Orleans also has first Covid hospitalization in a month

Orleans County is reporting 1 new Covid-19 case today, a person from Gaines in the 60s. The county has now had 301 people test positive for Covid since March.

The new case is a person from the community who wasn’t on quarantine prior to testing positive.

There are 8 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.

Orleans also is reporting 1 person is hospitalized from Covid-19, the first hospitalization in the county due to Covid in about a month.

Genesee County also received 2 new positive cases of Covid-19 and has now had 289 positive cases.

The two new cases are both Batavia residents, one in the 50s and the other in the 90s. One of the individuals was not on quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee also is reporting 3 more recoveries from Covid-19 and those people have been released from mandatory isolation.

Genesee also has added 2 new individuals to precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. Genesee also has  one person hospitalized due to Covid-19.

• Statewide data: Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the 33rd straight day that New York State’s Covid-19 infection rate has been below 1 percent.

On Tuesday, 0.91 percent of tests reported to the state were positive or 576 out of 63,230.

Other statewide data includes:

• Patient Hospitalization – 463 (+18)
• Number ICU – 121 (+7)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 59 (+7)
• Deaths – 3 (Total Deaths – 25,370)

More from the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments:

• Schools: New York School Districts will be providing the NYS Department of Health with daily data on the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19. When the reporting starts to come back, the Covid Report Card will be live. To access, click here.

• New York State Agricultural Seasonal Worker Covid-19 Testing Opportunity: The Departments of Agriculture and Markets, Health, and Labor are partnering with county health departments, Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York Farm Bureau and community health partners in Clinton, Genesee, Orleans, Ulster and Wayne counties to offer free Covid-19 testing to agricultural workers.

These counties were selected for this opportunity as these counties see the highest number of out-of-state workers during harvest season. For registration, click here.

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Press Release, Tobacco-FREE GOW

ALBION – Orleans County smokers are encouraged to contact the New York State Smokers’ Quitline to receive up to three months of free nicotine gum while supplies last.

The Quitline asks everyone to spread the word to family and friends about this time-limited offer, made possible thanks to a generous donation from Ro, a U.S. telehealth company headquartered in Manhattan.

Nicotine gum is one of seven FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy products to treat nicotine dependence and increases the chance for success in quitting. Those odds further increase when combined with coaching support from a trained tobacco treatment specialist, such as one of the Quitline’s Quit Coaches.

“We strongly encourage anyone who’s interested in the nicotine gum to spread the word to family and friends,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health Director in Orleans County. “Nicotine gum is an effective and proven medication to treat addiction and supplement the quit-process. It eliminates short-term cravings of cigarettes and can double the odds of successfully quitting when combined with a nicotine patch.”

Each piece of nicotine gum typically lasts 20 to 30 minutes. Unlike traditional chewing gum, nicotine gum works when chewed only a few times and then parked along the inside of the mouth by the cheek.

Interested smokers can receive the nicotine gum by contacting one of the Quitline’s Quit Coaches at 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487), who are available seven days a week beginning at 9 a.m. Nearly all Quitline participants are eligible to receive nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), coaching and self-help materials.

The Quitline’s Quit Coaches work with all types of traditional tobacco and vape-product users by developing personalized quit-plans to navigate the behavioral and psychological aspects of nicotine dependence. Healthcare professionals can also connect to the Quitline’s Patient Referral Program as a supplement to visits and follow-ups with their nicotine-dependent patients.

About the New York State Smokers’ Quitline

The New York State Smokers’ Quitline is a service of the New York State Department of Health and based at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, N.Y. It is one of the first and busiest state quitlines in the nation and has responded to nearly 3 million calls since it began operating in 2000. The Quitline encourages nicotine users to talk with their healthcare professionals and access available Medicaid or health insurance benefits for stop-smoking medications. All New York State residents can call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) for coaching and resources, free of charge, seven days a week beginning at 9 a.m. Visit www.nysmokefree.com for more information.

About Tobacco-FREE GOW

The New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control funds Tobacco-Free GOW to increase support for New York State’s tobacco-free norm through youth action and community engagement in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties. Efforts are evidence-based, policy-driven, and cost-effective approaches that decrease youth tobacco use, motivate adult smokers to quit, and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.

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County reaches 300 confirmed cases since March

Orleans County has 10 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said today in their first update since Friday.

Orleans has now had 300 people test positive for Covid-19 since March. It only had 12 new confirmed cases in the month of August.

Seven of the new cases since Friday are inmates at the Albion Correctional Facility. That women’s prison also had two confirmed cases reported on Friday and has now had nine people test positive.

The three new cases in the community, outside of the prison, are residents of Albion, Clarendon and Kendall. Those three people were not on quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments said this afternoon.

The age breakdown of the new cases includes one person less than 20, two individuals in their 20s, three people in their 30s, one person in the 40s, and three people in their 50s.

There are also 19 new individuals on precautionary quarantine in Orleans due to travel from restricted states.

Genesee County received four new positive cases of Covid-19 and now has had 287 positive cases.

The new positive cases reside in Batavia, Byron, Elba and Pembroke.

One of the positive individuals is less than 20, two individuals are in their 40s, and one person is in the 50s. Three of the individuals were not on quarantine prior to testing positive, according to the Health Departments.

Two people in Genesee also have recovered from Covid-19, bringing the total recoveries in the community to 220 who have been released from mandatory isolation.

Genesee also has 25 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. The county also has one resident hospitalized with Covid-19.

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Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

This is each region’s percentage of positive test results over the last three days. Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes Region.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State’s Covid-19 hospitalizations have dropped to 410—a new low since March 16. The state’s COVID-19 infection rate has been less than 1 percent for 30 straight days.

“We know based on experience that an incremental, data-driven reopening is the best way to protect the health and safety of all New Yorkers,” Cuomo said. “As this virus continues to be a national crisis, it’s clear that caution is a virtue, not a vice. Our infection rate has been below 1 percent for 30 days, and New Yorkers can help us keep that streak going by wearing masks, socially distancing and washing their hands.

Of the 85,630 test results reported to New York State yesterday, 729, or 0.85 percent, were positive.

“Our actions today determine the rate of infection tomorrow, so as the Labor Day weekend continues, I urge everyone to be smart so we don’t see a spike in the weeks ahead,” Cuomo said.

• Oneonta SWAT Team Testing Effort

The Governor also announced the results of the state’s testing SWAT Team’s focused testing effort in the City of Oneonta in Otsego County over the past five days. A total of 1,965 tests were performed at the 3 sites with results delivered in 15 minutes.

A total of 91 positive cases were identified, for a positivity rate of 4.6 percent. Contact tracing efforts in partnership with local health departments are ongoing. However, test results show that the cases continue to be connected to ongoing spread among college students with 85 of the 91 positives cases being individuals aged 18-24. Of the 738 tests for individuals in this age bracket, 11.5 percent tested positive. For the 1,227 individuals tested who were not in the 18-24 age bracket, the positivity rate was 0.48 percent.

Today’s data is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization – 410 (-15)
• Number ICU – 119 (+4)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 56 (-5)
• Deaths – 9 (Total Deaths – 25,359)

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ALBION – There are two confirmed cases of Covid-19 at the Albion Correctional Facility, a medium-security prison for women, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

One inmate is in the 30s and the other is in the 50s. These are the first reported cases among inmates in Orleans County. Before today, there weren’t any positive cases reported from Albion Correctional, Orleans Correctional Facility (medium-security men’s prison) and the Orleans County Jail.

The two new confirmed cases end a week-long streak with no new Covid-19 case sin the county. Orleans continues to have no active confirmed Covid-19 in the community outside of facilities, the Health Departments reported.

The county has now had 290 people test positive for Covid-19 since March.

The local Health Departments also are reporting 4 new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Genesee County received 1 new positive case of Covid-19, and now has had 283 people test positive.

The new positive case resides in Batavia and is in the 40s. The individual was not on quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee has 12 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

These are the number of people who have tested positive at non-county public regulated facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

• No report on Monday: Due to the Labor Day holiday, both the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will be closed on Monday. There will be no map, website or media updates over the weekend or on Monday from the local Health Departments. Updates will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

State-wide Data: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the fourth straight week that New York State’s Covid-19 infection rate has remained below 1 percent. Yesterday, 0.92 percent of tests reported to the state were positive, or 864 positive tests out of the 93,395 test results reported to the state.

Other state-wide data includes:

• Patient Hospitalization – 428 (-2)
• Number ICU – 116 (-1)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 61 (+0)
• Deaths – 5 (Total Deaths – 25,348)

“Thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers across the state, New York has now gone four straight weeks with an infection rate below one percent,” Cuomo said. “Next week, malls in New York City and casinos across the state will be able to open, marking another milestone in our battle against Covid-19. But we cannot become complacent – we must continue to protect our progress. We must all continue to wear masks, social distance, wash our hands and above all, stay New York tough.”

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783 tests in past week in Orleans, all negative

Orleans County made it seven straight days today without a new Covid-19 case to report. Since last Thursday, the county has had 783 test results reported and all have been negative.

The county has 2 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

In Genesee, there is one new confirmed Covid-19 case, bringing Genesee’s total to 282. (Orleans has had 288 people test positive for Covid-19 since March.)

The new case in Genesee is a Batavia resident in the 20s. The individual was not on quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee also has 14 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

• State-wide Data: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the state has now 27 straight days with an infection rate below 1 percent, although it was very close to breaking that threshold on Wednesday.

There were 88,981 test results reported to the state yesterday, and 889 or 0.99 percent, were positive.

• Western NY SWAT Team Testing Effort: The governor also announced the results of the state’s testing SWAT Team’s focused testing effort in Western New York over the past five days. A total of 6,385 tests were performed at the 8 sites with results delivered in 15 minutes. A total of 266 positive cases were identified, for a positivity rate of 4.1%.

The results include: City of Buffalo, 5.9%; Chautauqua County, 4.5%; Niagara County, 2.8%; and Erie County not including City of Buffalo, 2.3%.

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With new recovery, no active cases in Orleans County

There are no new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Genesee and Orleans counties today.

Orleans has one more recovery from Covid-19 and now currently has no active Covid-19 cases while Genesee has four, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting.

Orleans has four more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states while Genesee has six more on precautionary quarantine.

To see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here.

• State-wide Data: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the 26th straight day that the state’s Covid-19 infection rate has remained below 1 percent. On Tuesday, 0.80 percent of tests reported to the state were positive. That’s 708 positive cases out 88,447 test results.

Other state data includes:

• Patient Hospitalization – 445 (+13)
• Number ICU – 117 (+8)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 61 (+7)
• Deaths – 5 (Total Deaths – 25,336)

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There are no new Covid-19 cases to report in Orleans County, the fifth straight day without a new confirmed case.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting one more recovery from Covid-19 in Orleans (for 134 total in the community), and 13 more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Genesee County received 2 new positive cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the county’s total to 281 people who have tested positive.

The new positive cases reside in Batavia and Byron, and both of the positive individuals are in their 50s. The individuals were not on quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Departments reported.

There are also eight new individuals in Genesee are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. That map shows there are four active cases in Genesee, 1 in Orleans and 1 in Wyoming.

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Two states – Alaska and Montana – which were removed from New York’s travel advisory on Aug. 25 are back on the list, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today.

The two states meet the metrics to qualify for New York State’s Covid-19 travel advisory. The advisory requires individuals who have traveled to New York from areas with significant community spread to quarantine for 14 days.

The quarantine applies to any person arriving from an area with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or an area with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

The governor also announced that the state’s infection rate has been below 1 percent for 25 straight days. There were 754 positives out of 76,997 test results or 0.98 percent.

The number of patients in ICUs remained at 109, the lowest number since March 15.

“As we continue to pursue a phased, data driven reopening, the number of areas that remain on New York’s travel advisory is a stark reminder of the continued extent of the Covid-19 crisis throughout the nation,” Cuomo said. “Our ability to protect our state and fight the virus begins with what we do here at home, and that’s why it’s so important that New Yorkers wear masks, socially distance and wash their hands, and why local governments need to enforce state guidance.”

The full, updated travel advisory list includes: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Virgin Islands and Wisconsin.

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There are no new Covid-19 cases to report today in Orleans County while Genesee has 3 new cases, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said this afternoon.

Orleans remains at 288 cases, while Genesee now has had 279 people test positive.

The new cases in Genesee are people from Batavia and Bergen. One case is a person in the 30s, another is in the 50s, and the other is a person in the 60s.

The new cases are people who were not on quarantine prior to testing positive.

The Health Departments also are reporting two more recoveries in Genesee County, and those people have been released from mandatory isolation.

Genesee also has 42 more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Orleans also has one more recovery from Covid-19 and that person has been released from mandatory isolation. There are currently two active cases in Orleans.

The Health Departments also report there are 15 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

• State-wide Data: Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported today there are new lows in hospitalizations (418), ICU patients (109) and deaths (1) since mid-March.

There were also 656 new positive cases in the state on Sunday out of 66,241 test results, for a positive rate of 0.99 percent.

This is each region’s percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days. Orleans is in the Finger Lakes Region.

More from the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments:

• Agricultural Seasonal Worker Covid-19 Testing Opportunity: The Departments of Agriculture and Markets, Health, and Labor are partnering with county health departments, Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York Farm Bureau and community health partners in Clinton, Genesee, Orleans, Ulster and Wayne counties to offer free Covid-19 testing to agricultural workers.

These counties were selected for this opportunity as these counties see the highest number of out-of-state workers during harvest season. For registration, click here.

• Gyms & Fitness Centers:

In order for these centers to prepare for potential reopening, it is important for owners and managers to review the guidelines, develop their business safety plan and read and affirm the detailed guidelines located on the NY Forward website.

Prior to reopening and inspection, gym owners and managers will have to adhere to the NYS guidelines which can be found on the NY Forward website and completing the following steps:

• Develop a business safety plan,
• Have an HVAC inspection by an approved professional,
• Complete the affirmation for each facility location that they have reviewed and understand the New York State guidelines and will implement these protocols. Click the link for the affirmation statement and choose gyms and fitness centers.

Once the business safety plan and air handling inspection are complete and an attestation form is submitted, Genesee and Orleans counties will begin the process of scheduling inspections.  All facilities must schedule an inspection within two weeks of opening.  These steps must be completed prior to scheduling an inspection. For Genesee County call 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 and for Orleans County call 585-589-3278.

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Public Health director says social distancing, masks especially important

Photo by Tom Rivers: Paul Pettit, the public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties, said about half of the recent Covid-19 cases in the two counties were asymptomatic. He is speaking at last week’s monthly meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities.

ALBION – About half of recent the Covid-19 cases locally have been people who didn’t show symptoms of the coronavirus.

Paul Pettit, the public health director in Genesee and Orleans counties, said the cases were detected as part of mandatory state testing, typically for direct care, healthcare or nursing home staff.

Since June 30, there have been 52 new cases of Covid-19 in Genesee County and 22 new cases in Orleans County.

“Most were identified in the testing or screening that is required by the state,” Pettit said today.

The Health Department is seeing more younger people test positive. The median age in Monroe County last week was in the mid-30s.

Throughout the Finger Lakes Region, which includes Orleans and 8 other counties, Pettit said about 30 percent of positive cases recently have been people not showing symptoms of Covid-19.

That percentage has been even higher locally, with people who have Covid-19 but don’t show signs of any respiratory distress.

Pettit said the asymptomatic cases may give people a false sense of security, that they don’t have Covid-19 even though they feel healthy.

“If you are not symptomatic, you can still have it and spread it without being aware you are positive,” he said. “It goes back to why social distancing of at least 6 feet and wearing masking is so important.”

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Orleans has 3 active cases, while Genesee has 1

Orleans and Genesee counties both don’t have a new Covid-19 case to report today.

Genesee is reporting one more recovery, while Orleans has one more person on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

An online map of confirmed cases in Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties, shows there are three active cases in Orleans, and 1 each in Genesee and Wyoming.

In Orleans County, there are 10 people on mandatory quarantine and three on mandatory isolation.

• State-wide Data: Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the lowest Covid-19 infection rate in New York State—0.65 percent—since the pandemic began.

New York State’s infection rate has been less than 1 percent every day for three weeks. The governor also announced that 8 million tests have now been conducted in the state.

“Fighting Covid-19 requires enormous bravery and discipline from New Yorkers and I thank them for today’s new record-low infection rate,” Cuomo said. “This is evidence that what each of us does to slow the spread—wearing masks, socially distancing and washing hands—makes a real difference.”

Of the 97,826 test results reported to New York State yesterday, 636, or 0.65 percent, were positive. The 636 additional cases of novel coronavirus bring the statewide total to 432,767.

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A Yates resident who is in the 30s is the latest confirmed case of Covid-19 in Orleans County. The individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

The county has now had 288 people test positive for Covid-19.

Genesee County doesn’t have any new Covid-19 cases to report today. The county has one more recovery for 215 total.

Genesee also is reporting three more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. One Genesee resident also is hospitalized who has Covid.

• State-wide data: Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported that 791 people tested positive for Covid on Wednesday out of 83,437 test results for a positive rate of 0.95 percent. That is the 20^thstraight day the state has been under a positive rate of 1 percent.

Other data includes:

• Patient Hospitalization – 490 (-2)
• Number ICU – 126 (-10)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 52 (-2)
• Deaths – 4 (Total Deaths – 25,309)

More from the Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments:

• Agricultural Seasonal Worker Covid-19 Testing Opportunity: The Departments of Agriculture and Markets, Health, and Labor are partnering with county health departments, Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York Farm Bureau and community health partners in Clinton, Genesee, Orleans, Ulster and Wayne counties to offer free Covid-19 testing to agricultural workers.

These counties were selected for this opportunity as these counties see the highest number of out-of-state workers during harvest season. For registration, click here.

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that free rapid testing sites will be opening in Western New York after a spike in Covid-19 cases.

The testing SWAT teams will be available in partnership with Kaleida Health, Erie County Medical Center, and Catholic Health. Eight new testing sites will open this Saturday.

Sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Saturday through Wednesday. All residents are eligible for tests and appointments can be made by calling 833-NYSTRNG (697-8764).

Some of the sites will be available in Niagara County. Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes Region, where the positivity rate for Covid-19 was 0.5 percent on Monday and Tuesday, and 0.6 percent on Wednesday. In the five-county WNY, the rate was 1.8 percent, 1.4 percent and 2.0 percent the past three days.

New York State will deploy 50 rapid testing machines to support the effort and will deploy more as needed. All tests are free of charge and the results will support the contact tracing efforts being conducted to monitor and control the virus spread.

“In Western New York, we have a caution flag out and we’re going to fly it a little higher today. The region’s infection rate was 2 percent yesterday, which is not good news,” Governor Cuomo said. “We’re going to deploy a SWAT team from the Department of Health that is going to conduct additional testing at eight sites in the region using Abbott testing machines, which provide same-day results literally within the hour. We’re focusing on Western New York and we’re going to continue to focus on it. Thank you to our partners Kaleida Health, Erie County Medical Center and Catholic Health for their assistance with this effort.”

A list of the eight new testing sites includes:

• Delavan-Grider Community Center, 877 E. Delavan Ave., Buffalo, NY 14215
• True Bethel Baptist Church, 907 E. Ferry St., Buffalo, NY 14211
• Northwest Buffalo Community Center, 155 Lawn Ave., Buffalo, NY 14207
• Dunkirk Fire Murphy Training Grounds, 665 Brigham Rd., Dunkirk, NY 14048
• SUNY ECC North, 6205 Main St., Williamsville, NY 14221
• Vigilant Fire Hall, 666 Main St., West Seneca, NY 14224
• John A. Duke Senior Center, 1201 Hyde Park Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY 14301
• YWCA of the Niagara Frontier, 32 Cottage St., Lockport, NY 14094

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Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) has joined by Congressman Tom Reed (NY-23) and Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25) in calling on the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Azar to provide additional funds for hospitals from the Public Health Services and Support Emergency Fund.

Jacobs, Reed, and Morelle cited Thompson Health in Canandaigua and Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport, which have not received any relief funding since the initial round of federal funding distributed on April 10th. Thompson Health serves over 165,000 residents and has more than 1,700 workers. Before COVID-19, 80% of their revenue came from outpatient services – these were halted to focus on the COVID-19 response, and they are now facing $10 million in losses.

“Hospitals in our region, such as Thompson Health, have fully complied with all COVID-19 guidelines and served their communities effectively during the pandemic,” Jacobs said. “However, following these guidelines has resulted in drops in inpatient volumes and increased costs for protective equipment and testing. While they have faced the same challenges and financial struggles as other providers, our hospitals, many serving rural communities, have not received the same amount of federal aid.”

Thompson Health and other providers have been without critical funding for over 17 weeks, despite their continued efforts to provide COVID-19 relief services to our area. Without additional support, they are facing severe financial cutbacks that could have devastating effects on the region.

The Representatives are asking for the consideration of a “plus-up” formula for future aid funding. Under this method, each hospital would receive, at minimum, the same percentage of the previous year’s revenue. This would make funding distribution more even, currently Thompson, for example, has received roughly 2% of FY19 revenue, while other hospitals have received up to 50% FY19 revenue.

“We care about our communities’ access to medical care and the incredible hospitals in our region who provide quality services,” Congressman Reed said. “It is only fair that HHS work with us to ensure bureaucratic classifications don’t prevent medical providers from receiving the federal aid they deserve to continue serving people during this difficult period.”

“Healthcare providers have been on the front lines battling this unprecedented global health crisis, yet many smaller providers have failed to receive the support and assistance they deserve,” Congressman Morelle said. “Many are struggling under the weight of financial loss and need our help to continue the essential services they provide for our community. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Chris Jacobs to stand up for these small hospital providers and urge HHS to provide additional relief immediately.”

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