 deaths)

(There are now 642 cases with 111 in first four days of December.)

Source: Orleans Hub research, local health departments for cases and deaths, Census Bureau 2019 estimates for population

Health Dept. reports 3 deaths at nursing home in Batavia

There are 74 new confirmed Covid cases in Genesee and Orleans counties reported today. There also have been three deaths in Genesee County due to Covid, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

In Orleans County, there are 24 new positive cases of Covid, bringing the total to 686 cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in Albion, Barre, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway, Shelby and Yates. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s and 60s.

Three of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments reported.

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

Orleans also is reporting that eight residents are hospitalized from Covid, up from six on Thursday.

• Albion Central School officials were notified today that a staff member in the elementary school has tested positive for Covid-19. The Health Department has completed contact tracing for the staff member and determined there is no need to quarantine staff or students, the district stated on its website.

• Medina Central School also is reporting a student in the high school tested positive for Covid. That student hasn’t been in the school building in more than three weeks.

An elementary student also tested positive who was last in the school building on Nov. 30. “Everyone who will be placed on quarantine due to school contacts has been notified, although the Department of Health may reach out to others if they determine that any potential exposure has occurred outside of the school,” Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, wrote in a letter to the community today.

In Genesee County, there are 50 new positive cases of COVID-19 for a total of 1,086 cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Byron, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield, and Pembroke.

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Of the new cases, 15 are residents at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing in Batavia. The Health Departments today are also reporting that three residents at The Grand have died from Covid, with two over age 65 and one under 65.

“We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of these community members during this very difficult time,” the Health Departments stated in a news briefing.

Genesee also is reporting 29 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 15 residents hospitalized with Covid.

In the past nine days, since Nov. 25, Genesee has 259 new confirmed cases, from 827 to 1,086, and six more deaths.

In Orleans, there are 99 more cases, up from 587 to 686, since last Wednesday (Nov. 25) and one more death.

• 3-County Data: To see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here. There are currently 370 active cases in the three counties with 183 in Genesee, 77 in Orleans and 110 in Wyoming.

• Statewide Data: Of the 208,297 tests reported yesterday, 11,271 were positive (5.41% of total). That compares to 9,855 positive tests on Wednesday (4.84% of total). A week ago, the state reported 8,176 positive tests or 3.72% of the total.

“Our largest two problems right now are the 70 percent spread in households and small gatherings, aggregated by the holiday season, and lack of compliance with restrictions,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “It’s driven by social fatigue, social resentment, social noncompliance and lack of government enforcement. If people don’t follow the restrictions, you’re going to see an increase.

Cuomo today reported the total hospitalizations from Covid are at 4,222, compared to 4,063 the previous day and 3,103 a week ago.

Cuomo today also announced that 20 million Covid-19 test results have been reported to New York State since the pandemic began.

“There are capacity and protocol restrictions in bars, restaurants and gyms,” Cuomo said. “The lack of compliance is a problem and I need the local governments to enforce those restrictions. I understand Covid fatigue and that people are resentful of these regulations, but if you don’t enforce the restrictions, and if the restrictions are violated, then they’re pointless. They have to be enforced. New York State has one of the nation’s lowest infection rates and the vaccine—the weapon that ends the war—is on the way. The question is how long it will take.”

• Rapid Testing: Genesee County will be hosting 2 rapid testing clinics on Dec. 8 and Dec. 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. The focus is for asymptomatic individuals and is free.

This is a self-administered rapid test at the Genesee County Emergency Management Office & Fire Training Facility, 7690 State Street Rd. in the Town of Batavia. To schedule a test, please register on-line (click here). Anyone needing additional help for online registration may contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555. To help the process please not the following guidelines:

• If you completed the form online, please print it out and bring it with you.
• Make sure you have a pen in your vehicle.
• Everyone in the vehicle is to have their mask on when they pull up at the testing site.
• For those who are getting tested, they may get a call fairly quickly from an unknown number…answer the phone. Staff cannot leave messages and can only give results to the individual tested or the guardian of minor children. Hard copy results will be e-mailed within 48 hours if we have a valid e-mail address.

Orleans County will be holding a rapid testing clinic on Dec. 16. More details to come.

Press Release, Orleans County Health Department

MEDINA – The Orleans County Health Department has received a positive Covid-19 test result from an individual who was at Mariachi De Oro in Medina on:

• Wednesday, December 2^nd, from 3 to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, December 3^rd, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Contact tracing is in progress. However, unidentified individuals may have unknowingly been in contact with the positive cases.

We advise all individuals who were at Mariachi De Oro 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.

(Editor’s Note: Mariachi has closed its dining room for about two weeks and will be doing take-out orders only until the dining room reopens.)

Press Release, Genesee County Health Department

BATAVIA – The Genesee County Health Department has received multiple positive Covid-19 test results from individuals who were at Eli Fish in Batavia on Wednesday, November 25^th, from 6 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Contact tracing is in progress. However, unidentified individuals may have

unknowingly been in contact with the positive cases.

We advise all individuals who were at Eli Fish on the stated date and time to monitor symptoms for 14 days. If symptoms of Covid-19 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 a death from Covid at Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing in Batavia

Orleans and Genesee counties today are reporting 53 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the two counties.

In Orleans, there are 21 new cases, bringing the county’s total to 662 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in Albion, Barre, Gaines, Murray, Yates, Ridgeway and Shelby. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

None of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said in an afternoon news briefing.

Two of the new cases are residents of Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina, the first new cases there since June. Orchard had 58 of its residents test positive for Covid during the spring surge.

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

Six county residents are currently hospitalized due to Covid-19.

In Genesee County, there are 32 new positive cases of Covid for a total of 1,036 cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Le Roy, Oakfield, Pavilion, Pembroke, and Stafford.

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

One of the new positive individuals is a resident at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Batavia. The Health Departments also said one of the previously reported individuals at the VA Medical Center is not a current patient and has been removed from the facility count.

The county also is reporting 32 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

In Genesee, there are 16 residents hospitalized from Covid, up from 13 the previous day.

A resident of The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Batavia also has died after contracting Covid-19. The resident is over the age of 65. This is the ninth Genesee resident to die from Covid.

• 3-County Data: Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. There are currently 327 active cases in the three counties, up from 297 on Wednesday. The active cases today include 177 in Genesee, 59 in Orleans and 91 in Wyoming.

• Statewide Data: Of the 203,440 tests reported yesterday, 9,855 were positive or 4.84% of total. That is up from 8,973 new positive cases on Tuesday or 4.63% of total.

The total hospitalizations were at 4,063 on Wednesday, which was up from 3,924 on Tuesday.

Details still need to be worked out for location, time

ALBION – Orleans County will offer free rapid Covid-19 tests on Dec. 16, Public Health Director Paul Pettit announced today during a County Legislature meeting.

County officials have been pressing the state for a free testing option in the county for several months. Right now, Orleans residents need to travel out-of-county for a free testing site.

Pettit said the limited testing in rural areas has proven a “big barrier” in helping to quickly identify who has Covid and to contain the spread.

“This has been an ongoing issue for us,” Pettit said in a meeting through Zoom video conferencing. “We continue to push and advocate for this.”

The free testing event on Dec. 16 will be for people who are asymptomatic. The time and location still needs to be worked out.

Genesee County will offer a free drive-through rapid testing for Covid on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Genesee County Emergency Management Office & Fire Training Facility, 7690 State Street Rd. in the Town of Batavia.

Pwettit said the details of the rapid testing in Orleans should be announced next week. He wants it to be a reoccurring event and not just limited to Dec. 16.

“I know this is long awaited,” he said. “Hopefully it will be a big benefit to our residents.”

New confirmed cases today include 44 in Genesee, 9 in Orleans

Orleans and Genesee counties today both are reporting a death from Covid-19. In Orleans, the death is a person over 65 while Genesee had a person pass away under age 65, according to a news briefing this afternoon from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Orleans has now had 58 people die due a Covid-related illness while Genesee has had eight deaths.

In Orleans County there are 9 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the county’s total to 641 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in Albion, Barre, Carlton, Kendall, Murray and Shelby. The individuals are in the age groups of 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

None of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments reported.

Orleans also has had three of the previous positive individuals recover and be removed

from the isolation list.

Five residents of Orleans are currently hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County, there are 44 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 1,004 positive cases since March. Of the new cases, 16 are residents at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing in Batavia.

The new positive cases reside in Alexander, Batavia, Byron, Le Roy, Oakfield and Pembroke. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s 70s, 80s and 90s.

Genesee also reports that 57 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list.

Genesee has 13 residents hospitalized due to Covid, the Health Department reported.

• 3-county data: Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. There are currently 297 active Covid cases with 177 in Genesee, 42 in Orleans and 78 in Wyoming. A week ago on Nov. 25 there were 315 active cases in the three counties with 221 in Genesee, 41 in Orleans and 53 in Wyoming.

• Statewide data: There were 8,973 new positive cases reported yesterday out of 193,551 tests for a positive rate of 4.63. The positive testing rate in all focus areas under the state’s Micro-Cluster strategy is 5.88 percent, and outside the focus zone areas is 4.21 percent.

The number of people hospitalized with Covid-related illnesses increased by 150 to 3,924. There were 742 Covid patients in the ICU, up by 24, and 373 needed to be intubated, up by 25. There were 69 deaths due to Covid, bringing the state’s total to 26,889 during the pandemic.

Western New York continues to have the highest rate of positive tests in the state. Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes Region which has the second highest rate.

ALBION – The public health director in Genesee and Orleans counties said he is concerned by the increasing number of being hospitalized with Covid-19.

Paul Pettit

That is the reality in the two counties, statewide and nationally, said Paul Pettit, public health director for the two counties.

Genesee currently has 12 people hospitalized due to Covid, while Orleans has six. In Orleans County, there are currently 37 active Covid cases and six are in the hospital. That 16 percent is a high percentage of people with severe symptoms after getting Covid, Pettit told elected officials in Orleans County during a Zoom conference call on Tuesday.

In Genesee the 12 people hospitalized are out of 207 active cases or 6 percent.

“It is troubling, the severity of the cases,” Pettit said. “We are seeing people with more challenging symptoms.”

During the summer and early fall, Pettit said most of the local Covid cases were people who were asymptomatic or who had mild symptoms.

“Now we’re seeing a significant increase in hospitalizations,” Pettit said.

The hospitalizations have been rising fast in the state. They were at 3,774 on Monday. That’s up from the 1,151 on Nov. 1, and 2,124 on Nov. 16. The state passed 3,000 on Nov. 25 with 3,056.

Nationally, there are about 100,000 people hospitalized with Covid, the most during the pandemic. On Nov. 11, the U.S. had 60,000 people hospitalized with Covid.

Free tests for people who are asymptomatic, but may have been exposed to Covid

BATAVIA – Genesee County will offer residents, who are asymptomatic with free drive-thru Covid-19 self-administered rapid testing on Thursday.

The free testing will be offered from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Genesee County Emergency Management Office & Fire Training Facility, 7690 State Street Rd. in the Town of Batavia.

For anyone with a recent potential exposure to Covid-19, it is not recommended to be tested until at least 5 days have passed since the exposure. Anyone with any cold or flu-like symptoms, even if mild, will not be eligible for this test, and neither will any others arriving in their car.

This is for people without symptoms or who are not feeling sick.

Those interested in scheduling a test must register on-line (click here). Anyone needing additional help for online registration may contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555.

“It is very important to note that this testing is not for residents who are experiencing symptoms,” said Paul Pettit, public health director in Genesee and Orleans counties. “Those individuals should be contacting their physician to discuss treatment and testing options. Given the surge of infections in the county, it’s important that we identify those who are infected that may not be demonstrating any symptoms and in fact are feeling fine.”

At the drive-through site, a staff member for the testing center will offer guidance for residents to administer their own self-test by using a cotton swab. Each person in a vehicle will self-administer their own test. If there is a minor in the car, an adult in the vehicle will be asked to administer the test. People will then drive off and will be contacted via phone with the results, with option for these results to be emailed as well.

“If a person who is asymptomatic tests positive for the virus, he or she will need to be in isolation for a minimum of 10 days,” Pettit said.  “While this might discourage people from getting tested, we need to work together as a community to reduce the surge, plus someone who is asymptomatic can still infect a loved one who is not.”

Pettit said he expects additional rapid testing opportunities in the near future in Genesee and Orleans counties.