Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

August is recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). Today’s vaccines protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases such as polio, pneumonia, and cancers caused by HPV.

Because of advances in medical science, your children and family can be protected against more diseases than ever before. As schools and colleges begin to reopen, parents and guardians should make sure their children are up-to-date on their vaccines.

“Consulting with your child’s doctor before school starts is a fantastic way to get information about vaccine schedules while making sure your family is best prepared to start the school year,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans counties.

With the school guidance set forth by New York State, many safeguards are put in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the academic setting. However, it is still important to remember and protect against vaccine preventable diseases.

During these challenging times, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend every child continues to receive routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Well-child visits and vaccinations are essential services and help make sure children are protected. Children who are not protected by vaccines may be more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough,” said Brenden Bedard, Director of Community Health Services of Genesee and Orleans counties. “As communities are opening up, it’s important for parents to work with their children’s health care team to make sure their children stay up to date on routine vaccines.”

With flu season right around the corner, it’s important that you schedule time for you and your family to receive your annual flu vaccine. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses, like flu, this fall and winter is more important than ever.

Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death. Getting a flu vaccine this fall will be more important than ever, not only to reduce your risk from flu but also to help conserve potentially scarce health care resources. CDC recommends getting a flu vaccination in September or October but getting vaccinated anytime during the flu season can help protect you.

Whether you are a parent, expecting a child, or an adult, you have the power to keep yourself and your family healthy against harmful diseases. Vaccines work with your body’s natural defenses to help safely develop protection from diseases.

During NIAM, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments encourages you to talk to your primary care physician to ensure that you and your family are up to date on recommended vaccines. We also encourage you to visit CDC’s Interactive Vaccine Guide, which provides information on the vaccines recommended during pregnancy and throughout your child’s life. Adults can use the CDC’s adult vaccine assessment tool to see which vaccines might be right for you.

For information about Health Department services contact:

• Genesee County Health Department at 344-2580 ext. 5555 or click here for the department’s website.
• Orleans County Health Department at 589-3278 or click here for the department’s website.

Return to top

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

Orleans has 5 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. Genesee has 11 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel.

Genesee continues to have one person hospitalized due to Covid-19, while Orleans doesn’t have any hospitalized, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

State-wide Data: There are 566 new Covid-19 cases in the state out of 71,189 test results reported on Tuesday for a 0.79 percent positive rate. The state’s rate of positive Covid-19 tests has been below 1 percent for 19 straight days.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state is closely monitoring the recent increase in Western New York’s infection rate, which was at 1.8 percent on Monday and 1.4 percent on Tuesday.

Return to top

Orleans and Genesee counties are both reporting one new case of Covid-19 today.

In Orleans, the new case is a person from Shelby in the 60s. The individual was not on quarantine prior to testing positive, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Orleans has now had 287 people test positive for Covid-19.

The county also is reporting one more person has recovered from Covid-19 and has been released from mandatory isolation. That brings the total recoveries in the community to 132.

The Health Departments also say 14 more individuals are on precautionary quarantine in Orleans due to travel from restricted states.

In Genesee County, the new case is a person from Pavilion in the 30s. The individual was not on quarantine prior to testing positive. Genesee has now had 276 people test positive for Covid-19.

Genesee also is reporting it has one resident is hospitalized with Covid-19, and one more person is on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

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

• State-wide data: The state is reporting 629 people tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday out of 67,255 test results or 0.94 percent.

Other state data includes:

• Patient Hospitalization – 488 (+6)
• Number ICU – 133 (+13)
• Number ICU with intubation – 52 (-2)
• Deaths – 2 (Total Deaths – 25,297)

Return to top

Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Maryland and Montana come off the list

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that five states—Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Maryland and Montana—have been removed from New York State’s Covid-19 travel advisory. Guam has been added.

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.

New York State has had a rate of positive tests below 1 percent for 18 straight days. Yesterday, 2 deaths were reported from Covid-19, matching the state’s previous low. No deaths were reported in New York City.

“New Yorkers made enormous sacrifices to get our numbers as low as they are today, and we don’t want to give up an inch of that hard-earned progress,” Cuomo said. “That’s why these travel advisory precautions are so important – we don’t want people who travel to states with high community spread to bring the virus back here.”

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

Return to top

Orleans County is reporting one new confirmed case of Covid-19 today, the first new case in a week. The county has now had 286 people test positive for the virus.

The new positive case is an Albion resident in the 50s. The individual was not on quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said.

Two of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation. The county has now had 131 people from the community recover after getting Covid-19.

The Health Departments also reported 22 new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

In Genesee County there aren’t any new cases to report since Friday. The county has thtee more recoveries, bringing that total to 214.

Genesee has one resident hospitalized from Covid-19, and 13 new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

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

• State-wide data: Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new record-low Covid-19 test positivity rate of 0.66 percent. There were 408 positive cases out of 62,031 test results. This was the 17th straight day with the positivity rate below 1 percent.

There are 482 hospitalizations in the state due to Covid-19, 120 people in ICU, and there were seven deaths on Sunday, bringing the total confirmed deaths in the state from Covid-19 to 25,295.

These are each of the 10 regions percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days. Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes Region.

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• Gyms & Fitness Centers: In order for these centers to prepare for potential reopening today, 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:

1. Develop a business safety plan,
2. Have an HVAC inspection by an approved professional,
3. Complete the affirmation for each facility location that they have reviewed andunderstand 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.

Return to top

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a new record-low Covid-19 test positivity rate of 0.69 percent and the lowest COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU patients since the pandemic began.

On Friday, hospitalizations dropped to 483, a new low since March 16, and the number of patients in ICUs dropped to 116, a new low since March 15. Intubations matched a previous low of 56.

“In New York we didn’t just flatten the curve, we bent it—and the numbers continue to stay low, demonstrating our data-driven phased reopening continues to work,” Governor Cuomo said. “Yesterday we had the lowest test positivity rate, lowest hospitalizations and lowest ICU patients since the middle of March. This shows that protecting public health and reopening our economy aren’t mutually exclusive if done the right way, and record-high testing doesn’t equal more positive tests. New Yorkers have driven this recovery and I urge everyone to stay New York Tough—wear masks, socially distance and stay disciplined. This thing isn’t over yet.”

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 1,553 establishments in New York City and Long Island and observed 8 establishments that were not in compliance with state requirements. The observed violations were in Manhattan, 6; Queens, 1; and Suffolk, 1.

Of the 94,849 test results reported to New York State yesterday, 653, or 0.69 percent, were positive. Those 653 additional cases of novel coronavirus bring the statewide total to 429,165 confirmed cases in New York State.

Today’s data is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization – 483 (-7)
• Number ICU – 116 (-3)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 56 (-2)
• Deaths – 4 (Total Deaths – 25,282)

Return to top

Orleans County made it four straight days without a new confirmed case of Covid-19, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today.

Orleans has 11 more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

In Genesee, there is one new confirmed case, a person in the 40s from LeRoy. The individual was not mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. Genesee has now had 275 people test positive for Covid-19.

Genesee is also reporting two more recoveries from Covid-19, bringing the county’s total recoveries in the community to 211. One Genesee resident remains hospitalized due to the virus.

Genesee also has 23 more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• Disparity between state and county numbers: We only report the numbers that are directly received to our departments. NYS data has been off due to some results being linked to people with one of our county’s addresses but actually don’t live in either county. These results are transferred to the appropriate county of residence, but are not reflected on the state’s daily updates.

• Be alert for scam artists: The Genesee and Orleans County Health Department staff will always identify themselves, their position, and the reason for their visit or phone call. All staff have county provided identification badges that have their pictures.

In the event you are approached by someone stating they are from the health department without a clear reason for their visit or phone call, do not let them in your home and do not give them any information and call 911.

• If symptoms, stay home: The most important thing to remember is if you are having any type of symptoms to STAY HOME! Some of the symptoms people have been reporting are fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste and/or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, headaches, fatigue nausea or vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Return to top

Orleans County, for the third straight day, doesn’t have any new Covid-19 cases to report. Orleans does have three more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today.

Genesee County has one new confirmed case, a person in the 30s from Batavia. Genesee has now had 274 people test positive for Covid-19.

The new case is an individual who wasn’t on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee also is reporting nine new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. Genesee also has one resident hospitalized due to Covid-19.

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

• Statewide data: Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported today that the number of hospitalizations statewide from Covid, 518, is the lowest number since March 18.

New York also had its 13^th straight day with the infection rate below 1 percent. There were 601 new cases on Wednesday out of 80,984 test results, a positive rate of 0.74 percent.

Other statewide data includes:

• Number ICU – 120 (-11)
• Deaths – 5 (Total Deaths, 25,275)

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• Communication survey: We need your help!  Please consider taking a few minutes to complete a survey to measure our Genesee-Orleans Health Departments communication efforts in response to Covid-19. Your response is appreciated! Click here for the survey.

The survey will be available for your input until Aug. 24.

• Testing:  If you are being tested for Covid-19 it is important that you self-quarantine until you get your test results, whether you have symptoms or not.  If you are symptomatic, meaning you are coughing, have a fever or other symptoms, self-quarantine even if you are an essential worker until you get your results back. If you have Covid-19 you may be spreading it!  That means to stay home and limit contact with other people, even in your household.

• Community Testing Sites: Check with the testing site for any specific criteria necessary for testing such as illness, contact with someone who tested positive, essential worker, required for reopening/business, etc. Many need to have a doctor referral/prescription. Always call first.

• Oak Orchard Health: 301 West Ave Albion, NY 14411. Call (585) 589-5613 to be screened and to schedule an appointment – no walk-ins.
• WellNow Urgent Care: 4189 Veterans Memorial Drive Batavia, NY 14020.
• Rochester Regional Health Urgent Care: 16 Bank Street Batavia, NY 14020.

Return to top

Press Release, GCASA

BATAVIA – The Recovery Station, an innovative program of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, is presenting an Overdose Awareness Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 28 at its 5256 Clinton St. Rd. location (formerly Bohn’s Restaurant).

“The event is all about raising the public’s knowledge of the opioid epidemic and the dangers of overdose, and reducing the stigma of drug-related deaths,” said Sue Gagne, coordinator of the agency’s recovery center.

Gagne added that the GCASA Prevention Department will conduct Naloxone training and members of the GOW Opioid Task Force will be in attendance to answer questions and share information about the group’s mission.

A “memory tree” will be on site for those who wish to add a friend or loved one’s name in remembrance, and tours of The Recovery Station will be available.

Additionally, Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Erion and his K-9 partner, Frankie, are expected to conduct a demonstration at 1 p.m.

“All are welcome to attend – those in recovery, family members and area residents,” Gagne said, reminding everyone that face coverings must be worn during the tour and all social distancing and other Covid-19-related protocols must be observed.

For more information about GCASA’s recovery services or The Recovery Station, call Gagne at 585-815-5248.

Return to top

2 counties pass 30,000 tests for coronavirus

Orleans and Genesee counties both don’t have any new confirmed cases to report today, the local health departments are reporting.

In Orleans, there are two new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

In Genesee County, 15 more people are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. Genesee also has two residents hospitalized with Covid-19.

• Testing Milestone: The report from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments also shows the two counties combined have reached a milestone, passing 30,000 tests.

In Orleans, there have been 10,348 tests, with 285 people testing positive for a positive rate of 2.75 percent. The county has 40,352 residents, according to the 2019 estimate from the Census Bureau.

In Genesee, there have been 19,837 test results reported, with 273 positives for a positive rate of 1.38 percent. Genesee has 57,280 residents, according to the 2019 estimate from the Census Bureau.

Combined, there have been 558 positives in the two counties out of 30,185 tests for a positive rate of 1.85 percent.

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• Gyms & Fitness Centers:  In order for these centers to prepare for potential reopening by Aug. 24, it is important for owners and managers to review the guidelines, develop their business safety plan and read and affirm the detailed guidelines (click here).

The local health departments have not received the specific guidance required for inspections.  We will notify these businesses via our briefings, websites and social media platforms as soon as we receive it to contact the health departments to set up appointments as soon as we are able.

This guidance includes but is not limited to standalone fitness facility/gym; facility/gym associated to a hotel, residential community, office building/business, higher education establishment; yoga/Pilates/barre studio; dance studio; boxing/kick boxing facility, martial arts facility; fitness boot camp; cross fit or other plyometric boxes; group fitness class facility; spin center/facility; rowing, etc.

• Bowling Centers: Governor Cuomo announced bowling alleys (with 50% capacity) throughout New York will be allowed to reopen starting Aug. 17 with strict protocols in place. Face coverings and social distancing will be required at all times.

Every other lane must be closed; patrons need to stay with the party at their assigned lane; thorough cleaning and disinfection of shared or rented equipment between each use is required. Read the governor’s press release by clicking here. The link for guidance will be posted as soon as it is available.

Continue to check the NY Forward site (click here) for updated guidance.  Click this link for Sports And Recreation Summary Guidance. Remember you have to have your Business Safety Plan and attestations completed prior to opening.

Return to top

Orleans County doesn’t have any new confirmed Covid-19 cases today after there were three new cases reported on Monday.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting seven more people in Orleans are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Genesee County is reporting one new Covid-19 case, a Pembroke resident in the 60s. That person wasn’t on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee also is reporting 25 more individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. Two Genesee residents are hospitalized with Covid-19.

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• Gyms & Fitness Centers: In order for these centers to prepare for potential reopening by Aug. 24, 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 (click here).

The local health departments have not received the specific guidance required for inspections.  We will notify these businesses via our briefings, websites and social media platforms as soon as we receive it to contact the health departments to set up appointments as soon as we are able.

• Travel Advisory: The following states with high coronavirus rates will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia,  Virgin Islands, and Wisconsin.

Those violating could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine and potential fines. These states may change at any time. Click here for more information.

• Traveler Health Form: For all out-of-state travelers from NYS restricted states, whether arriving by land or air, must self-identify by completing a traveler health form or be subject to a $2,000 fine. Click here for the traveler health form.

• Communication Survey: We need your help! Please consider taking a few minutes to complete a survey (click here) to measure our Genesee-Orleans (GO Health) Health Departments communication efforts in response to our Covid-19. Your response is appreciated! The survey will be available for your input until Aug. 24.

Return to top

Those states were previously on the list, then removed, but now return with Covid infections on the rise

Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced that two states, Alaska and Delaware, are back on the state’s travel advisory.

Delaware was previously on the list but was removed on Aug. 4. Alaska also was on the list but was removed on Aug. 11.

The travel advisory now includes 33 states and two territories. Travelers coming to New York from those places should quarantine for two weeks. These are areas 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 full, updated travel advisory list includes: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Virgin Islands and Wisconsin.

The governor also announced that for the 11th straight day, New York State’s rate of positive tests was below 1 percent.

There were 655 positive Covid-19 tests on Monday out of 66,891 test results reported or 0.98 percent that were positive.

“Our success in this fight is determined, more than anything, by the actions each of us takes in daily life—washing our hands, properly social distancing and wearing masks—and by the willingness of local governments to be competent partners and to enforce state guidance,” Cuomo said. “We continue to move in the right direction, but it’s up to all of us to slow the spread and stay safe.”

Return to top

Public health director says more testing still needed locally

ALBION – Orleans County hit a milestone on Monday with its 10,000^th test for Covid-19.

The local health department puts out a daily update on Covid-19 cases, testing and other news each weekday. The report on Monday showed the county passed 10,000 tests. So far there have been 285 that were positive and 9,753 were negative for 10,038 total. That is a positive rate of 2.84 percent.

“That is a milestone number and 10,000 tests in a county of 40,000 people is a significant number,” said Paul Pettit, public health director for Orleans and Genesee counties.

However, he said that doesn’t mean 10,000 people have been tested because many people – hair stylists, first responders, nursing home and healthcare workers – have been tested multiple times.

“A lot of those are repeats,” Pettit said about the tests.

He would like to see more people be tested in the county. It’s harder to get tested in Orleans and the rural counties, compared to more populous areas of the state.

Orleans County officials have pressed the state to at least offer a mobile testing option in the county, even if only once a week where people could be tested for free. Right now they have to drive out of county to a state-sponsored testing site. That isn’t an option for many residents due to transportation issues, Pettit said.

It also isn’t fair to them to have to drive 45 minutes to an hour each way when larger counties have the test sites close by, he said.

Some healthcare providers in the county do Covid-19 testing, and Oak Orchard Health in Albion has been offering testing by appointment only if people have symptoms for Covid-19. (Call Oak Orchard at 585-589-5613 to be screened and to schedule an appointment.)

Pettit also said there is an issue with a delay in the test results. It often takes 7 to 10 days to get the results because the labs nationwide are being inundated with samples.

“That isn’t reasonable,” Pettit said about the wait for the test results. “It is very concerning.”

The people who are tested should self-quarantine until they get the results, even if they don’t have symptoms.

Pettit is pleased to see more people are being tested – and so few are testing positive. There were about 800 tests from the previous Monday with 3 testing positive (3 out of 793 for a positive rate of 0.38 percent.)

In Genesee County, 272 people have tested positive out of 18,809 tests for a positive rate of 1.44 percent.

Although the positive testing rate has dropped recently with only a few new cases, Pettit urged the community to not lower its guard against the virus.

“As schools as getting ready to reopen, it’s more important now than ever to stay vigilant,” Pettit said.

Return to top