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.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2020 at 4:29 pm
Orleans reports 25 more recoveries for people who had Covid
Orleans County has three new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, which pushes the county past 400 total cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in Albion, Barre and Murray. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 30s and 60s.
The individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said this afternoon.
There are also 7 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
The county also has 25 more recoveries from Covid-19 and those people have been removed from the isolation list.
One Orleans resident remains hospitalized due to Covid.
In Genesee County there are 6 new positive cases of Covid-19 and has now had 381 positive cases.
The new positive cases reside in Batavia, Bergen, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield and Pavilion. The individuals are either in their 30s, 50s or 60s.
One of the individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments reported.
There are 16 new individuals are 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.
Genesee also has 1 person hospitalized due to Covid.
To see an online map of the confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here. There are currently 44 active case sin the three counties with 21 in Genesee, 12 in Orleans and 11 in Wyoming.
• Notice from the Health Departments: Due to Election Day there will be no press briefing, no update on the map, nor on the respective county websites. Updates will resume on Wednesday.
• State-wide Data: The statewide positivity rate is 1.70 percent with the positive testing rate in all Focus Zone areas at 3.50 percent. The positivity outside all Focus Zone areas is 1.48 percent.
Within the focus areas, 10,503 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 368 positives. In the remainder of the state, not counting these focus areas, 85,598 test results were reported, yielding 1,265 positives.
“New York is in the midst of a sea of division and a national Covid surge,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “All around us, the Covid infection rate is going up. You see it in states all across the nation, in countries around the globe, and in contiguous states. So we should be on high alert and we should be even more diligent, because the virus spreads across state boundaries, and we’re in the party season.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 1 November 2020 at 11:30 am
Dr. Khurrum Sanaullah
MEDINA – A pediatrician in Orleans County is expressing his concern regarding the upcoming flu season and some parents’ decision not to have their children vaccinated.
Dr. Khurrum Sanaullah joined Rochester Regional Health in April and is affiliated with United Memorial Medical Center and Orleans Community Health. He offers pediatric services at Medina Family Medicine on Ohio Street and Batavia Pediatrics.
Dr. Sanaullah recently gave a Zoom videoconference on his concern about a recent poll which found that one out of three parents do not plan to have their child vaccinated for the flu. Further, the poll revealed that only one out of three parents believe it is more important for their child to get the flu vaccine this year, compared to past years.
The two major contributing reasons revealed in the study indicate parents are keeping their kids away from health care sites during Covid-19; and parents are concerned due to misinformation about side effects and the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Dr. Sanaullah states it is even more important this year for children to get a flu shot because of the pandemic. He adds, the best time to have the flu shot is now.
He said the flu vaccine does not cause any serious side effects, and it is much better to get sick from the vaccine than from the flu itself.
“Your symptoms will be much milder,” he said. “The medical profession has never showed that the flu vaccine causes serious side effects.”
The doctor also said symptoms of the flu and Covid are very similar – chills, fever, body aches, cough, headache, vomiting and diarrhea, and if a person developed both, it could be a big problem.
“It’s a very smart idea to get your children vaccinated,” the doctor said.
He said all children between the ages of 6 months and 21 years should have the flu vaccine. The vaccine can be administered at a local pharmacy, although many pharmacies won’t vaccinate a child under 6.
Dr. Sanaullah said the flu season is typically from September through April and the earlier the flu vaccine is administered, the better. But it is never too late.
Wedding in Clarendon with more than 100 people has resulted in at least 30 Covid-19 cases
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans Health Departments
With the recent increase in positive cases of Covid-19 and reports of various events occurring it is important to remember there are still restrictions in place due to Covid-19.
The State has set in place orders on the importance of physical and social distancing to limit the spread of this novel virus that impacts people differently.
In some situations distancing is not being followed and has led to the spread of Covid-19. Through contact tracing and investigating cases it has been made apparent social distancing guidelines were not followed. Recently a wedding, with over 100 people in attendance, impacted at least 9 counties across the state. This event has led to no less than 30 people testing positive so far, between guests and other secondary contacts from one event.
With Halloween and Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) this weekend it is important to remember to minimize exposure through keeping with smaller gatherings and social distancing. The more people a person is in contact with and for longer periods of time the greater the risk of being exposed to and transmitting Covid-19. If you are sick, experiencing Covid-19 or flu symptoms, are in isolation or quarantine, do not participate in any holiday activities until you are cleared and symptom free.
Limiting social contact is challenging for many people but there are still ways to be in contact without being in their physical presence. Consider having your “gatherings” over social media platforms. You can still connect and have fun in the safety and comfort of your own home.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 October 2020 at 4:42 pm
Orleans has 33 new confirmed cases in past week, while Genesee has 25
Orleans and Genesee counties are each reporting one new confirmed case of Covid-19 today. Since a week ago, there are 33 new cases in Orleans and 25 more in Genesee.
In Orleans, the new case today is a Gaines resident in the 50s. The individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.
Orleans has now had 399 people test positive for Covid since March.
The county has 9 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
Orleans also is reporting three more recoveries who have been removed from the isolation list. One of the positive individuals also is hospitalized.
In Genesee County, the new case is a Pembroke resident in the 60s. The individual was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee County has now had 375 people test positive for Covid since March.
Genesee also has 9 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
The Health Departments also is reporting two Genesee residents are hospitalized due to Covid.
Genesee County was informed on Thursday that a student at the LeRoy Junior/Senior High School has tested positive for Covid-19. The last day the student was in the school was Tuesday, October 27. All contacts have been identified and have been placed under mandatory quarantine.
Statewide Data: There were 2,255 positive tests for Covid out of 146,885 for a statewide positivity rate of 1.53 percent.
The positive testing rate in all focus zone areas is 2.75 percent, while the rate outside the focus zones is 1.38 percent.
“We cannot become complacent and risk going backwards,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “We continue to closely monitor the data and handle micro-clusters as they happen, as well as watching what is happening around us as cases surge again across the country.”
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. 24, Genesee County has 0 cases and Orleans County has 1 case. There are 62 cases statewide. This data is influenza that is confirmed by laboratory testing. Not everyone seeks testing for confirmation of the flu.
‘This fall could be a one-two punch for infection as we manage the start of another flu season while working diligently to keep the Covid-19 virus at bay.’ – Governor Cuomo
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today reminded all New Yorkers to get a flu shot to prepare for the flu season, which usually begins in October and runs through May. The New York State Flu Tracker launches today. The tracker displays daily and weekly flu data and provides timely information about local, regional and statewide flu activity.
“This fall could be a one-two punch for infection as we manage the start of another flu season while working diligently to keep the Covid-19 virus at bay,” Governor Cuomo said. “I’m reminding all New Yorkers that getting a flu shot not only protects you from the flu but will allow us to direct vital healthcare resources to fighting the next wave of the COVID-19 virus.”
During the 2019-20 flu season, there were 22,217 flu-associated hospitalizations in the state and 13 pediatric deaths.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is to get your flu shot to protect yourself this season against the dual threat of Covid-19, which can mimic flu symptoms,” said New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. “The ability to track activity for both viruses on a daily basis will help identify trends and help the Department put the appropriate public health measures in place. I also want to remind New Yorkers that contracting the flu does not mean you cannot contract Covid-19 and vice versa.”
The New York State Department of Health recommends that anyone over six months of age get vaccinated for the flu to protect themselves and others during the upcoming flu season. Click here for locations to get a flu shot.
Adults aged 65 years and older, people with certain chronic medical conditions, young children and pregnant women are among those at highest risk for serious flu complications, which may require hospitalization and could result in death.
Since the flu virus can spread through coughing or sneezing, it is especially important for family members and people who have regular contact with high-risk individuals to be vaccinated.
Over the last four years, there have been a total of 33 pediatric flu-associated deaths in New York State and an average of 19,318 flu-related hospitalizations each year. In January 2019, during the severe 2017-2018 flu season, Governor Cuomo signed an emergency Executive Order allowing pharmacists to administer the flu vaccine to children ages 2 to 18. Subsequently, the Governor passed legislation codifying the order into law. During the 2019-2020 flu season, 56,264 flu shots were administered by pharmacies to children under the age of 18 in New York State outside of New York City.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 October 2020 at 4:33 pm
200 people from community have now recovered from Covid-19 in Orleans County
Orleans County has one new confirmed case of Covid-19 today, a person in the 60s who lives in Yates.
The individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.
Orleans has now had 398 people test positive for Covid since March.
The county is also reporting 18 new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
The county reached a milestone today with three more people recovering from Covid and being released from the isolation list. Orleans has now had 200 recoveries from the community. (That doesn’t include people who had Covid in nursing homes and other state-regulated facilities.)
One resident remains hospitalized due to Covid.
The Health Department also is reporting a Lyndonville Central School District tested positive for Covid-19. The staff member was last in the school was Friday, October 23. All contacts have been identified and have been placed under mandatory quarantine.
In Genesee County, the 12 new cases are residents of Darien, Elba, LeRoy, Pavilion and Oakfield.
The new cases are in the following age groups: 0-19 (1), 20s (4), 30s (2), 40s (1), 50s (3), and 60s (1).
Five of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. Genesee has now had 374 people test positive since March.
Three Genesee residents are hospitalized due to Covid.
To see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here. There are currently 76 active cases in the three counties with 36 in Orleans, 30 in Genesee and 10 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.
State-wide Data: There were 168,353 test results reported to the state on Wednesday, a new record high for tests in one day.
The state-wide positivity rate is 1.48 percent with the positive testing rate in all focus zone areas at 3.24 percent, and the positivity rate outside the focus areas at 1.25 percent.
There were 19 deaths from Covid in state on Wednesday, bringing the state-wide total to 25,792.
Residents urged to continue to fight Covid spread so counties not identified as hotspot
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
On October 6, Governor Cuomo announced a new cluster action initiative to address Covid-19 hotspots that have or may be identified in certain areas of New York.
“Under the Governor’s initiative to prevent cluster activity it is important to understand the detrimental impact having a cluster can have on our counties,” stated Rochelle Stein, Genesee County Legislative Chair. “Currently, neither Genesee nor Orleans counties have any such clusters/hotspots.”
We can take simple steps to continue our low positivity rates going forward. According to the Governor’s release, the state has developed a science-based approach to contain these clusters and contain any further spread of the virus, including new rules and restrictions directly targeted to areas with the highest concentration of Covid-19 cases and the surrounding areas.
• Under Executive Order 202.68, certain actives in cluster zones are restricted, and any permitted activities in such zones (Red, Orange, Yellow), must be conducted in strict adherence to Department of Health guidance.
• For more information go to the Empire State Development guidance and the New York Forward website for updated information on locations of and operating restrictions within the clusters.
The Cluster 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).
Fines for the sponsors of mass gatherings in violation of state public health rules will be increased to $15,000. To see the restrictions within the clusters, click here.
“As we continue to move forward through this pandemic and begin to see an increase in both testing and positive cases, we can expect to see changes in the cluster hotspots,” said Paul Pettit, director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Generally the zones are identified as a hotspot for a period of 14 days, but that is also subject to change if the hotspot doesn’t show improvement during that time.”
GO Health continues to remind our residents of the relevant Executive Orders and Public Health Laws to:
• Limit gatherings, (the state maintains no more than 50 at any non-essential gatherings, fines may be levied to those ignoring this order);
• Properly wearing mask/face coverings (nose and mouth covered) whenever in public indoors and outdoors, especially when physical distancing is difficult to maintain;
• Frequently wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer (that contains at least 60% alcohol) if soap and water are not readily available;
• Consider alternatives to family and friend gatherings to decrease the risk of spreading the virus.
• With the impending flu season, it is also important to get this year’s flu vaccine to help lower the risk of being hospitalized with serious complications of the flu.
• As always, if you are experiencing any Covid-19 or flu symptoms – STAY HOME!
Symptoms for both Covid-19 (may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus) and the flu (generally sudden onset) can be similar and may include any of the following: fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell (Covid-19); sore throat; congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. Talk with your primary care provider before going to the office. If you are experiencing difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, and/or have bluish lips or face, seek emergency care immediately.
“We all want this to be over, but it will take time,” stated Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislative Chair. “We can get through this together if we take care of our health, limit contact with non-household members and be respectful and wear a mask/face covering when in public.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 October 2020 at 4:13 pm
County has had 80 people test positive so far in October
Orleans County has six new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, including one who is a student at the Albion Middle School.
The county has now had 80 people test positive so far this month and 397 since March.
The six new positive cases are residents of Carlton, Barre, Shelby and Murray. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 40s, 60s and 70s.
None of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.
Orleans also has 16 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
The county has two people hospitalized due to Covid, and also has two more people who have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
The Albion Middle School student is a hybrid learner who was last in the school on Thursday, Oct. 22. All contacts have been identified and have been placed under mandatory quarantine, the Health Department said.
Genesee County has four more confirmed cases and has had 362 positive cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in Batavia, Bergen, Darien and LeRoy. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 40s, 60s and 70s.
One of the individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee also has 13 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
Genesee currently has three people hospitalized due to Covid.
The Health Department also has been notified that an Elba elementary student has a confirmed case of Covid-19. The last date the student was in school was Oct. 23. The Genesee County Health Department will be in touch with the students that were identified in contract tracing efforts. Elba’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten program will be going to a 100% distance learning model until Nov. 9.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 October 2020 at 4:55 pm
CLARENDON – People who attended a wedding on Oct. 17 in Clarendon may have been exposed to Covid-19. They are urged to closely monitor themselves for symptoms.
If symptoms appear, they should contact their primary care provider immediately and also self isolate until they receive the results of a Covid test, according to a notice from the Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments.
The wedding on Oct. 17 was on Acton Road in Clarendon, a site with a Bergen address.
“A significant number of known close contacts have been identified through contact tracing and have been placed under mandatory quarantine or isolation,” said Paul Pettit, public health director in the two counties. “However, there are individuals that attended the wedding that were not part of the original guest list and those contacts may not be aware they may have been exposed to the virus.”
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 27 October 2020 at 4:44 pm
Orleans reports 9 more recoveries from Covid-19
There are six new confirmed cases reported today in Orleans County and four in Genesee County.
Orleans County with the 6 new positive cases has now had 391 people test positive since March.
The new positive cases in Orleans County reside in Carlton, Clarendon and Murray. The individuals are in the following age groups: 20s, 30s, 40s, 60s and 80s.
None of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
Orleans also is reporting nine more recoveries and those people have been removed from the isolation list.
Orleans also has 4 more individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. Two residents are also hospitalized due to Covid.
Genesee County has four new positive cases of Covid for a total of 358 positive cases since March.
The new positive cases reside in Batavia, LeRoy and Pavilion. They are in the age groups of 0-19, 30s and 60s.
One of the individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. Genesee also has 25 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.
Genesee also has two people hospitalized due to Covid.
There are currently 62 total active cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, with 34 in Orleans and 14 each in Genesee and Wyoming. Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in the three counties.
A reminder from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• 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 now allowed for those regions in phase 4.
And that’s only if appropriate social distancing, wearing cloth masks/face coverings over the 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.
