2 of positive tests last week for Genesee were rescinded due to lab errors

Orleans County has 3 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, and has now had 285 people test positive for the coronavirus.

The new positive cases reside in Kendall, Shelby and Carlton. One of the individuals is in the 30’s and the other two are in their 40’s, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.

One of the individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

The county also is reporting one additional recovery, bringing that total to 129. There are also 18 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Genesee County has received 2 new positive cases of Covid-19, and now has had 272 test positive. for a total of 272 positive cases

(Two of the previous positive cases reported last week were rescinded due to lab errors, the Health Departments said.)

The new positive cases reside in Stafford and Alexander. One of the positive individuals is under 20 and the other is in the 30’s.

One of the individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. The other person was on precautionary quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee also is reporting 27 new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

The county also has three more recoveries from Covid-19, bringing that total to 206. Two people from Genesee remain hospitalized due to Covid-19.

State-wide data: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York State had a rate of positive Covid-19 tests of less than 1 percent for the 10th straight day yesterday.

The rate of positive tests, 0.71 percent, is the state’s lowest since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis. There were 408 new positive cases confirmed on Sunday out of 56,891 test results, for a positive rate of 0.71 percent.

“Right now, New York has one of the lowest infection rates in the country, and New York State’s regions and New York City’s boroughs are all basically consistent, so on the all the numbers it’s good news, and I congratulate New Yorkers for doing what people said couldn’t be done,” Cuomo said.

Other state-wide data includes:

• Patient Hospitalization – 534 (+7)
• Number ICU – 133 (+5)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 64 (+5)
• Deaths – 6 (Total Deaths – 25,256)

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501 test results since Monday – all negative

Orleans County has no new confirmed Covid-19 cases to report today for the fourth straight, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said in a daily update.

Orleans has received 501 test results since Monday and all came back negative for Covid-19.

The county has 6 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

In Genesee County, there is one new confirmed case of Covid-19, an Elba resident in the 60s. The individual was not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee has now had 272 confirmed cases of Covid-19, while Orleans has had 282.

Genesee is also reporting 13 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. Three Genesee residents are hospitalized due to Covid-19.

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

• Statewide data: Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported there are 727 new confirmed Covid-19 cases out of 87,900 test results, a 0.85 percent positive rate.

• Patient Hospitalization – 554 (-1)
• Number ICU – 127 (+3)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 59 (+3)
• Deaths – 3 (Total Deaths in NY from Covid-19 – 25,232)

“On the numbers it’s been extraordinary, so congratulations to New Yorkers because their actions created this result,” Cuomo said. “While the other states are seeing real trouble we are doing very well – we have to protect the progress from outside our borders and continue to enforce compliance within our state among establishments.”

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Genesee has 2 new cases, 1 in 20s, and 1 under age 20

For the third straight day, there are no new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting.

In Genesee County, there are two new cases, both are Le Roy residents with one less than 20 and the other in the 20s. Genesee has now had 271 people test positive for Covid-19. (Orleans has had 282 cases.)

In Genesee, the newly positive cases are people who weren’t on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee is reporting one more recovery, two people who are hospitalized from Covid-19, and 14 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Orleans County is reporting eight new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

• Survey about Health Department’s communication efforts: The local health departments want to hear from the public about the communication efforts during Covid-19. Click here to see the survey. The survey will be available for input until August 24.

• Statewide update: New York set a new high on Wednesday with 87,900 test results. There were 737 new positive cases or 0.84 percent of the test results.

The state also set a new low since mid-March with 56 people intubated due to Covid-19.

There were 10 Covid-19 deaths in the state, bringing that total to 25,228.

“New York State continues to stay vigilant in the face of an ongoing crisis across the country as we pursue a phased reopening,” Governor Cuomo said. “Yesterday we did a record-high number of tests – which is critical to our cautious, data-driven reopening strategy – and we’ll keep closely monitoring the numbers we receive daily.”

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Orleans County doesn’t have any new confirmed cases of Covid-19 to report today, while Genesee County has one more.

In Genesee, the new case is a person in the 20s from Batavia. The person was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported.

Genesee also has three more people on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. There are two people from Genesee currently hospitalized due to Covid-19.

In Orleans, there are five more residents on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

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 (GO Health) Health Departments communication efforts in response to our COVID-19.

Your response is appreciated!  The survey (click here) will be available for your input until August 24.

• Travel Advisory: The following states and territories are on New York’s travel advisory due to high Covid-19 infection rates: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, 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.

People coming to New York from those states need to quarantine for two weeks.

• 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.

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Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will be hosting free drive-through anti-rabies immunization clinics in August.

The Genesee County clinic will be on Thursday, Aug. 13, from 4 to 7p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 E Main Street Road, Batavia).

The Orleans County clinic will be on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 Route 31, Albion).

Paul Petitt, Public Health Director for the two counties said this is the first time the departments will be offering a drive-through clinic.

“The drive-through style will allow for the health departments to provide a vaccination clinic to our communities, while adhering to the health and safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “This will ensure social distance protocols can be maintained in an organized manner.”

Upon arrival, staff will instruct you to stay in your vehicle and form a single lane to the clinic area. Public health workers will be screening the occupants in each vehicle for COVID-19 symptoms.

County workers will be directing traffic flow. At the veterinarian immunization station, pet owners will be instructed to exit their vehicle and bring their pet(s) out for the veterinarian to vaccinate.

Once directed to do so, animals must be secured on a leash or in separate carriers at the immunization station. Face masks, cloth face coverings, or face shields are required when speaking to staff and when outside of their vehicle at the vaccination table. Please limit 4 animals per vehicle.

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Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that 87,776 Covid-19 tests were reported to New York State yesterday—a new record high for tests in a single day.

Of the 87,776 test results, 700 or 0.79 percent were positive.

Each region’s percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:

“We’re continuing to move forward protecting New Yorkers, slowing the spread and saving lives as the Covid-19 pandemic rages throughout much of the country and threatens the reduction in the numbers we’ve achieved here at home,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York is reaching new heights in its ability to track and trace the virus, and that’s evidenced by the record number of tests—nearly 88,000—that were reported yesterday. As we prepare for the fall, I urge everyone to wear masks, socially distance and wash their hands, and I urge local governments to enforce state guidance on reopening.”

Today’s data is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization – 558 (+18)
• Patients Newly Admitted – 89
• Number ICU – 123 (+3)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 62 (+2)
• Deaths – 7 (Total Deaths – 25,218)

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Photo courtesy of Oak Orchard Health: Farmworkers hold some of the kits that were distributed on Tuesday by Oak Orchard Health. About 100 kits were given out at local farms.

Oak Orchard Health distributed healthy kits to local farmworkers on Tuesday, which was Agricultural Worker Health Day.

The kits included hand sanitizer, tooth brushes, tooth paste, dental floss, soap, masks, digital thermometers and a water bottle.

Oak Orchard is celebrating National Health Center Week this week. Tuesday highlighted the importance of agricultural workers in the local community and Oak Orchard’s commitment to providing them with the best of health care.

“Agricultural workers in the US have been called the ‘invisible population’ as they are socially and geographically isolated from the rest of society,” said Mary Ann Pettibon, CEO of Oak Orchard Heath. “We want to recognize this population with gift bags of useful supplies and a cool drink to ease their otherwise extremely busy day.”

Originally founded in 1966, Oak Orchard has grown from a migrant health project into an integrated health center with multiple locations providing health care services for the entire community.

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Orleans County doesn’t have any new confirmed cases of Covid-19 to report today, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said this afternoon.

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

Genesee County has 2 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 268 positive cases. The two new positive cases are both Batavia residents with one in the 50s and the other in the 80s.

Both of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Genesee also has two people hospitalized with Covid-19. The county also is reporting 15 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• 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.

• 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.

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Oak Orchard Health has been awarded a $454,916 grant to expand telehealth services, U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced today.

The grant is among $5,308,428 in federal funding to provide additional telehealth services for New Yorkers affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, the two U.S. senators from New York said.

The money is from the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program as allocated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). This federal funding will be used to purchase telehealth devices and equipment that will help expand patient accessibility to remote health care across New York State.

“As New York rebuilds and recovers from COVID-19, it’s imperative that our hospitals and health centers have all the tools necessary to keep the virus at bay,” said Senator Schumer.

“This vital funding for telehealth programs provides New Yorkers with safe medical care during our state’s recovery. I will continue fighting for funding that hospitals and health centers need to keep both healthcare providers and patients safe and healthy throughout this pandemic and beyond.”

“Telehealth services have played an integral part of New York State’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak by allowing health care professionals to effectively treat patients without compromising their own health,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I will continue fighting for the resources needed to expand New York’s telehealth capabilities and to support our state’s essential workers and patients during this unprecedented health crisis.”

Oak Orchard Health operates healthcare sites in Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Lyndonville, Hornell and Warsaw.

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Travelers from 31 states must now self quarantine for 2 weeks in NY

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that two additional states and Virgin Islands meet the metrics to qualify for the travel advisory requiring individuals who have traveled to New York from those areas, all of which have significant community spread, to quarantine for 14 days.

The newly-added states are Hawaii and South Dakota. Alaska, New Mexico, Ohio and Rhode Island have been removed.

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 went from one of the worst situations in the country, to an example for the rest of the nation to follow,” Governor Cuomo said. “Our numbers continue to remain low and steady, which shows this virus will respond to an approach based on science, not politics. In order to protect this progress, we must keep up our efforts – we cannot go back to the hell we experienced a few months ago, which is why we are adding Hawaii, South Dakota and Virgin Islands to the travel advisory.”

The full, updated travel advisory list, includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, 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.

Alaska, New Mexico, Ohio and Rhode Island have been removed from the travel advisory. Individuals in quarantine after traveling from a state that has been removed from the advisory should continue to quarantine for the full 14 days.

Today’s data on Covid-19 is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization – 540 (+5)
• Patients Newly Admitted – 56
• Number ICU – 120 (-7)
• Number ICU with Intubation – 60 (-2)
• Deaths – 6 (Total Deaths – 25,211)
• Of the 77,059 test results reported to New York State yesterday, 667, or 0.86 percent, were positive. The 667 additional cases of novel coronavirus bring the statewide total to 422,003 confirmed cases in New York State.

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Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

BATAVIA – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) is announcing a $1 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services has been awarded to the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (GCASA).

“I am pleased to announce that this great local organization is receiving a grant to further combat alcohol and drug addiction, and the opioid crisis in our community,” Jacobs said. “While our nation has focused on fighting another public health battle, substance abuse has continued to hurt our communities. That is why the work the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse is critical to our region. I am proud to see this funding go to an organization working to make our communities safer for all members, and I am committed to continuing our efforts to end the substance abuse and opioid epidemic.”

The grant was awarded through a $101 million grant program through the Department of Health and Human Services to combat substance abuse disorders (SUD) and opioid use disorders (OUD). This grant program supports 116 organizations in over 42 states – the grant is intended to expand and enhance service delivery for SUD and OUD in rural communities.

“This grant will allow GCASA to continue a multi-fold aim of removing barriers to recovery and improved quality of life for people suffering from alcohol and other drug problems,” said GCASA Executive Director John Bennett. “Far too long, we have treated addiction only as an acute disease when, in fact, it is a chronic long-term health condition.

“While treatment is a guiding force to assist individuals in establishing abstinence and getting them on the path to recovery, it does not address how to sustain individuals and families in recovery over long periods,” Bennett said. “Grants like this will help build the recovery supports and address the social determinants of health to overcome the long-term effects of addiction. It is designed to break down the barriers to long-term recovery so people can manage their own conditions over time and build on the resources needed for sustained recovery.”

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Orleans County is reporting two new Covid-19 cases today, bringing the county’s total to 282 people who have tested positive.

The new confirmed cases includes residents of Carlton and Ridgeway, with one in the 40s and the other in the 50s.

The county also is reporting four more recoveries in the community, bringing that total to 126, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

Orleans also have 7 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

In Genesee County, there are no new confirmed and three more people have recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 205.

Genesee also has 40 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

One person in Genesee is hospitalized with Covid-19.

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

• Statewide: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced 476 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 421,336 confirmed cases. The 476 new cases are out of 54,002 test results reported to New York State yesterday, for a 0.88 percent positive rate.

Statewide there are 535 hospitalized with Covid-19 (down by 13), 127 in ICU (down by 4), 62 in ICY with intubation (down by 4) and two more deaths from Covid-19, bringing the state total to 25,204.

“Our numbers reflect the work of everyone in this state, and the number of ICU patients and hospitalizations have reached new lows again,” Cuomo said. “That is extraordinary given where we were just a few months ago.”

• New Mask PSA: The Governor also released a new Public Service Announcement, reminding their neighbors to wear a mask and help stop the spread of coronavirus. Click here to see it.

The new highlights the effective use of masks during the 1918 deadly Influenza Pandemic that infected 500 million people – a third of the world’s population. The advertisement features archival photos of the use of masks during the 1918 outbreak, which was crucial to preventing the spread of the deadly virus, to inspire Americans to wear masks today. This new PSA is one in a series launched by the governor to inform the public on the importance of wearing masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“All the data and science show that masks work, and it is essential that everyone wear a mask to protect one another and further prevent the spread of Covid-19,” Cuomo said. “Our message is simple: I wear a mask to protect you and you wear a mask to protect me.”

From the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

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

Those violating could be subject to a judicial order and mandatory quarantine and potential fines.

• 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.

• Waiting for Testing Results:  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.

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Provided photo: Nancy Ciavarri, MD, serves as chief medical officer for Oak Orchard Health.

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

BROCKPORT – National Health Center Week (August 9 – 15) is an annual celebration with the goal of raising awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s health centers over the past five decades. This year is extra special for Oak Orchard Health as they recognize this special week for the first time with their three new locations that were formerly part of Pembroke Family Medicine.

The mission of Community Health Centers remains vital today because access to basic care remains a challenge in parts of the United States including our community. Many people live in remote and underserved communities where there is a shortage of providers and, in many cases, the nearest doctor or hospital can be as far as a 50-mile drive – if transportation is available.

While COVID-19 continues to impair social and medical inequities across the country, Community Health Centers have stretched themselves to reconfigure services for those in need. As unemployment rates rise and more people lose their employee-sponsored health insurance, Community Health Centers have remained open to provide care for all, regardless of insurance status.

“Community Health Centers are here to support the community. Our presence is even more important as people face high unemployment and employer-based healthcare decreases. Oak Orchard Health is able to serve all who need medical, dental, vision, or behavioral health services,” said Mary Ann Pettibon, CEO, Oak Orchard Health

This year’s mission for Health Center Week is to thank our providers and staff along with our patients. Given we’re practicing social distancing, we’ll be using social media to communicate with patients on staying healthy during this time.

Oak Orchard Health

Originally founded in 1966, Oak Orchard has grown from a migrant health project into an integrated health center with multiple locations providing health care services for everyone located in the communities we serve. Currently serving over 30,000 patients at nine locations, Oak Orchard Health is a recognized patient-centered medical home and 501(c) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) located in the towns of Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Lyndonville, Hornell and Warsaw.

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State has fewest people in ICU from Covid-19 since March 16

Gov. Andrew Cuomo today said the state has lowest percentage of people testing positive for Covid-19 since the pandemic gripped the state in March.

New York on Saturday reported 515 new cases of Covid-19 out of 65,812 tests, a 0.78 percent positive rate.

The state also had 131 people in intensive care due to Covid-19, which is the lowest since March 16, the governor said.

“Our daily numbers remain low and steady, despite increasing infection rates across the country, and even in our region – and we had the lowest one-day positive rate since we started. That’s an incredible achievement, all thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers,” Cuomo said. “New York’s progress shows that a data-driven, phased reopening works. We have followed the data since day one, and now we are an example for the rest of the country to follow. But we must not become complacent: Everyone should continue to wear their masks and socially distance.”

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Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Map from NYS Wildlife Rabies Vaccination Program and NYS Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University.

On behalf of Wildlife Services of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have been notified that they will be distributing the ONRAB oral wildlife rabies vaccine on the western parts of our counties. This program has been in Niagara and Erie counties for several years and has been expanded to include our counties.

This rabies vaccine bait will be air-dropped by a fixed wing plane or a helicopter potentially starting Aug. 11 weather permitting through late August. The ONRAB bait is in a PVC blister pack that contains the rabies vaccine. The bait is coated with a sweet attractant that includes vegetable-based fats, wax, icing sugar, vegetable oil, artificial marshmallow flavor, and dark-green food-grade dye to attract wildlife.

These baits do not contain the live rabies virus and cannot cause rabies. If found near your home, keep children away from it, use gloves or a plastic bag to move the bait to a wooded area where a raccoon, skunk, fox or coyote will be more likely to find it. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after any contact with the bait.

The bait will not hurt your dog or cat as it has been shown to be safe in many different species of animals, including dogs and cats. Eating a large number of baits may cause a temporarily upset stomach for your pet. Do not attempt to remove a bait from your pet’s mouth, doing so may cause you to be bitten and could lead to vaccine exposure. If your pet becomes ill from eating the bait, contact your veterinarian for more information.

The baits are generally eaten within 4 days, and almost all baits are gone in 1 week. If baits are not found and eaten, they will dissolve and expose the vaccine. Sunlight and exposure to air inactivates the vaccine.

For more information about this program call 1-866-487-3297 to speak with staff from Wildlife Services or visit the web: www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife-damage/rabies.

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