Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the State Department of Health will host a statewide webinar tomorrow for all healthcare providers to discuss the symptoms, testing and care of reported inflammatory disease in children related to Covid-19.
The State is currently investigating approximately 102 reported cases in New York where children – predominantly school-aged – are experiencing these symptoms possibly due to Covid-19. The illness has taken the lives of three young New Yorkers, including a 5-year old in New York City, a 7-year old in Westchester County and a teenager in Suffolk County.
Of these cases, 60 percent of the children displaying these symptoms tested positive for Covid-19 and 40 percent tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies. Additionally, 71 percent of the cases have resulted in ICU admission, 19 percent of cases have resulted in intubation and 43 percent of the cases remain hospitalized.
“We must stay alert with this virus because we’re still learning, and what we thought we knew doesn’t always turn out to be true,” Governor Cuomo said. “When we first started with this virus, we were told children are not affected, which was a great sigh of relief. But now we’re finding out that may not be 100 percent accurate because we’re seeing cases where children who may have been infected with the Covid virus show symptoms of an inflammatory disease like the Kawasaki disease or toxic shock-like syndrome. New York State has been aggressively investigating these new cases and is leading the efforts on this nationwide, and the more we know the more we know, the more we’ll communicate.”
New Yorkers should seek immediate care if a child has:
Predominant Symptoms:
Prolonged fever (more than five days)
Severe abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting
Bloodshot eyes
Skin rash
Other Symptoms:
Change in skin color – becoming pale, patchy and/or blue
Difficulty feeding (infants) or is too sick to drink fluids
Trouble breathing or is breathing very quickly
Racing heart or chest pain
Lethargy, irritability or confusion
New York State is leading the national effort to find out more about this illness related to Covid-19 in children. Governor Cuomo yesterday directed hospitals statewide to prioritize Covid-19 testing for children displaying symptoms similar to an atypical Kawasaki disease and toxic shock-like syndrome.
At the request of the CDC, the state is helping to develop the national criteria for identifying and responding to Covid-related illness. New York State has notified 49 other states across the country of emerging cases of Covid-related illness in children, and now 14 other states and five European countries have reported cases as well.
The State Department of Health is also partnering with the NY Genome Center and Rockefeller University to conduct a genome and RNA sequencing study to better understand Covid-related illnesses in children and the possible genetic basis of this syndrome.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 May 2020 at 3:11 pm
ALBION – Oak Orchard Health has been awarded $449,314 in emergency funding from the federal government to do Covid-19 testing.
It is part of $16,790,380 in federal funding to help health centers in Upstate New York respond to and contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced.
The funding will help health centers purchase, administer, and expand the use of Covid-19 testing. The funding was allocated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing (ECT) program.
Oak Orchard Health has centers in Albion, Lyndonville, Brockport, Warsaw and Hornell. Orleans Hub has reached out to Oak Orchard Health to see which sites the testing will be offered and when it be available.
“Testing is essential to our Covid-19 response and to the successful reopening of the Upstate economy without triggering a second wave of infections,” said Senator Schumer. “This funding provides the essential expansion of testing needed to beat back the virus and for life to go back to normal. I am proud to have secured this vital funding for New York and will continue to fight tooth and nail for a fully-funded testing strategy that keeps New Yorkers safe.”
“To contain the spread of this disease and safely reopen schools and businesses, we must make COVID-19 testing widely available for all Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Our state has faced more cases of COVID-19 than any other state and this critical funding will make testing and treatment more accessible in Upstate New York. As we fight to flatten the curve, I will continue to advocate for the resources needed during this pandemic.”
NY investigating about 100 reported cases of Covid-related illness in children
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed hospitals statewide to prioritize Covid-19 testing for children displaying symptoms similar to an atypical Kawasaki disease and toxic shock-like syndrome.
The State is currently investigating approximately 100 reported cases in New York where children – predominantly school-aged – are experiencing these symptoms possibly due to Covid-19. The illness has taken the lives of three young New Yorkers, including a 5-year old in New York City, a 7-year old in Westchester County and a teenager in Suffolk County.
“We have been behind this virus every step of the way and even as we are now beginning to see the numbers on the decline, the virus is still surprising us,” Governor Cuomo said. “Initially we thought Covid-19 didn’t affect children, and now we’re dealing with a disturbing issue where we have about 100 cases of an inflammatory disease in children that seems to be created by the virus. New York is leading the investigation of this situation and we are advising all hospitals and medical providers to prioritize diagnostic testing for any children that are displaying symptoms of this illness.”
New Yorkers should seek immediate care if a child has:
Prolonged fever (more than five days)
Difficulty feeding (infants) or is too sick to drink fluids
Severe abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting
Change in skin color – becoming pale, patchy and/or blue
Trouble breathing or is breathing very quickly
Racing heart or chest pain
Decreased amount of frequency in urine
Lethargy, irritability or confusion
At the request of the CDC, the state is helping to develop the national criteria for identifying and responding to Covid-related illness. The State Department of Health is also partnering with the NY Genome Center and Rockefeller University to conduct a genome and RNA sequencing study to better understand Covid-related illnesses in children and the possible genetic basis of this syndrome. New York State is also notifying 49 other states across the country of emerging cases of Covid-related illness in children.
At the direction of Governor Cuomo, the State Department of Health has issued an advisory about this serious inflammatory disease, called “Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome Associated with Covid-19,” to inform healthcare providers of the condition, as well as to provide guidance for testing and reporting. Health care providers, including hospitals, are required to report to the Department of Health all cases of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome potentially associated with Covid-19 in those under 21 years of age.
Though most children who get Covid-19 experience only mild symptoms, in the United Kingdom, a possible link has also been reported between pediatric COVID-19 and serious inflammatory disease. The inflammatory syndrome has features which overlap with Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome and may occur days to weeks after acute Covid-19 illness. It can include persistent fever, abdominal symptoms, rash, and even cardiovascular symptoms requiring intensive care.
Early recognition by pediatricians and referral to a specialist including to critical care is essential. Molecular and serological testing for Covid-19 in children exhibiting the above symptoms is recommended.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2020 at 4:50 pm
1 more death reported at The Villages of Orleans, which now has 19 due to virus
Orleans County has eight more confirmed cases of Covid-19, with five of those new cases at a state-owned group home for people with disabilities in Ridgeway. (That group home also had a positive test over the weekend and has six total cases of Covid-19.)
There has also been one more death of a resident at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center. That nursing home in Albion has now suffered 19 deaths due to Covid-19, the Genesee and Orleans Health Departments reported. The Villages also has one more confirmed case of Covid-19, bringing that total to 75.
The Health Departments also reported the first case of Covid-19 at Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina.
The eight new cases reported today for the county bring the total of people to test positive to 142 in Orleans County.
Of the new positive cases, one individual is in the 20s, three people are in their 30s, one in the 50s, one in the 60s, one in the 80s and one person is in the 90s.
Two of the previous positive cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation. That brings the total recoveries in the community to 42, not counting the recoveries in facilities not regulated by the local Health Department (nursing homes).
Ten of the total active positive cases are hospitalized. Please note those in the hospital may be from the community or a state-regulated facility
In Genesee County, there is one more confirmed case of Covid-19 for a total of 165 positive cases. The new positive case resides in Batavia and is a person in the 30s.
The newly positive individual was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic. Five of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.
Click here to view the map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
The facility breakdown is only showing those facilities from where the Health Departments were notified of a positive swab for Covid-19. Facilities will be added if there is a positive case of Covid-19.
If a regulated facility from either county is not listed, there are no positive cases of Covid-19. The local health departments do not have oversight with many regulated facilities, which may include nursing homes, correctional facilities, hospitals, etc.
More information from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• Finger Lakes Region to Re-open New York’s first phase beginning on Friday. If you have questions about New York Forward and Business Re-opening, click here.
Be advised the local health departments are not the gatekeepers in these next steps. We are not reviewing/approving plans and we don’t have the ability to make decisions on who is or isn’t a part of the first phase nor have we been provided with guidance on interpreting who is and isn’t included.
• The first phase In order to un-PAUSE safely, we need to continue to be intentional about social distancing, properly wearing face coverings, handwashing/sanitizing and limiting time in public. Please click here for a re-opening guidance and fact sheet in response to Covid-19 developed by the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
For further information on the NYS Plans, click here.
• Business Safety Precautions:
Each business and industry must have a plan to protect employees and consumers, make the physical work space safer and implement processes that lower risk of infection in the business. In developing these plans, businesses will need to consider three main factors.
• The first factor is protections for employees and customers. These include possible adjustments to workplace hours and shift design as necessary to reduce density in the workplace; enacting social distancing protocols, and restricting non-essential travel for employees.
• The second is changes to the physical workspace, including requiring all employees and customers to wear masks if in frequent close contact with others and implementing strict cleaning and sanitation standards.
• The last factor for businesses to consider is implementing processes that meet our changing public health obligations, like screening individuals when they enter the workplace, or reporting confirmed positives to customers. While these processes will vary from business to business, almost everyone will have to adapt, in some way or another, to our new normal.
• ROC COVID-19 Health Screener: This symptom tracker for the Greater Rochester region is a scientific study collected aggregate data by zip code to track hot spots of COVID-19. The data will potentially show how the virus may be spreading, identify areas that may be at risk and determine how our efforts are working to slow the spread.
You can participate by taking the daily survey whether you are having symptoms or are feeling healthy. It just takes a few seconds. Click here for more information.
Press Release, 914th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force graphic by 2nd Lt. Lucas Morrow: A 914th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 out of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station along with F-35s from the 158th Fighter Wing from the Vermont Air National Guard are scheduled to fly over parts of Western New York today to salute all frontline Covid-19 healthcare workers, emergency responders, and essential employees.
NIAGARA FALLS – A formation of Western New York & New England-based U.S. Air Force aircraft are scheduled to fly over parts of Western New York on May 12, 2020, starting at approximately 11:45 a.m.
(Editor’s Note: The route starts at Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport but the planes are expected to be visible from Medina Memorial Hospital at about 11:30 a.m.)
Following routine training operations, a KC-135 from the 914th Air Refueling Wing’s 328th Air Refueling Squadron at NFARS and F-35s from the Vermont Air National Guard will honor all of those working on the front lines during the Covid-19 crisis.
The 328th ARS Director of Operations, Lt. Col. Ben Canetti, says the aircraft were granted final approval to fly in the restricted airspace above the city of Niagara Falls.
“There’s a lot of limitations when planning a flyover to ensure the safest environment possible,” says Canetti. “None of this would have been possible without the help of the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Transport Canada, and Buffalo Approach Control. We wish we could visit every location across Western New York but we’re limited to time, resources and fuel.”
Canetti says the route was based on population density to safely fly over as many locations as possible before being required to return to base.
“If we could fly over all of Western New York, we would. This is our salute to everyone in Western New York that’s in this fight,” says Canetti.
The flyover is directly following required aerial refueling training operations for the two wings. The formation is scheduled to start at approximately 11:45 a.m. over Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport, followed by Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, Niagara Falls International Airport, DeGraff Memorial Hospital, University at Buffalo, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Buffalo Niagara International Airport, St. Joseph Campus, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo General Medical Center, John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Erie County Medical Center & Sisters of Charity Hospital, VA Western New York Healthcare System, Kenmore Mercy Hospital and ending at approximately 12:15 p.m. over Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.
These are just a few of the many healthcare, emergency response and essential personnel organizations that are along the flight path that will be able to view the flyover salute. We encourage everyone to continue to practice social distancing when viewing the flyover in your area. Times and locations are subject to change.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2020 at 4:39 pm
Health Departments won’t be reviewing business plans for reopening in phase one
Orleans County has two more confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the county’s total to 134, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.
One of the new cases is a Ridgeway resident and the other is a resident of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion. That nursing home has now had 73 of its residents test positive for Covid-19.
Of the two new positive cases, one person is in the 50s and the other is in the 90s.
Ten people are currently hospitalized from Orleans County with Covid-19.
In Genesee County, there is one new confirmed case of Covid-19, a person from Batavia who is in the 30s. The newly positive individual was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
Two more people have recovered from Covid-19 in Genesee, bringing the total recoveries to 93 in the community. (That doesn’t count the 49 people who have recovered from Covid-19 at the federal detention center in Batavia).
There are five people from Genesee hospitalized with Covid-19. The Health Departments are also reporting that one “positive/recovered” individual was determined to be a false-positive result. Therefore, the total positive case number will be one less and has been adjusted in the data.
Click here to view an online map about confirmed cases in Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties.
The facility breakdown is only showing those facilities from where the Health Departments have received a positive swab for Covid-19. Facilities will be added if there is a positive case of Covid-19.
If a regulated facility from either of our counties is not listed, there are no positive cases of Covid-19. The local health departments do not have oversight with many regulated facilities, which may include nursing homes, correctional facilities and hospitals.
Additional information from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
• REOPENING – We are pleased to receive word of being included in the Finger Lakes Region to re-open New York’s first phase beginning this Friday, May 15.
Be advised the local health departments are not the gatekeepers in these next steps. We are not reviewing /approving plans and we don’t have the ability to make decisions on who is or isn’t a part of the first phase nor have we been provided with guidance on interpreting who is and who isn’t included. We have included several links to assist with planning and contact information for your reference on how to re-open for those slated to in phase one.
• In order to un-PAUSE safely, we need to continue to be intentional about social distancing, properly wearing face coverings, handwashing/sanitizing and limiting time in public.
Please click here for a re-opening guidance and fact sheet in response to Covid-19 developed by the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. For further information on the NYS Plans, click here and the phased plan to re-open New York (click here):
Priority Industries for Re-Opening:
Phase One: Construction; Manufacturing & wholesale supply chain; Select retail using curbside pickup only; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting
Phase Two: Professional services; Finance & Insurance; Retail; Administrative support; Real Estate & Rental Leasing
Phase Four: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Education
• ROC COVID-19 Health Screener: This symptom tracker for the Greater Rochester region is a scientific study collected aggregate date by zip code to track hot spots of COVID-19. The data will potentially show how the virus may be spreading, identify areas that may be at risk and determine how our efforts are working to slow the spread. You can participate by taking the daily survey whether you are having symptoms or are feeling healthy. It just takes a few seconds. To learn more, click here.
• New York State is seeking contact tracers. If you are interested in this position, click here to apply to be a part of the NYS Contact Tracing team. This is a moment of crisis and New York needs our help as soon as possible.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 May 2020 at 4:09 pm
ALBION – The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion has suffered another death of a resident due to Covid-19, and two more people have tested positive for the virus, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
The Villages has now had 18 of its residents die from Covid-19, and 72 residents at the nursing home have now tested positive.
“Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this individual during this very sad time,” the Health Departments stated in a news release.
Orleans County also had one other person test positive for Covid-19 outside of The Villages. That brings the county’s total confirmed cases of Covid-19 to 132.
Genesee County also has an additional confirmed case today, bringing the total to 164 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in Genesee.
Contact tracing has been initiated and all who have had direct contact with the individuals will be notified by Health Department staff.
There is currently no further information to release on ages and location. Mapping to include the positive cases from the weekend will be updated on Monday afternoon.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 May 2020 at 2:23 pm
Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced new rules for nursing homes during the Coivd-19 pandemic. All nursing home staff must be tested at least twice weekly for the virus.
Hospitals also cannot discharge a patient to a nursing home until that patient has tested negative for Covid-19.
The governor has been criticized for a policy that required nursing homes to accept Covid-19 patients. But the governor said the media has done a “disservice” in its reporting on the issue.
Cuomo said nursing homes were only required to accept Covid-19 residents if the nursing homes could properly care for them. The staff needed to have enough personal protective equipment, they needed to be able to isolate patients, and staff caring for Covid-19 positive residents shouldn’t then care for residents who were negative for the virus.
About 5,000 nursing home residents have died in the state from Covid-19, including 17 in Orleans County at a nursing home in Albion. Cuomo said the state has the highest number of nursing home residents in the nation at 101,518.
If a nursing home can not provide adequate care for Covid-positive residents then they must transfer the resident. “Period,” the governor said today.
That was always the directive and that remains the requirement from the state, Cuomo said during his daily news conference.
If a nursing home fails to follow the directive from the state, it will lose its license, Cuomo said.
The governor said hospitals now have plenty of capacity to treat Covid patients and shouldn’t feel pressure to discharge patients so more beds can be available. Keeping those patients in hospitals until they test negative will ease the burden on nursing homes, Cuomo said.
Nursing homes, if they can’t meet the state standards for care, should call the Department of Health which will find a facility for any the Covid-19 positive person.
“It’s not like a situation where there are no options,” Cuomo said. “We have options and we want to use them. So if there’s any reason why you can’t provide appropriate care let us know and we will put them in a facility that has it.”
UPDATED at 3:55 p.m.: The Governor’s Office released more detailed information about the new directives:
• The Executive Order mandates that all nursing homes and adult care facilities test all personnel for Covid-19 two times per week and report any positive test results to the State Department of Health by the next day. The Executive Order also mandates that hospitals cannot discharge a patient to a nursing home unless that patient tests negative for Covid-19.
• All nursing home and adult care facility administrators will be required to submit a plan on how they will accomplish this testing and a certificate of compliance with this Executive Order to the State Department of Health by Friday, May 15.
• Any nursing home or adult care facility found to be in violation of the Executive Order may have its operating certificate suspended or revoked or may be subject to a penalty for non-compliance of $2,000 per violation per day. Additionally, any personnel who refuse to be tested for Covid-19 will be considered to have outdated or incomplete health assessments and therefore will be prohibited from working in the nursing home or adult care facility until testing is performed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 May 2020 at 5:23 pm
There are five more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County, including two more at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion
There are also three other cases in the community, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
The five new cases brings the total number to 129 who have tested positive for the virus in Orleans County. The Villages has now had 70 of the residents test positive for the virus.
The other three cases bring the number of positive cases outside the nursing home to 59.
Genesee County also has one more confirmed case, bringing the total to 163 in Genesee, the Health Departments reporting.
Contact tracing has been initiated and all who have had direct contact with the individuals will be notified by Health Department staff.
There is currently no further information to release on ages and location. Mapping to include the positive cases from the weekend will be updated on Monday afternoon, the Health Departments said.
The health officials urged people to practice social distancing on Mother’s Day, and to be vigilant about handwashing, clean frequently used surfaces, properly wear cloth face coverings over the mouth and nose, and keep hands away from the face.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 May 2020 at 10:01 pm
Schumer, Gillibrand announce money for rural hospitals
MEDINA – Orleans Community Health, the parent organization of Medina Memorial Hospital, will receive $3,492,000 in federal funding to help in the fight against Covid-19, U.S. senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced today.
The money for Orleans Community Health is among $264 million in federal funds for rural hospitals, clinics and community health centers. The money was allocated by Health and Human Services to combat the coronavirus, Schumer and Gillibrand said.
“This funding is good news for our rural hospitals and health centers throughout Upstate New York that have been fighting to save lives and simultaneously struggling to make ends meet during the ongoing public health crisis,” Schumer said. “Our rural Upstate hospitals and providers have been New York’s heroes in the battle against Covid-19 and these critical dollars will help keep the fight against the virus going strong.”
Other nearby rural hospitals to receive funding include $5,064,000 for United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, $4,228,000 for Wyoming County Community Health System in Warsaw, and $4,192,000 in Dansville.
“Even before this pandemic rural health care providers were struggling to stay afloat and it’s critical that they have immediate access to capital, grant, and loan programs as they combat Covid-19 in New York’s most affected areas,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Rural hospitals, clinics, and community health centers provide a wide-range of services to some of our most vulnerable populations and they ensure every community has access to quality health care, especially in times of public health emergencies.”
During the CARES Act negations, Schumer pushed the administration to provide this vital $10 billion for rural hospitals and health centers nationally as part of $175 billion Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund he championed and is in addition from the $1.4 billion from the PHSSEF he announced last week.
The Senator explained that with nearly 74,000 confirmed cases in Upstate New York, rural hospitals and healthcare systems are facing financial difficulty and need immediate federal assistance to avoid layoffs and furloughs of healthcare staff who are vital to maintaining the frontline against Covid-19.
“Hospitals across New York state are experiencing unprecedented financial strains as they work to battle the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Bea Grause, president of the Healthcare Association of New York State. “This week’s targeted funding is a lifeline for our rural hospitals. We are tremendously grateful to Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for their continuous work to infuse critical funding into New York and ensure that our rural and hot spot hospitals across the state are not left behind as a result of this pandemic.”
Health Department urges social distancing on Mothers’ Day
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
There are no new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans, while two more people have recovered. There are now 40 recoveries. The county has 124 confirmed cases.
Seven of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.
“We are reporting that an individual (under 65 years of age) who lived in The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center passed away. Due to privacy issues, we are not releasing further details about this individual. I would like to express my sincerest sympathy for these individuals’ family and friends.”
Orleans County has now had 18 people die from Covid-19, including 17 residents at The Villages.
Genesee County received 1 new positive case of Covid-19 for a total of 162 positive cases. The positive case resides in Batavia and is a person is in the 80s. The newly positive individual was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
One of the previous positive cases has recovered and has been released from mandatory isolation, bringing the total recoveries in the community to 91.
Five of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.
Click here to view the online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
The facility breakdown is only showing those facilities from where we received a positive swab for Covid-19. Facilities will be added when and if there is a positive case of Covid-19.
If a regulated facility from either of our counties is not listed, there are no positive cases of Covid-19 as of the release of this briefing. The local health departments do not have oversight with many regulated facilities, which may include nursing homes, correctional facilities, hospitals, etc.
• The Nursing Home hotline number is 833-249-8499 or click here for the online form.
Covid-19 Serology Testing (SARS-CoV-2): Serology tests look for antibodies (proteins that fight off infections) in the blood to better understand how many Covid-19 infections have occurred. Provides a more complete estimate of how common Covid-19 is (or the incidence of infection) and is a guide to control measures, such as social distancing.
• 44 residents of Orleans County had the Serology Test for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) and 4 returned positive. 336 residents of Genesee County had the Serology Test for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) and 12 returned positive.
• Serology tests are not used for diagnosis. These tests are more for research to help in the development of vaccines and in understanding the scale of the pandemic.
• The tests look for the antibodies in the blood. If antibodies are found it means there has been a previous infection. It takes 1-2 weeks after the first symptoms appear for antibodies to develop in the body.
• Antibodies can take 2-3 weeks after infection to develop, so people should not get the antibody test too early or it may give false negative results. This is an aid in identifying individuals with an adaptive immune response to Covid-19, indicating recent or prior infection. There are also several different strains of coronavirus and the antibody may pick up a different coronavirus type other than the current pandemic novel strain, causing positive for coronavirus antibodies. Not everyone will develop an antibody response.
• It is currently unknown if someone who has been infected with Covid-19 will be immune to the virus if exposed in the future.
Nurses’ Week – we would like to take a moment to thank our nursing teams in both counties as well as all the nurses who are working so hard to help those under their care. They daily provide care, instruction, encouragement, compassion, and strength to the patients and their families they are in contact with. We greatly appreciate all you do every day no matter if it is a routine day or in the midst of a pandemic, thank you!
Mothers’ Day: As with any special holiday, it is important during Covid-19 we continue social distancing. This is not the time to be having barbecues, large family gatherings.
Honor your moms creatively by facetiming, sending them some special treats, calling on the phone, but if you don’t live in the same household, honor them from a distance. Keep your moms healthy and safe and stay 6 feet away. We don’t want to see a rise in positive cases because people didn’t heed social distancing.
Prepping for Re-opening Our Region: The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have developed a guide to use in developing business or organizations re-opening plans. Please click here for a re-opening guidance and fact sheet.
For further information on the NYS Plans, click here.
Priority Industries for Re-Opening:
Phase One:Construction; Manufacturing & wholesale supply chain; Select retail using curbside pickup only
Phase Two: Professional services; Finance & Insurance; Retail; Administrative support; Real Estate & Rental Leasing
Phase Four: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Education
• Swabbing and antibody testing is becoming increasingly available in the WNY region. If you are experiencing symptoms, contact your primary care provider and they will determine if testing is right for you. If the counties receive an increase in swabbing supplies and the protocol for testing is changed, we will notify the public. The Health Departments are not providing public swabbing due to lack of supplies. For more information on testing click here.
• There is still no cure or vaccination available for Covid-19. Be alert to scams or home remedies. Contact your primary care provider if you have any symptoms and follow his/her instructions.
• In order to un-PAUSE safely, we need to continue to be intentional about social distancing, properly wearing face coverings, handwashing/sanitizing and limiting time in public. As seen over the last week there have been increases in community spread cases of Covid-19.
• If we see a significant increase in community acquired positive cases it may hinder our ability to move forward and re-open our counties. It is up to each of us individually to adhere to the guidelines in place, this is about respecting others and their safety understanding as we protect others we are protecting ourselves.
Do No Harm and Strengthen Healthcare System – Based on CDC recommendations, regions must experience a 14-day decline in hospitalizations and deaths on a 3-day rolling average. Regions with few Covid cases cannot exceed 15 new total cases or 5 new deaths on a 3-day rolling average. A region must have fewer than two new Covid patients admitted per 100,000 residents per day.
Testing and Contact Tracing – Regions must implement a testing regimen that prioritizes symptomatic persons and individuals who came into contact with a symptomatic person, and conducts frequent tests of frontline and essential workers. Every region must have the capacity to conduct 30 diagnostic tests for every 1,000 residents per month.
New York State is seeking contact tracers. If you are interested in this position, click here for more information to apply to be a part of the NYS Contact Tracing team. This is a moment of crisis and New York needs our help as soon as possible.
ROC Covid-19 Health Screener: This symptom tracker for the Greater Rochester region is a scientific study collected aggregate date by zip code to track hot spots of Covid-19. The data will potentially show how the virus may be spreading, identify areas that may be at risk and determine how our efforts are working to slow the spread.
You can participate by taking the daily survey whether you are having symptoms or are feeling healthy. It just takes a few seconds. To learn more, click here.
Mental Health: Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations and having to socially distance yourself from someone you love can be difficult. Below are resources that can help you connect to a professional that can help you through these challenging times:
• Care + Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 at 585-283-5200 or text ‘Talk’ to 741741
• New Yorkers can call the Covid-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.
Domestic Violence: For New Yorkers in need of help or assistance, they can text 844-997-2121 or can go to the new confidential online site to reach a professional at www.opdv.ny.gov.
The new text program and confidential online service will make it easier for victims who are isolated with their abusers to get help. Both the text and online service are staffed 24/7 by the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Staff who are experts in the area of domestic violence.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 May 2020 at 5:37 pm
One more death reported at Albion nursing home due to Covid-19
ALBION – The New York State Department of Health will be testing all residents and staff at The Village of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center, where there has been a big outbreak of Covid-19.
The facility has 68 confirmed cases of Covid-19 among its residents. Today, another death was reported at The Villages, bringing the total deaths due to Covid-19 to 17.
The DOH will likely do the testing mid-week, said Paul Pettit, the county’s public health director. The tests should identify people with the virus, including those without symptoms. Staff members can then be quarantined and removed from the facility to reduce the chances of the virus continuing to spread, Pettit said today after his weekly 4 p.m. news briefing.
The county on Thursday evening also received 307 testing kits to be shared among the two other long-term care facilities in Orleans – the North Wing at Medina Memorial Hospital and Orchard Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina. All of the residents and staff will be tested at those sites, which aren’t facing a Covid-19 outbreak.
Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman, said she is grateful for the increased testing. The Legislature has asked for the state Department of Health and Attorney General’s Office to investigate the “terrible situation” at The Villages.
Johnson also said the county is pressing the state for a mobile testing site like in the other neighboring counties.
“We are also requesting that New York State add a mobile testing site here so our residents don’t have to drive 45 minutes to get tested,” Johnson said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 May 2020 at 4:17 pm
2 more deaths reported, including 1 in community and 1 at The Villages
Orleans County has 15 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, the biggest one-day increase for the county.
Ten of those new confirmed cases are at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion, where there have now been 68 confirmed cases.
The Villages also suffered another death of a resident, for 16 deaths now due to the virus at the 120-bed nursing home in Albion.
The county also had its first death from Covid-19 outside of the nursing home, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon. That person had underlying health issues, the Health Departments reported.
“Due to privacy issues, we are not releasing further details about either of these individuals,” Public Health Director Paul Pettit stated in a news release. “I would like to express my sincerest sympathy for these individuals’ family and friends.”
The 15 new positive cases of Covid-19 bring the county’s total to 124 positive cases. That includes 38 people who have recovered.
The five new community cases include a resident in each of the following towns: Albion, Gaines, Kendall, Shelby and Yates.
Of the 15 new cases, the age ranges for the people who tested positive include two people in their 30s, one in the 50s, four in the 60s, three in the 70s, five in the 80s, and one in the 90s.
One of the community newly positive individuals was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic. Eight of the cases include people who are currently hospitalized.
In Genesee County, there are four new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 161 positive cases.
Two of the new positive cases are people who reside in Batavia, while one resides in Bethany, and the other lives in the Town of Alabama.
Two of the people are in their 30s, one is in the 40s, and other is in the 50s.
Three of the newly positive individuals were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
Genesee had two more people recover from the virus, bringing the total recoveries to 90.
Five people are currently hospitalized from Covid-19.
Click here to view the online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
The facility breakdown is only showing those facilities with a positive swab for Covid-19. Facilities will be added if there is a positive case of Covid-19.
If a regulated facility from either of the counties is not listed, there are no positive cases of Covid-19. The local health departments do not have oversight with many regulated facilities, which may include nursing homes, correctional facilities and hospitals.
• In order to un-PAUSE safely, the Health Departments urge residents to continue to be intentional about social distancing, properly wearing face coverings, handwashing/sanitizing and limiting time in public.
As seen over the last week there have been daily increases in community spread cases of Covid-19.
“If we see a significant increase in community-acquired positive cases it may hinder our ability to move forward and re-open our counties,” the Health Departments said. “It is up to each of us individually to adhere to the guidelines in place. This is about respecting others and their safety, understanding as we protect others we are protecting ourselves.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 May 2020 at 4:37 pm
15 residents have now died at nursing home in Albion from coronavirus
The local health department is reporting one more death from Covid-19 at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion. That brings the total confirmed deaths due to coronavirus at the nursing home to 15.
“Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this individual at this very sad time,” the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said in a news release this afternoon.
There is also one more confirmed case of Covid-19 at The Villages, bringing that total to 58.
The county has four new positive cases of Covid-19, with three others outside of the nursing home. That brings the county’s total positive cases to 109.
None of the three were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
Two of the new positive cases reside in Ridgeway and one of the new positive cases is in Shelby.
Among the four cases, one individual is in the 40s, two are in their 50s and one individual is in the 80s or older, the Health Departments reported.
Genesee County 3 new positive cases of Covid-19 for a total of 157 positive cases.
Two of the positive cases reside in Pembroke and one resides in Batavia. One individual is in the 20s and the other two are in their 30s.
Two of the newly positive individuals were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
Five of the total active positive cases in Genesee County are hospitalized.
“We have removed a ‘positive/recovered’ individual that was determined to be a false-positive result,” the Health Departments said. “Therefore, the total positive case number will be one less and has been adjusted in our data. No further information will be shared.”
The facility breakdown is only showing those facilities from where there has been a positive swab for Covid-19. Facilities will be added when and if there is a positive case of Covid-19.
If a regulated facility from either of our counties is not listed, there are no positive cases of Covid-19. The local health departments do not have oversight with many regulated facilities, which may include nursing homes, correctional facilities and hospitals.
• New York State is seeking contact tracers. If you are interested in this position, click here to apply to be a part of the NYS Contact Tracing team. This is a moment of crisis and New York needs our help as soon as possible.
• The Nursing Home hotline number is 833-249-8499 or click here for the link to the online form.
• Prepping for Re-opening Our Region: The Health Departments have developed a guide to use in developing business or organizations re-opening plans.
Click here for a re-opening guidance and fact sheet in response to Covid-19 developed by the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. For further information on the NYS Plans, click here.
Press Release, Medina Memorial Hospital/Orleans Community Health
MEDINA – We are also pleased to announce that radiology, imaging and cardiac services have resumed at Medina Memorial Hospital by appointment only.
Services include: CT, ultrasound, MRI, mammography, nuclear medicine and cardiology. A script from your physician and insurance authorization are required. Accommodations will be made for high risk individuals at designated times. Please call 585-798-8054 to make an appointment.
Radiology continues to be offered at the Albion Healthcare Center – 14789 Route 31, Albion (585-589-2273) by appointment only.
All patients who enter the hospital or the Albion Health Center will be required to have their temperature taken and will be given a mask.
If you have any questions, please call Erica Chutko, director of Radiology, Imaging and Cardiac Services, at 585-798-8039.
