This screenshot shows the new home page on the website for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

In collaboration with Newbird in Buffalo and funding from The Kresge Foundation, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are pleased to announce the launch of the new joint GO Health website.

“As chief health strategists for Genesee and Orleans counties, GO Health has been building our cross jurisdictional relationship to become consistent in our messaging and reflect our joint working relationship through our social media platforms and now through the branding of the GO Health logo and our new website,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “This effort has been in the works for almost a year and a half in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. We believe having a joint website will not only save time and resources, but be easier for our residents to access our forms, data and timely updates.”

There are two ways to access the new website: www.GOHealthNY.org or by going to the respective county websites and choosing Public Health.

There are 32 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans and Genesee counties, in the first update since Friday.

That brings the total cases in the two counties to 8,365 since March 2020, with 3,074 in Orleans and 5,291 in Genesee.

In Orleans County there are 18 new positive cases and the individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

One resident from Orleans is currently hospitalized due to Covid.

Orleans is reporting 16 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

In Genesee County there are 14 new positive cases of Covid. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.

There are 8 Genesee residents currently hospitalized due to Covid.

Genesee is reporting 24 more of the previous positive individuals have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

Active cases: The number of active cases in the two counties has dropped from 103 a week ago on May 18 to 91 today. The active cases in Genesee are down from 54 to 41. However, in Orleans the cases are slightly up from 49 on May 18 to 50 today.

The state modified its directive for mask wearing for children in childcare sites and at summer camps. The guidance initially required masks to be worn by children as young as 2.

That policy sparked an outcry from parents and many state legislators, including State Sen. Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

“This mandate is not needed to protect public health, and only serves to jeopardize the operations of summer camps and childcare centers alike,” Hawley said in a statement on Monday. “I hope to see it swiftly rescinded.”

Later in the afternoon the state Department of Health and the state Office of Children and Family Services said the mask mandate won’t include children between the ages of 2 and 5 in daycare sites.

“Both agencies understand how difficult it is to require the youngest children to wear masks, and have jointly agreed to revise guidance allowing child care providers to continue the practices and protocols that have been in place since the start of the pandemic by encouraging, not requiring, children aged 2-5 to wear masks, effective immediately,” the agencies said in a statement. “The safety of the children in child care programs is of paramount importance. As more families are returning to work, New York State is investing federal funds in stabilizing the industry and expanding child care programs throughout the state, especially in underserved areas.”

The full guidance from the state for mask-wearing at child care, summer camp and day camp programs can be found by clicking here.

Ortt issued this statement on Monday evening after the mask mandate was revised:

“This morning, my colleagues and I were joined by daycare providers and concerned parents from throughout the state at a virtual rally to speak out against the Governor’s misguided mask mandate for children in daycare settings. This mandate was never based in science or simple common-sense, especially at a time when he was signaling that mask wearing will soon be a thing of the past for many adults. It caused unnecessary frustration and confusion for providers and parents alike, and I’m glad to see it lifted.

“I want to thank the providers and parents who joined us to voice their opposition to this out-of-touch edict, and all of my Senate Republican colleagues for their advocacy on behalf of our youngest children.”

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have new sites this week for vaccine clinics, with Covid-19 vaccine shots offered for free at the American Legion in Holley and the Kendall fire hall.

“With everyone looking forward to the summer and the looser restrictions we encourage everyone to get vaccinated now,” said Paul Pettit, public health director in Genesee and Orleans counties. “There continue to be plenty of options to get any of the three vaccines offered. For your health and the health of others, we encourage everyone who is able to be vaccinated, to get vaccinated now.”

Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna clinics offer walk-in opportunities. However, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments encourage people to register. Walk-ins are available on a first come, first serve basis. The Pfizer vaccine is approved to vaccinate anyone 12 and older.

“We have been very successful with the pop-up clinics,” Pettit said. “We are finding many people are happy to be getting their vaccination closer to where they work and play. The scheduling is a great opportunity for more people to get vaccinated. Being fully vaccinated, 2 weeks after the second dose for Moderna and Pfizer and 2 weeks after the single dose of Johnson & Johnson will help us enjoy the spring and summer activities with less restrictions.”

These are the vaccination clinics offered this week by the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• Ridgeway Fire Hall on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon at 11392 Ridge Rd., Medina with Moderna for walk-ins and appointments (click here) and Johnson & Johnson for walk-ins and appointments (click here).

• GCC Athletic Arena on Wednesday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at 1 College Rd., Batavia with Pfizer for walk-ins and appointments (click here) and Johnson & Johnson for walk-ins and appointments (click here).

• Holley American Legion on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 5 Wright St. with entrance off Parkway Street. Vaccines include Moderna for walk-ins and appointments (click here) and Johnson & Johnson for walk-ins.

• Kendall Fire Department on Thursday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at 1879 Kendall Rd. Vaccines include Moderna for walk-ins and appointments (click here) and Johnson & Johnson for walk-ins.

For those who do not have internet they can call the GO Health Vaccine Registration Help Lines in Orleans at (585) 589-3170 and Genesee at (585) 815-7168. These lines are only to make vaccine appointments and not to answer Covid-related questions. They are not associated with either Health Department.

Any business, church or organization that is interested in hosting a vaccination clinic is urged to fill out a survey (click here) and a Health Department staff member will then be in contact.

Both health departments continue to provide limited free rapid testing for those without symptoms at the respective Health Departments.

For Orleans County, a rapid test clinic is scheduled for May 26 from 10 to 10:30 a.m. at the Orleans County Health Department at 14016 Rt. 31 West, Albion. Click here to register.

For Genesee County, a rapid test drive-through clinic is scheduled for May 27 from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. at County Building #2, 3837 West Main St. Road, Batavia. Click here to register.

Active cases in 2 counties fall below 100, about half of caseload from a month ago

There are 35 new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Genesee and Orleans counties since the last update on Tuesday afternoon, bringing the total cases the past 14 months of the pandemic to 8,333 in the two counties. That includes 3,056 in Orleans and 5,277 in Genesee.

In Orleans County there are 13 new cases reported by the Genesee and Orleans County health Departments. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.

There are 17 more recoveries or people who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

One Orleans resident is currently hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there 22 new positive cases and the individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 80s.

Genesee is reporting 25 more recoveries or people who have completed their 10-day isolation

and been removed from mandatory isolation.

There are currently 9 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

• Active cases continue to drop: The number of active Covid-19 cases in Genesee and Orleans counties has declined from 108 a week ago to 94 today, according to the update this afternoon from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

The 94 active cases today includes 44 in Orleans (down from 65 a week ago) and 50 in Genesee (up from 43 a week ago). That compare to 82 in Orleans on May 7 and 69 in Genesee on May 7.

The active in the two counties in recent weeks includes: 94 today, 108 on May 14, 151 on May 7, 163 on April 30, and 185 on April 23.

• 7-day totals: The number of new cases the past seven days totaled 91 in the two counties, with 33 in Orleans and 58 in Genesee.

That is down from 111 the previous seven-day period  when there were 53 new cases in Orleans and 58 in Genesee.

That compares to 157 cases the seven days ending on May 7 with 73 new cases in Orleans and 84 in Genesee.

Before that there were 164 the seven days ending April 30, 187 the seven days ending April 23, 180 the seven days ending April 16, and 186 the seven days ending April 9.

Masking and social distancing still required for those not vaccinated

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office 

File photo by Tom Rivers: A child swings at Camp Rainbow in Ridgeway in this photo from August 2015. Camp Rainbow is owned and operated by the Arc of Genesee Orleans, which will offer the camp this summer.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced updated guidance for health and safety measures at childcare, day camp, and overnight camp programs, effective May 19.

The measures include protocols for Covid testing, physical distancing and sanitation, among other requirements to help prevent Covid-19 cases. The Department of Health will continue to monitor and evaluate health metrics for child care facilities and camp programs and, if necessary, will issue further guidance.

“We are continuing to make incredible progress against Covid and lifting restrictions based on the science and numbers, but we are not yet at the finished line,” Cuomo said. “To help ensure maximum protections for staff and children at childcare and camp programs, we are issuing this guidance so the facilities can implement basic but critical measures that will allow them to operate safely.”

Facilities and programs must collect Covid-19 vaccination status and documentation for all staff and children, and implement mandatory daily health screening practices of their staff and visitors including daily temperature checks. Facilities and programs need to notify the state and local health department immediately upon being informed of any positive Covid-19 test result by a staff member or child at their site.

Each site must implement a property-specific capacity limitation for children and campers that ensures appropriate social distancing. Staff who are not fully vaccinated must maintain a distance of at least six feet from other unvaccinated staff.

Children and campers over the age of two and staff who are not fully vaccinated must wear face coverings except when eating, drinking, showering, swimming, or sleeping/resting. Since face coverings have been proven to be effective when distancing is not feasible, facilities and programs must provide and require the use of face coverings for individuals who are not fully vaccinated.

Additional hygiene and cleaning and disinfection requirements as advised by the CDC and Department of Health must also be followed.

Full guidance for facilities and programs is available by clicking here.

NY also lifts capacity restrictions for many businesses

Starting today fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask in most cases when they are in public settings, both indoors and outdoors.

The state has also eased the capacity restrictions for many businesses and venues.

“Today is a milestone in New York State’s war against Covid,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a  news release this morning. “With positivity and hospitalization rates at their lowest levels since last fall, and more than 10 million New Yorkers having received at least one vaccine dose, today New York State is adopting the CDC’s updated guidance on masks and social distancing.”

“This means that, 399 days after New York was the first state in the country to implement a mask mandate, effective today, fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to use a face covering in most public places,” Cuomo said. “New York is coming back, and it’s a testament to the strength and grit of New Yorkers who banded together, stayed tough, and fought as one to defeat this Covid beast.”

In most settings, vaccinated individuals will not be required to wear a mask, according to the CDC and the new state guidelines. Unvaccinated individuals, under both CDC and state guidance, must wear masks in all public settings.

Businesses also have the option to continue to enforce mask wearing, even for those who are vaccinated.

The state is still requiring masks at for Pre-K to 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes and healthcare settings.

The state is lifting the restrictions on capacity for most businesses today. And businesses can eliminate the required 6 feet of social distancing for fully vaccinated people – but only if all patrons within the establishment or a separate designated part of the establishment — present proof of full vaccination status, Cuomo’s office said in a news release. Proof of full vaccination status can be provided by patrons through paper form, digital application, or the State’s Excelsior Pass.

“The steps we’re taking today don’t mean that Covid has been officially relegated to the history books,” Cuomo said. “We need to stay vigilant, continue to follow the safety guidelines in place, and help every single eligible New Yorker get vaccinated, so that we can finally reach that light at the end of the tunnel.”

There are 56 new cases of Covid-19 in Genesee and Orleans counties, in the first update since Friday afternoon. That brings the total to 8,298 since March 2020, with 3,043 in Orleans and 5,255 in Genesee, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Department.

In Orleans County there are 20 new positive cases of Covid-19. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.

There are 38 more recoveries – previous positive individuals who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

There is currently one Orleans resident hospitalized due to Covid.

In Genesee County there are 36 new positive cases. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

There are 26 more recoveries –previous positive individuals who have completed their 10-day isolation and been removed from mandatory isolation.

There are currently 9 Genesee residents hospitalized due to Covid.

Message from Genesee and Orleans County Health Department:

Masking: As of May 19, New York State will be following the CDC guidance which has determined it is safe for the majority of those who are fully vaccinated (2 weeks after final vaccination) to not have to wear masks in most cases indoors and outside.

Those who are not fully vaccinated, choose not to be vaccinated and/or are immunocompromised, work or attend Pre-K to 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes and healthcare settings will continue to follow the State’s existing Covid-19 health guidelines regarding masking until more New Yorkers are fully vaccinated.

The Department of Health strongly recommends masks in indoor settings where vaccination status of individuals is unknown. Mask requirements by businesses must adhere to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

This recommendation will apply across commercial settings, including retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and other personal care services, among other settings.

Hoag Library hosts ‘pop-up’ clinic today

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Chris Rice of Albion receives the Covid-19 vaccine today from Doris Delano, a registered nurse with the Orleans County Health Department.

He was one of 30 who received a vaccine shot in the first hour of a clinic held at Hoag Library in Albion.

Rice preferred the one-shot Johnson & Johnson dose, over the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which are two shots.

“This is about as convenient as it can get,” Rice said inside the library. “Now that it’s local it will be easier for more people to do it. It will be nice to be done with it and get back to normal. Hopefully this helps.”

The Health Department has been holding mass vaccination clinics at the Ridgeway fire hall sometimes for several hundred people. Next Tuesday will be the last one at Ridgeway fire hall as the Health Department looks to do smaller “pop-up” clinics around the county.

Hoag hosted one of the pop-up clinics today for the first time. The Health Department on Friday morning will be at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville from 8:30 to 11 a.m. That is timed to coincide with the start of a food distribution at the fairgrounds.

“The whole idea is making close and accessible and using familiar locations,” said Dr. David Bell, emergency preparedness coordinator for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

The pop-up clinics don’t require nearly as much manpower from the Health Department as the bigger clinics at the Ridgeway fire hall and GCC in Batavia. It takes 40 to 50 staff and volunteers for the Ridgeway clinic while the Health Department had a team of 8 at Hoag Library today.

Hoag Library in Albion hosted a pop-up vaccination clinic for the first time today.

The Department next week on May 27 is planning pop-up clinics in Holley with a mobile unit at the American Legion and in Kendall at the fire department. More information will be available about those clinics in the next few days.

“It’s where we can get the partnerships to host the clinics,” Bell said.

The department plans to continue the vaccination clinics for “as long as there is demand,” Bell said.

When there is little need for the clinics, Bell said people will be directed to local pharmacies, health care offices and the Health Department to get a vaccine.

Starting Wednesday, vaccinated people won’t be required to wear masks in most settings

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that beginning May 19, New York State will adopt the CDC’s “Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People” for most business and public settings.

Consistent with the CDC guidance, Pre-K to 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and healthcare settings will continue to follow State’s existing Covid-19 health guidelines until more New Yorkers are fully vaccinated.

“New Yorkers have worked hard over the last year to prevent the spread of Covid and keep each other safe,” Cuomo said. “That work has paid off and we are ecstatic to take this next step in the reopening of our beautiful state. The people of New York and visitors alike should take solace in the lifting of mask requirements, but be respectful of those who may still feel safest wearing their mask in public and business owners who may still ask patrons to don their mask.”

To implement the CDC’s guidance, New York State will be revising the following reopening guidelines to take effect on May 19:

Business Mask Rules

Given that the CDC has advised that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks and over 52 percent of New Yorkers over the age of 18 are fully vaccinated, the State will authorize businesses to continue to require masks for all in their establishments, consistent with the CDC guidance. In most settings, vaccinated individuals will not be required to wear a mask. Unvaccinated individuals, under both CDC and state guidance must wear masks in all public settings.

The Department of Health strongly recommends masks in indoor settings where vaccination status of individuals is unknown. Mask requirements by businesses must adhere to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

This recommendation will apply across commercial settings, including retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and other personal care services, among other settings.

Business Capacity Rules

As previously announced, most business capacities — which are currently based upon percentage of maximum occupancy — will be removed on May 19. Businesses will only be limited by the space available for patrons or parties of patrons to maintain the required social distance of 6 feet.

However, given that the CDC has advised that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to maintain social distance, businesses may eliminate the 6 feet of required social distancing, and therefore increase capacity, only if all patrons within the establishment — or a separate designated part of the establishment — present proof of full vaccination status. Proof of full vaccination status can be provided by patrons through paper form, digital application, or the State’s Excelsior Pass.

For areas where vaccination status of individuals is unknown and for patrons who do not present proof of full vaccination status, the required social distance of 6 feet still applies until more New Yorkers are fully vaccinated. This change will apply across all commercial settings, except the exempt settings outlined by the CDC.

Small- and Large-Scale Event Rules

Small-scale events will be able to apply the revised business mask and capacity rules. Specifically, for events below the State’s social gathering limit of 250 indoors or 500 outdoors, event venues will be able to require masks for all patrons — and DOH strongly recommends masks in indoor settings where vaccination status is unknown — and social distancing of 6 feet will be required between parties of attendees, unless all attendees present proof of full vaccination status. Unvaccinated people should still wear masks.

For large-scale events that exceed the State’s social gathering limits, event venues will only be limited by the space available for patrons or parties of patrons to maintain the required distance, as follows:

• Unvaccinated attendees and attendees who have an unknown vaccination status must be spaced 6 feet apart in assigned sections. Masks will be required in indoor event settings, except while seated and eating or drinking.
• Fully vaccinated attendees may be spaced directly next to one another at 100 percent capacity instead of 6 feet apart in assigned sections that are designated solely for fully vaccinated individuals. Masks are optional. Venues must verify vaccination status to take advantage of reduced social distancing requirements.
• Children under the age of 12 who are not yet vaccine eligible, and under the age of 16 who have not yet been able to be vaccinated, may accompany and be seated with a vaccinated adult in a fully vaccinated section.
• Proof of full vaccination status can be provided by attendees through paper form, digital application, or the State’s Excelsior Pass.

For large-scale events, proof of recent negative Covid-19 test result for attendees who are over the age of four remains required for unvaccinated attendees in indoor event settings above the State’s social gathering limit but will become optional in outdoor event settings.