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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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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