By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 April 2020 at 6:02 pm
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer announced today that Medina Memorial Hospital (Orleans Community Health) will receive $380,000 in federal funding through the CARES Act.
The money is part of $1.4 billion being directed to hospitals by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
“Our hospitals and providers have been New York’s heroes in the fight against COVID-19, and these critical dollars will help keep the fight against the virus going strong,” Schumer said in a news release. “New York and its hospitals have been on the frontline of the battle against the virus for over a month now and they are struggling. I will fight with everything I’ve got to get New York’s incredible healthcare workforce all the federal support they need to beat back this pandemic.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 April 2020 at 4:34 pm
There are two more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans and also two more people have recovered after being ill from the virus, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting today.
Of the two new cases in Orleans, one person is in the 60s and the other is in the 80s. The Health Department reports the new positive cases include a resident of Waterport and a person from Albion. One of the positive individuals was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
The Health Department said 81 people have now tested positive for the virus, and that includes 42 at the Village of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility in Albion.
The number of people who have recovered from the virus also increased by two, going from 22 to 24.
Eight people are currently hospitalized from Covid-19.
In Genesee County, there are three new positive cases bringing the county’s total to 146. All three live in Batavia with one person in the 20s, one in the 40s and one in the 80s.
One of the newly positive individuals was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
Three more people have recovered from the virus, bringing the total recoveries to 72.
Two people from Genesee are currently hospitalized from Covid-19, while another person in an active case is at a non-hospital regulated facility.
Click here to view the Genesee and Orleans County online map of confirmed cases.
Additional updates and guidelines from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• VIRUS IS PREVALENT LOCALLY: Remember even though the numbers may be high at a specific location, the virus is still moving though our counties. People need to continue frequent handwashing and sanitizing shared surfaces, practicing stay safe at home, social distancing and wearing cloth masks when out in public. This is not the time for gathering at the grocery stores, take-out lines or play dates. This is the time to be kind and think of the health and well-being of others.
• NURSING HOME VIOLATIONS: The NYS Health Department will partner with the State’s Attorney General to investigate nursing home violations. A hotline or online form can be submitted where residents, families, or members of the public can share complaints about nursing homes that have not provided required communications with families about COVID-19 diagnoses or fatalities, nursing home abuse and neglect including failure to follow rules to keep residents safe. The hotline number is 833-249-8499 or click the link for the online form.
• 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 victim 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.
• MASKS: Wearing Masks and social distancing is paramount to preventing flare-ups and mini-outbreaks. Everyone needs to be compliant. Correctly wearing cloth masks is part of a multi-prong approach to stop/slow the spread of COVID-19. We know wearing a face covering is inconvenient and uncomfortable, but it can limit transmission of respiratory germs. The mask traps the droplets before they spread into the environment. Remember wearing a face covering helps to protect others from your potential germs.
• GUIDELINES FOR BUSINESSES: The Health Department encourages stores and businesses to set guidelines that include not allowing patrons to enter if they are not wearing a face covering or wearing it correctly (covering the mouth & nose). Make sure proper signage noting your policy is visible to patrons.
• When the state starts to open up we all have to be diligent for quite some time to prevent the spread of this virus.
• Continue frequent handwashing / hand sanitizing if soap and water are not available.
• Continue frequent sanitizing / cleaning of shared surfaces.
•Continue Social Distancing – staying 6’ away from others.
• Continue Wearing face coverings – wearing face coverings correctly when out in public. The mouth and nose are to be covered and the face covering should be tucked under the chin. Wearing masks is a way of strengthening social distancing.
• Stay HOME if you are sick! Do not go shopping, Do not go to work, Do not go visiting!
• 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.
• Swabbing 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.
• 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
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
Please advise that the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are canceling the anti-rabies immunization clinics scheduled for May to comply with the New York State on PAUSE executive order.
Cats, dogs and ferrets still need to be protected against rabies with a vaccine. Please call your local veterinary practice about how and when to vaccinate your pet.
• The next anti-rabies immunization clinic in Genesee County is scheduled for Aug. 13 at the Genesee County Fairgrounds from 4 to 7 p.m.
• The next anti-rabies immunization clinic in Orleans County is scheduled for Aug. 15 at the town of Shelby Highway Building from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 April 2020 at 4:13 pm
There is one more confirmed case of Covid-19 in Orleans County, bringing the total confirmed cases in the county to 80, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
There aren’t any new cases in Genesee, which has had 143 confirmed cases.
Contact tracing has been initiated in Orleans County and all who have had direct contact with the individual who tested positive 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 stated in a news release.
“We continue to encourage our residents to be vigilant about handwashing, cleaning frequently used surfaces, properly wearing cloth face coverings over the mouth and nose, keeping your hands away from your face, limiting time out in public and when you do need to go out for essentials you designate one person from your household, keep social distancing and stay home if you are sick,” the departments stated in the news release.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 April 2020 at 1:00 pm
‘All of these super-sick patients are sick because of Covid.’ – Kandace Pierce
Provided photos: Kandace Pierce, left, and a coworker wear their protective gear while working with Covid-19 patients at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Cheektowaga. Pierce, an Albion resident, has been working 12-hour shifts with Covid-19 patients since March 26.
An ICU nurse from Albion has been on the front lines the past month treating Covid-19 patients at a hospital in Cheektowaga.
Kandace Pierce, 33, works 12-hour night shifts at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Cheektowaga. It was made a Covid-19 only hospital by Catholic Health with a capacity for 80 patients.
Pierce works with three or four patients a shift. They need a lot of attention. Some are in their 20s and 30s, and others are much older.
“These patients are some of the sickest I’ve ever seen,” Pierce said in a phone interview. “They are not normal ICU patients. These are very sick people.”
Pierce has been an ICU nurse the past 14 years. She has worked at St. Joseph’s for about four years. Before the hospital was changed to Covid-only, Pierce worked in the ICU and typically worked with two to six patients a shift.
The hospital was dedicated to Covid-19 patients on March 26. It went from having a few Covid patients in late March to about 40 now.
Pierce has watched people come in with shortness of breath and fevers, and quickly be in trouble, with multiple problems, not just respiratory issues. Their intestines slow down, and their kidneys and livers often are failing.
“This affects your entire body, not just your lungs,” Pierce said. “All of these super-sick patients are sick because of Covid. Once they are sick enough to need ICU care they go downhill really fast.”
Her advice to Orleans County residents: take the virus seriously.
People should keep washing their hands frequently, practice social distancing and wear masks, even after the state loosens some of the strict restrictions and allows some businesses to reopen, Pierce said.
Kandace Pierce has been a nurse for 14 years and said the Covid-19 patients are among the sickest patients she’s ever seen.
She works in the “red zone” at the hospital with the sickest patients. Many have been intubated and are on ventilators.
The hospital is quieter than usual, because there aren’t any visitors. That also make a somber scene even worse because the patients are very ill, and don’t have the comfort of loved ones in the room. The hospital has iPads to help patients communicate with family. Nurses will sometimes need to hold the device for the patients.
“It’s hard to see somebody who is not doing well and their family can’t see them,” Pierce said. She worries about going to work and catching the virus. Thankfully, she said, none of her co-workers have got it. Catholic Health has provided employees with multiple personal protective equipment, with fitted N-95 masks, goggles, gowns, hair coverings and gloves.
“They provide us scrubs, so we change clothes before leaving,” Pierce said. “They also provide a local hotel room if we want to shower before coming home.”
Pierce is an Oklahoma City native. She and her husband Nicholas were on a vacation to Niagara Falls when they fell in love with Western New York. They moved to WNY in 2016, impressed with the quality of schools, the relatively low-cost living and the many healthcare options.
“We just thought the area was beautiful,” Pierce said.
They like the history of the area, and the big old houses with sizable back yards. And those houses are affordable, especially in the small towns. The couple has two sons, ages 5 and 10.
The family lived in Buffalo their first year in WNY before moving to Albion about three years ago.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 April 2020 at 4:42 pm
9 residents at nursing home in Albion have now died from coronavirus
Two more residents of the Village of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center have died from Covid-19, and four more residents have tested positive for coronavirus, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
The 120-bed nursing home in Albion has now suffered nine deaths from Covid-19 and 42 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus.
“Both individuals were residents at The Villages of Orleans with one person under the age of 65 and one person over 65,” said Paul Pettit, public health director of Genesee and Orleans counties. “Our sincere condolences go to the family and friends of these two individuals.”
The county’s total cases for Covid-19 is now up to 79.
Genesee County is reporting one more case of Covid-19, bringing the total cases in that county to 143.
Contact tracing has been initiated for all of the positive cases. 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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 April 2020 at 4:59 pm
Village of Orleans in Albion now has 38 confirmed cases, 7 deaths from virus
ALBION – There are 10 more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County, the biggest one-day jump for the county, and two more deaths.
That brings the total number of confirmed cases to 75 in Orleans, and seven deaths. The seven people who died from the virus were all residents at the Village of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center, the former county nursing home in Albion. That 120-bed facility now has 38 confirmed cases of Covid-19.
The Villages of Orleans represents 51 percent of the county total cases. That doesn’t mean the rest of the community should feel like the virus isn’t pervasive in the county, said Paul Pettit, public health director for Orleans and Genesee counties.
Residents in all 10 towns in Orleans have tested positive for Covid-19.
The 10 new positive include two people outside the Villages, with one in Barre and one in Kendall. The other eight are residents of the nursing home.
Of the new cases, one person is in the 30s, one in the 40s, two in their 60s, one in the 70s, three in their 80s and two people in their 90s or older.
One of the new positive cases was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today. Eight of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.
The Health Department also is reporting one new positive in Genesee County, bringing that county’s total to 142 positive cases, which includes 49 detainees at the federal detention facility in Batavia and three residents of the Batavia VA Medical Center.
The new case reported today in Genesee is an Elba resident in the 50s. The person was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
Genesee has five more recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 69. In Orleans, 22 people have recovered after contracting the virus.
The following information is from a press release from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
Non-county Public Regulated Facilities
• Due to the increased number of positive cases at specific regulated facilities, the G-O Health Departments have added a new chart to show the number of positive cases of Covid-19 for non-county public regulated facilities whose regulatory oversight does not fall within the local health departments.
• The numbers are part of the cumulative positive case numbers received since the first positive. As of today, in Orleans County the number of positive cases of Covid-19 at The Villages of Orleans has surpassed the number of community cases. These facilities are regulated by the state or federal government agencies and those who live within those facilities are overseen by those respective agencies. The local health departments will oversee any employees or community contacts (who reside within our counties) who had close contact with those who tested positive or who have become symptomatic.
This chart will be updated to reflect any public regulated facilities if and when confirmed Covid-19 cases are identified.
• Remember even though the numbers may be high at a specific location, the virus is still moving though our counties. People need to continue frequent handwashing and sanitizing shared surfaces, practicing stay safe at home, social distancing and wearing cloth masks when out in public. This is not the time for gathering at the grocery stores, take-out lines or play dates. This is the time to be kind and think of the health and well-being of others.
• The NYS Health Department will partner with the State’s Attorney General to investigate nursing home violations. A hotline or online form can be submitted where residents, families, or members of the public can share complaints about nursing homes that have not provided required communications with families about Covid-19 diagnoses or fatalities, nursing home abuse and neglect including failure to follow rules to keep residents safe. The hotline number is 833-249-8499 or click here the link for the online form.
Testing
• Antibody testing: Preliminary Phase 1 results of the Antibody Testing Study shows 13.9% of the population have Covid-19 antibodies. That is based on 3,000 random samples taken at various locations (19 counties and 40 localities) across the state, including at grocery stores and big-box stores where people were openly going out in public.
The preliminary results are:
Long Island made up 14.4% of the total tests and 16.7% had the antibodies
New York City made up 43% of the total tests and 21.2% had the antibodies
Westchester / Rockland made up 9.8% of the total test and 11.7% in that region had the antibodies
Rest of the state accounted for 32.8% of the total tests and 3.6% had the antibodies
Wearing Masks and Social Distancing
• Wearing masks and social distancing at a minimum of 6 feet are paramount to preventing flare-ups and mini-outbreaks. Everyone needs to be compliant. Correctly wearing cloth masks is part of a multi-prong approach to stop/slow the spread of Covid-19.
• We know wearing a face covering is inconvenient and uncomfortable, but it can limit transmission of respiratory germs. The mask traps the droplets before they spread into the environment. Remember wearing a face covering helps to protect others from your potential germs. “My mask protects you, and your mask protects me!”
• The Health Department encourages stores and businesses to set guidelines that include not allowing patrons to enter if they are not wearing a face covering or wearing it correctly (covering the mouth and nose). Make sure proper signage noting your policy is visible to patrons.
Prevent the Spread
As/when the state starts open up we all have to be diligent for quite some time to prevent the spread of this virus.
Continue frequent handwashing/hand sanitizing if soap and water are not available.
Continue frequent sanitizing/cleaning of shared surfaces.
Continue social distancing – staying 6 feet away from others.
Continue wearing face coverings – wearing face coverings correctly when out in public. The mouth and nose are to be covered and the face covering should be tucked under the chin. Wearing masks is a way of strengthening social distancing.
Stay HOME if you are sick! Do not go shopping, Do not go to work, Do not go visiting!
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.
There is still limited swabbing available in Genesee and Orleans counties. 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.
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 April 2020 at 4:21 pm
ALBION – Orleans County is reporting two more deaths from Covid-19 who are both residents for the Village of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center.
The county has now suffered five deaths from Covid-19, and all were residents of the nursing home on Route 31.
Both of the people who died were over the age of 65, the Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments reported.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of these individuals during this difficult time,” the departments said in a news release.
The Health Departments today are reporting three more Covid-19 cases in Orleans County, including one more at The Villages, bringing the total Covid-19 cases at the nursing home to 30. There are now 65 cases in the county.
One of the new cases reported today is a Clarendon resident. That is the first confirmed case in Clarendon. It was the last town without a positive case of Covid-19 among the 10 towns in the county.
The other two new cases reported today are in Albion, with one at the nursing home. Two of the new cases are people in their 20s, and one is a person in the 70s, the Health Departments reported.
One of the newly positive individuals was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic. There are six people from Orleans currently hospitalized from Covid-19.
In Genesee County, there is one new confirmed case of Covid-19, bringing Genesee’s total to 141. The person lives in Batavia and is in the 60s. The person was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
The Health Departments are reporting three more recoveries from Covid-19 in Genesee, bringing that total to 64. In Orleans, 22 people have recovered after contracting the virus.
In Genesee, two people are currently hospitalized with Covid-19.
For more information on cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, click here to see a map about Covid-19 in the three counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2020 at 4:21 pm
There are 14 more cases of Covid-19 in Orleans and Genesee counties, the Health Department for the two counties is reporting this afternoon.
Four of the new cases are in Orleans, with 10 in Genesee. The four new cases all include Albion residents. One person is in the 20s, one in the 40s, one in the 60s and one in the 80s. One of the new cases is a person who was on quarantine prior to developing symptoms of Covid-19.
Orleans now has 62 cases. There are four more recoveries, bringing that total to 22. Five of the current active cases include people who are hospitalized.
In Genesee County, the 10 new positive cases bring Genesee’s total to 140 cases. Of the new cases, five people cases reside in Batavia, two are from Darien, one from Alabama, one in Pavilion, and one in Pembroke.
One of the new cases is a person under age 20, two are in their 30s, six are in their 40s, and one person is in the 50s.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting one of the positive individuals was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic. Two of the previous positive cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation, bringing Genesee’s total recoveries to 61. Two of the total active positive cases are people who are hospitalized.
Genesee has third death from Covid-19
Genesee County had one new death notification related to Covid-19. The individual was hospitalized and under the age of 65, the Health Department said. Genesee and Orleans have both suffered three deaths from Covid-19.
The Health Department stated the following in a news release:
Non-County Public Regulated Facilities
• In an effort to provide additional information on state and federally regulated facilities in both Genesee and Orleans counties, the health department will be adding some additional layers to our mapping tool later this week that will break out community versus (non-county regulated) public facility spread cases.
• In addition, we will be adding a chart to our websites and daily briefings that will detail the number of cases and deaths in the regulated facilities in our counties.
Testing
• There is still limited swabbing available in Genesee and Orleans counties. 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.
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2020 at 4:23 pm
Orleans County has suffered its third death from Covid-19, and the county has two new confirmed cases, bringing its total to 58 confirmed cases.
The death of a person over age 65 is the third death from Covid-19 in county reported in the past five days. The other deaths were reported on Saturday and last Thursday.
Two positive cases reside in Albion. In Orleans, 33 of the 58 positive cases are people who live in Albion.
Of the two new cases in Orleans, both people live in Albion, and one is in the 30s and the other is in the 50s.
The Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments is reporting two more recoveries from Covid-19, bringing the total recoveries to 18. The department also reports that 425 people have been tested for the virus in Orleans County, with 367 of those tests coming back negative.
Four people from Orleans County are currently hospitalized with Covid-19.
Genesee County is reporting three more confirmed cases, bringing the total to 130. The three new cases include two people from Batavia and one from Elba.
One individual is in the 20s, is in the 50s, and the other person is in the 60s.
In Genesee, two of the positive individuals were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic, the Health Department reported this afternoon.
Genesee also has six more recoveries, bringing that total to 59. Three of the current cases include people who are hospitalized from the virus.
There have been 710 people tested in Genesee County, with 580 of those tests negative for Covid-19.
“If you are experiencing any Covid-19 related symptoms stay home!” the Health Department said in an advisory today. “Do not go to work, do not go to the store, do not go anywhere, you are spreading the virus. Stay Home!”
Click here to view the Genesee and Orleans County online map of confirmed cases.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 April 2020 at 4:23 pm
There are seven new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Orleans County, with seven in Albion, the Orleans and Genesee County Public Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Orleans County to 56. The county reported its first case on March 19.
Of the seven new cases, one person is in the 50s, one in the 60s, two in the 70s, two in the 80s, and in the 90 and above category.
The Health Department is reporting one more person has recovered from the virus, bringing the total recoveries to 16. Five people from the county are currently hospitalized with Covid-19.
Genesee County has five new confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the county’s total to 127 positive cases.
Of the new cases, two people live in Batavia, two in Elba and one in LeRoy. One person with Covid-19 is in the 20s, one is in the 30s, one in the 40s, one in the 50s, and one is in the 60s.
Genesee County also has three more recoveries from Covid-19, bringing that total to 53. Three of the current active cases involve people who are hospitalized.
Additional information from the Health Departments:
Federal Detention Facility Cases
• Regarding the sharp increase in the Genesee County positive individuals, they are not considered community-spread as they are all detainees at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility located in Batavia. Although the detainees are not considered residents, because the facility is housed in Genesee County, they are reported as Genesee County positive cases. Any workers with direct contact with those who have tested positive at the facility for COVID-19 will be followed by their county of residence.
Contact Tracing
• Contact tracing has been initiated for all new cases. Known contacts have already been placed under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if symptoms become present.
• If a person is identified as a contact, they will be notified by the County Health Department, quarantined and if warranted, swabbed if symptoms appear. Limited information is provided to the public in compliance with HIPAA regulations and out of the respect of those impacted by this virus.
• When, and if, there is a situation where potential contact is made in a public location where contact tracing doesn’t have actual names of close contacts, we will send out a media announcement to help seek contacts.
Testing
• Due to the current limited swabbing kits, there continue to be guidelines in place for primary care providers to order Covid-19 swabbing. This is based upon screening for high risk categories. Contact your primary care provider first to discuss symptoms and the ability to be swabbed.
• For information about the community testing, click here, or call the NYS Covid-19 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 for more information. All individuals will be screened and must have an appointment. The local health departments do not have a supply of swabs for the community, call your primary care provider or the community hotline.
If you are experiencing any Covid-19 related symptoms, stay home! Do not go to work, do not go to the store, do not go anywhere, You are spreading the virus. Stay home!
Click here to view the Genesee and Orleans County online map of confirmed cases.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The American flag is lowered outside the Holley Junior-Senior High School this morning out of respect for people who have died from the Covid-19. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed flags to be at half-staff for Covid-19 victims while the state is on Pause, which continues to at least May 15. The state today reported 507 deaths from Covid-19 on Saturday, bringing the state total to 13,869. The death toll has been decreasing in recent days, down from 540 on Friday, 630 on April 16, and 606 on April 15.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 April 2020 at 3:37 pm
Orleans County has one new confirmed case of Covid-19, bringing the county’s total cases to 49, the Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.
Genesee County doesn’t have any new cases to report today, a day after 30 new cases were confirmed bringing the Genesee total to 122, including 29 at the federal detention facility in Batavia.
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 department said in a news release.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo today confirmed 6,054 additional cases of Covid-19, bringing the statewide total to 242,786 confirmed cases in New York State.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2020 at 4:36 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The American flag is lowered outside the Murray Town Hall on Wednesday out of respect for people who have died from the Covid-19. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed flags to be at half-staff for Covid-19 victims while the state is on Pause, which continues to at least May 15. The state today reported 540 deaths from Covid-19 on Friday, bringing the state total to 13,362. The death toll has been decreasing in recent days, down from 630 on April 16, and 606 on April 15.
Orleans County has suffered its second death from Covid-19, the Public Health Department is reporting this afternoon.
“We are also saddened to report a second death related to Covid-19 has occurred in Orleans County,” said Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman. “Our sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends of this individual. Our prayers are with the grieving family. These are our neighbors who are passing away.”
The first death in the county from Covid-19 was reported on Thursday.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments this afternoon reported there are five new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County. That brings the county’s total cases to 48.
Genesee County has 30 new cases, bringing its total to 122. Of the total new positive cases for Genesee County, 29 are non-community spread cases at the Batavia ICE Facility. The individuals are detainees and all precautions are being followed to further protect other detainees and staff, the Health Department said in a news release.
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 Department said.
“We encourage everyone to continue social distancing and staying home,” the Health Department stated. “If you need to go out, for essential needs, only one person should be running those errands so as not to risk further exposure. Face coverings are also to be worn when out in public. This is not a time for gatherings, play dates or date night. The life you save may be you or a loved one.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2020 at 2:12 pm
Oak Orchard Health has been approved for $870,575 in federal funding through the CARES Act, Congressman Joe Morelle of Rochester announced on Friday.
These funds were awarded through the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and made available through the CARES Act recently passed by Congress which allocated $1.3 billion to support these healthcare providers.
Oak Orchard Health has healthcare centers in Albion, Lyndonville, Brockport, Warsaw and Hornell, as well as a mobile dental unit.
“We were so grateful to see this funding come through when we needed it most,” said Mary Ann Pettibon, CEO of Oak Orchard Health. “Our patients rely on us to provide the health care that they deserve, and this funding allowed us to take care of our patients while keeping our healthcare workers employed during this crucial time. We not only serve a vulnerable population of uninsured and underinsured, but we work with the migrant farmworker population to educate them on the use of personal protective equipment (face masks and gloves), and educate them on how to prevent the spread of coronavirus.”
Morelle also announced funding for other community health centers in the Rochester area, including Mosaic Health, $2,382,830; Anthony L. Jordan Health Corporation, $952,970; and Regional Health Reach, Inc., $503,000.
“Our community health centers are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19, and our entire nation is grateful for their dedication and patriotism under extraordinarily difficult circumstances,” Morelle said. “We have an obligation to ensure they have the resources they need to treat COVID-19 and keep families in our community safe. That’s why Congress took immediate action to allocate this funding, which will go a long way towards helping our local health systems respond to this unprecedented crisis.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 April 2020 at 5:01 pm
7 new positives in Albion and 1 in Ridgeway, Health Department reports
The charts are made available by the Public Health Departments in Orleans and Genesee counties.
Orleans County has eight new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, the biggest one-day increase for the county since the Covid-19 pandemic began, the public health department reported.
Orleans County now has 43 confirmed cases. Of the eight new cases today, seven are in Albion and one is in Ridgeway.
The age groups for the new cases include one individual in the 50s, 2 in the 60s, 2 in 70s and 3 in the 80s.
Orleans also had one person officially recover from Covid-19, bringing that number to 15. Of the current active cases, four people are hospitalized, said Paul Pettit, public health director for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
The town by town breakdown of the cases in Orleans County includes: Albion, 20; Carlton and Ridgeway, 4; Barre, Shelby and Kendall, 3; Murray, Gaines and Yates, 2; and Clarendon, 0.
Genesee County has 5 new positive cases of Covid-19, bringing Genesee’s total to 92 positive cases. Of those, 45 people have recovered.
The new cases include one person in the 20s, one in the 30s, one in the 50s, one in the 60s and one in the 90s.
In Genesee, three of the active cases include people who are currently hospitalized.
Pettit said he is encouraged that the number of active cases seems to be plateauing, but he said it is difficult to fully understand the scope of the virus’s impact in the two counties because there isn’t widespread testing available yet.
There has been more testing recently and he is encouraged that the test results are coming back sometimes the same day or the next day. Those results were taking more than a week, Pettit said.
