Photos by Ginny Kropf: Medina Lions Club presented Tops gift cards for the staff at Orleans Community Health’s medical center in Albion on Wednesday. Wearing masks for safety, Lions president Billy Roman, left, presented the cards to Bryan Yoakum, ambulatory patient representative, and Nicole Helson, practice manager. Lions Club member Jim Hancock is at right.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 April 2020 at 10:02 pm
Billy Roman, president of Medina Lions Club, presents a stack of Tops gift cards to Laurie Joslyn, director of Orleans Community Health’s dialysis center in Medina. Joslyn will distribute them to staff at the dialysis center.
MEDINA – Employees of Orleans Community Health who work off-campus from the hospital were recognized for their service this week by Medina Lions Club.
Billy Roman, president of the Medina Lions, said the club wanted to do something for the healthcare workers who are so necessary and dedicated, especially in this time of uncertainly created by the coronavirus pandemic.
The club voted to donate Tops gift cards to deserving members of the community, and contacted Cindy Perry, director of outreach, education and marketing at Community Partners, to ask who they would recommend to receive the gift cards.
Perry asked hospital CEO Mark Cye, who suggested they recognize those healthcare employees who work off-site, in the dialysis unit in Medina and the medical care facility in Albion.
Those people don’t necessarily get the credit they deserve, Cye said.
The Lions will also donate 20 gift cards to the Medina Senior Center, to be distributed to deserving senior citizens.
The Lions Club purchased a total of 42 gift cards, valued at $25 each, and Julie Roman, Billy’s wife and the daughter of Lions member Jim Hancock, created notes to accompany each one.
On Tuesday, seven cards were presented to Laurie Josyln, director of the Dialysis Unit, who plans to distribute them to the staff there.
“This is very much appreciated,” Joslyn said. “We have talked about what we want to do with them, and will probably get together when this pandemic is all over and have food and share some down time.”
She said the pandemic situation has created a hardship for staff and patients who come there.
“We are all wearing masks, so the patients can’t visit and socialize like they used to,” Joslyn said.
The Dialysis Unit serves 40 patients, who each come for treatment twice a week.
On Tuesday at the medical center at the corner of Route 31 and Butts Road in Albion, Roman and Hancock presented 15 Tops gift cards to Nicole Helson, practice manager, and Bryan Yoakum, ambulatory patient representative.
“This is very generous and thoughtful of the Lions to think of us here, and we certainly appreciate it,” Helson said.
Julie Roman, wife of Medina Lions president Billy Roman, created these notes to go along with Tops gift cards, which the Lions donated to staff at Orleans Community Health’s dialysis center in Medina and the healthcare facility in Albion. Donations of gift cards will also be made later to the Medina Senior Center.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 April 2020 at 4:27 pm
Charts are provided by the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
Orleans County has one new case of Covid-19, a person in the 80s who lives in Albion, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.
That brings the total cases in Orleans County to 35. Health officials also are reporting that two more people have recovered from Covid-19 in Orleans, bringing the total recoveries to 14.
The Health Department earlier today reported the county’s first death from Covid-19.
Of the total cases in the county, three people are hospitalized.
Orleans County’s neighbor, Genesee County, has seven new positives bringing the total cases to 87.
Of the seven new cases, five live in Batavia, one in Bergen and one in Darien. The ages of people who tested positive include one in the 20s, three in the 30s, one in the 60s and two in the 90s.
Three of the new cases include people who were in quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic. Three of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.
State-wide, 8,505 new cases of novel coronavirus were reported today, bringing the total to 222,284 confirmed cases in New York State. At nearby Niagara County, there are 12 more cases for 216; Monroe County, 48 more for 932 total; and Erie County reported 99 more cases for 1,850 total.
To see a map and more data about cases and Orleans and Genesee, as well as Wyoming County, click here.
Provided photo: Niagara Career and Technical Education Center Assistant Principal Rob Robinson with the boxed up donations from the center.
Press Release, Orleans-Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – The Orleans/Niagara BOCES is helping healthcare workers and facilities as they fight against COVID-19. District Superintendent Dr. Clark Godshall asked the Orleans and Niagara Career and Technical Education Centers to gather up any PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) supplies that can be used by healthcare personnel to protect themselves.
The centers were able to donate 500 pairs of safety glasses to the Niagara County Emergency Medical Services. To the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Eastern Niagara Hospital, Elderwood, Northgate, Medina Memorial Hospital and Absolute Care they were able to donate vinyl/nitrate/sterile gloves, alcohol wipes, surgical masks, Clorox wipes, Clorox bleach germicidal wipes, Medco gowns, Purell and Dial hand sanitizer, shroud kits, WetOnes, Dial hand soap and shoe covers.
The healthcare providers were chosen because of their partnership with Orleans/Niagara BOCES and were a way to thank them for allowing them to bring their Health Occupations Technician and LPN students to their facilities for the clinical portion of their classes.
Niagara Career and Technical Education Center Assistant Principal Rob Robinson and Orleans Career and Technical Education Center Assistant Principal Nicole Goyette personally organized the donations.
“I think I speak for everyone that it feels good to help out our medical professionals who are risking their health on a daily basis to help people recover from this pandemic,” Robinson said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 April 2020 at 4:32 pm
These charts are compiled by the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
Orleans and Genesee counties both have three new cases of Covid-19, the Health Department for the two counties reported this afternoon.
The three new cases brings Orleans County’s total cases to 34. The Health Department also is reporting two more people have recovered from the virus, bringing the number of recoveries to 12. Three of the current active cases are people who are hospitalized.
Of the new positive cases today, one lives in Ridgeway, one lives in Gaines, and 1 resides in Murray. The ages include one person in the 40s, one in the 70s and one in the 90s.
In Orleans, two have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.
In Genesee County, the three new positives bring the county’s total cases to 80. The three new positives are people who all live in Batavia. One is in the 20s, another in the 40s and the other in the 90s.
The positive individuals were not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic, the Health Department sated.
Two of the current active cases include people who are hospitalized. Genesee County has had 37 people recover from Covid-19, while two people have died after being infected with the virus.
Updates from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• 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 ability to be swabbed.
• Contact tracing has been initiated for all new cases. Known contacts have already been placed under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if indicated (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 indicated. 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.
• 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!
Operational Updates:
• Because COVID-19 is circulating locally, we can’t stress enough how important social distancing is and that EVERYONE needs to take this seriously and stay home! It is your social and civic responsibility to protect yourselves and others.
• If you must shop for essentials, such as food, necessary household supplies or prescriptions, shop solo! Wear a face covering and wash or sanitize your hands frequently.
• Using cloth face coverings are recommended to protect others from you. Remember to wear one when you are out in public. You will need to be careful removing them from your face so as not to be exposed to any germs from the outside. Once removed, make sure you wash them in hot water, if able, and dry in a hot dryer. Wash your hands immediately after removing the mask. For more information about masks go to reliable sights such as the CDC (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
• Head Space: A mindfulness app called Headspace is offering some meditations to listen to for free to ease minds in such a stressful time. The app is free to download and includes meditations, sleep, and movement exercises to help with the varying emotions you may be feeling. The app does include in-app purchases (click here for more information).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 April 2020 at 2:09 pm
In Niagara County, 31-year-old man with no underlying health conditions dies from the virus
Photo by Tom Rivers: The flags are lowered at Mount Albion Cemetery for the victims of Covid-19. The governor has directed flags to be lowered until at least April 29.
The Health Departments for Genesee and Niagara counties today are both reporting deaths from Covid-19.
Genesee County had a person over age 65 die from Covid-19. That person who lived in the central part of the county is the second one to die in Genesee from Covid-19.
“It is with great sadness that I am reporting the second confirmed death related to COVID-19 in Genesee County,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Due to privacy issues, I will not be releasing further information about this individual. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the patient.”
The Genesee County Health Department is conducting contact tracing. Close contacts have been notified of their potential exposure to COVID- 19, and have been placed under mandatory quarantine to monitor for symptoms. Individuals under mandatory quarantine who develop symptoms will be swabbed. The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are following guidance provided by the NYSDOH and CDC.
“As COVID-19 continues to spread within our communities, we must do everything we can to keep each other safe” said Pettit. “Please remain home unless you are an essential worker or need to purchase essential household items. In that case, designate one (1) household member to do the shopping. We must work together as a community to stop the spread.”
In Niagara County, the Health Department is confirming four more deaths from Covid-19, bringing the county’s total to nine. (Orleans County hasn’t suffered a death from the virus.)
New York State reported 752 more deaths on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 11,586.
Niagara County says the four deaths reported today are a 92-year-old woman with underlying health conditions, an 80-year-old man with underlying health conditions, a 92-year-old man with underlying health conditions, and a 31-year-old man with no underlying health conditions.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 April 2020 at 4:28 pm
These charts are compiled by the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
The Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments today is reporting two new cases of Covid-19 in Orleans, including the first case in the county for a person under age 20.
Orleans County now has 31 total cases. Of the new positive cases today, one lives in Albion and other resides in Barre.
One is under age 20 and the other is in the 80s. The Health Department also reports that three more people have recovered from Covid-19 and been released from mandatory isolation. That brings the county’s total recoveries to 10.
Three people who have tested positive for Covid-19 are currently hospitalized.
Genesee County has one new positive case of Covid-19 for 77 total cases. The new case involves a person from Batavia in the 30s. The positive individual was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
Situational Updates from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• Today we are adding Wyoming County mapping (click here to see three-county map showing Covid-19 cases and data). Genesee and Orleans County will not be making any statement related to Wyoming County. Please contact the Wyoming County Health Department for any inquiries.
• 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 ability to be swabbed.
• Contact tracing has been initiated for all new cases. Known contacts have already been placed under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if indicated (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 indicated. 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.
• 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!
Operational Updates
• State of Emergency To Be Extended: Due to the Governor’s Executive Order on April 12, extending the Disaster Emergency through May 12, both counties are extending the State of Emergency for the same time period.
• Because COVID-19 is circulating locally, we can’t stress enough how important social distancing is and that EVERYONE needs to take this seriously and stay home! It is your social and civic responsibility to protect yourselves and others.
• If you must shop for essentials, such as food, necessary household supplies or prescriptions, shop solo! Wear a face covering and wash or sanitize your hands frequently.
• Using cloth face coverings are recommended to protect others from you. Remember to wear one when you are out in public. You will need to be careful removing them from your face so as not to be exposed to any germs from the outside. Once removed, make sure you wash them in hot water, if able, and dry in a hot dryer. Wash your hands immediately after removing the mask. For more information about masks go to reliable sights such as the CDC (click here).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2020 at 4:39 pm
Orleans has 1 more confirmed Covid-19 case today, for 29 total
This chart from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments breaks down the number of people who have tested positive and negative for Covid-19 in the two counties, and also says how many people are in quarantine, and how many people have recovered from the virus. One person has died in Genesee County from Covid-19.
ALBION – The local Health Department has released a town-by-town breakdown of the Covid-19 cases in Orleans County.
In Orleans, the Town of Albion has the most confirmed cases with 11 while Clarendon is the only town without a confirmed case.
The town-by-town breakdown of the confirmed cases includes:
• Albion – 11
• Carlton – 4
• Kendall – 3
• Shelby – 3
• Yates – 2
• Ridgeway – 2
• Barre – 2
• Gaines – 1
• Murray – 1
• Clarendon – 0
(Click here to see the map, which includes a similar breakdown in Genesee County.)
The Health Department also announced today that the county has one new confirmed case of Covid-19, bringing the total in Orleans to 29.
Of the five new cases since the weekend, the county has 2 from Lyndonville (Yates), 1 from Murray, 1 from Albion and 1 from Ridgeway.
The ages include one person in the 30s, two in the 50s, one in the 60s, and one in the 70s.
One more person has recovered and has been released from mandatory isolation.
None of the positive individuals were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic, according to the Genesee and Orleans Health Departments.
Genesee County has two new confirmed cases for 76 total. Both people who tested positive live in Batavia, where there are 50 of the county’s 76 cases.
This chart from the Health Departments shows a breakdown of ages for people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the two counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 April 2020 at 5:37 pm
Orleans County has two more confirmed cases of Covid-19 while Genesee County has one more confirmed case, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported today at about 5:30 p.m.
The two new cases brings Orleans County’s total confirmed cases to 28, while Genesee County is up to 75 cases.
Health Department staff have started contact tracing, putting known contacts in quarantine for two weeks. Those people will be swabbed and tested for Covid-19 if they show symptoms.
There is currently no further information to release on ages and location, the Health Departments said in a news release.
Mapping to include the positive cases from the weekend will be updated on Monday afternoon.
“We encourage everyone to continue social distancing and staying home,” the departments said in a statement. “If you need to go out, for essential needs, only one person should be running those errands so as not to risk further exposure. This is not a time for gatherings or play dates or date night. The life you save may be you or a loved one. We can do this together…we are one day closer to this being a memory.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 April 2020 at 4:42 pm
There are 2 more confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County, bringing the county’s total cases to 26, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.
Genesee County has four more cases, for 74 total.
Contact tracing has been initiated with the Health Department advising known contacts of the people who tested positive for Covid-19 they need to be quarantine for the next two weeks. If those people develop symptoms of Covid-19 they will be swabbed and tested for the virus.
The Health Department doesn’t have additional information to be release publicly on ages and location of the new cases. Mapping to include the positive cases from the weekend will be updated on Monday afternoon, the Health Departments said.
“We encourage everyone to continue social distancing and stay home,” the Health Departments said in a statement. “If you need to go out, for essential needs, only one person should be running those errands so as not to risk further exposure. This is not a time for gatherings or date night. The life you save may be you or a loved one. We can do this together…we are one day closer to this being a memory.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 April 2020 at 5:07 pm
Orleans County doesn’t have any new confirmed cases of Covid-19 today after seeing the number of positives quadruple in a week.
Orleans County on Thursday was up to 24 confirmed cases. A week before that, the county had six cases.
Paul Pettit, the public health director for Genesee and Orleans counties, reported today that there aren’t any new confirmed cases in Orleans and one person who tested positive for the virus has recovered.
Genesee County reported seven new cases and now has 70, Pettit said, with six of the new cases in central Genesee and one in the western part of the county.
Pettit said next week the Health Department will start releasing a town by town breakdown of the cases in the two counties, which now number 94 combined. Currently the Health Department reports if the person who tested positive lives in either the eastern, central or western part of Orleans or Genesee.
The new cases in Genesee include two people in their 20s, one in the 30s, one in the 60s and three in their 70s.
Pettit said he expects the numbers will continue to steadily rise in the two counties the next two to three weeks, and that could continue in an upward trajectory. A lot of the success in fighting the spread of Covid-19 depends on the community’s adherence to social distancing, washing their hands frequently and staying home as much as possible.
Sunday is Easter and Pettit said that holiday tends to be a big day for social and community gatherings. He urges everyone to keep the gatherings small with no more than 10 people, including among families.
“I want to thank all the members of our community that are really buckling down and adhering to social distancing,” Pettit said during an afternoon news briefing. “I want to thank those folks that are taking it seriously.”
However, the Health Department in the two counties gets many reports of people gathering in large numbers.
“What you do impacts all of us,” Pettit said. “In order to get through this we need to adhere to the guidelines.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2020 at 4:10 pm
Genesee County has 9 new confirmed cases for 63 total
Orleans County has three more confirmed cases of Covid-19 for 24 total, the Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments is reporting today.
The new cases include two people who reside in the central part of Orleans County and one on the western part of the county.
Of the new cases, one person is in the 30s, another in the 50s and one in the 90s.
One of the positive cases is connected to a confirmed positive case and is in mandatory isolation.
Genesee County has nine new confirmed cases today for 63 positives total. Eight of the individuals who tested positive reside in the central part of the county and one person lives in the eastern part of the county.
Of the ages, one is in the 20s, five in the 30s, one in the 40s, one in the 50s, and one person is in the 60s.
Three of the new positive cases were under precautionary or mandatory quarantine when they became symptomatic.
Contact tracing has been initiated for all new cases with known contacts already in mandatory quarantine. They will be swabbed to be tested for Covid-19 if symptoms become present.
The two Health Departments have broken out the ages by decade for all of the cases in the two counties.
The department wants to show that many of the cases involve younger adults. Initially the department was only reporting the cases as people under age 65, or 65 and older.
Of the 87 cases in the two counties, 14 are people in their 70s, 80s or 90s. People in their 60s make up 17 of the cases, which is the most of any decade by age, but it’s only one more than the 16 for people in their 30s.
There are 56 cases of Covid-19 for people under age 60, or 64 percent of the total.
The Health Departments report that four people have recovered from Covid-19 in Orleans and 12 have recovered in Genesee. No one has died from the virus in Orleans in the past month while one has in Genesee County.
Click here to see a map with more details about the cases in the two counties.
Passover / Holy Week / Easter Holiday
In regards to Passover and the upcoming Easter holiday, the Health Departments remind people that gatherings of people, including among families for parties or celebrations, are canceled or postponed until at least April 22, per an executive order from Gov. Cuomo.
“Many houses of worship have been live streaming their services which allows them to share their message and touch base with their congregations,” according to an advisory from the Health Departments. “As challenging as this is to do, especially over the holidays, it is vital everyone stay home. Consider celebrating with a phone call, or a social app so you can see one another and remember the life you may be saving by staying home could be one of your loved ones. This is temporary.”
Because Covid-19 is circulating locally, the Health Departments again stressed the importance of social distancing and staying home.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments also advised the following:
The Use of Cloth Face Coverings
The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected. Recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms. Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing or proper hand washing.
The cloth face cover should:
• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• be secured with ties or ear loops
• include multiple layers of fabric
• allow for breathing without restriction
• be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
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
• Head Space: A mindfulness app called Headspace is offering some meditations to listen to for free to ease minds in such a stressful time. The app is free to download and includes meditations, sleep, and movement exercises to help with the varying emotions you may be feeling. The app does include in-app purchases. Click here for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2020 at 4:26 pm
There are four new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County and 11 more in Genesee County, according to the Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments.
The department is breaking out the ages by decades, starting today. Previously the cases were listed as being under 65, or 65 and older.
In Orleans County, the four new positive cases bring the county’s total to 21. All 4 new cases live in the central part of the county. The cases include people in their 50s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.
All of the Orleans positive cases were connected to a confirmed positive case and are in mandatory isolation the Health Department said.
Genesee County’s 11 new positive cases bring the total to 54 confirmed cases. Ten of the new cases are for people who live in the central part of the county with the other person living in the eastern part of Genesee.
The cases include one in the 20s, four people in their 30s, two in their 40s, three in their 60s, and one in the 70s.
The Health Department said they are included the age ranges broken down by decade (except those from ages 0-20) to reiterate that any age is susceptible to COVID-19 and the complications.
“Throughout the nation even young people are having serious complications which may be associated with known or unknown underlying health conditions and health behaviors such as smoking, vaping and obesity,” the Health Department said in a news release.
On Thursday the Health Department is planning a cumulative breakdown of the ages for all cases.
With the four new cases in Orleans and 11 in Genesee, contact tracing has been started with known contacts placed under mandatory quarantine. They will be swabbed for a Covid-19 test if symptoms become present.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2020 at 10:17 am
Orleans County residents are expected to receive two text messages today, around noon and at 6 p.m., from the 911 emergency alert system, urging residents to protect themselves and others in the community from the coronavirus.
This is the first time the local 911 emergency communication system is sending out a county-wide alert, said Dale Banker, the emergency management director for Orleans County.
“Your impact on the community is great, and your efforts in promoting and adhering to the safety guidelines is appreciated,” according to the message.
The Public Health departments in Genesee and Orleans counties urged the 911 centers in each county to send the messages to residents. Genesee County sent the texts on Tuesday.
The message to Orleans County residents will remind them to take precautions against the virus by staying home, washing your hands frequently and following social distancing by staying at least six feet away from non-household members.
“We thank you and your community for your cooperation during these difficult times,” according to the message.
Orleans and Genesee counties have both seen a jump in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases. Orleans is up from 6 on Thursday to 17 on Tuesday. Genesee County increased from 17 on Thursday to 44 on Tuesday.
The texts today will reinforce the importance of health and safety guidance issued by the Center for Disease Control and the NYS Department of Health.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 April 2020 at 6:55 pm
‘We’re asking the public to do their part, even if it’s painful, even if it’s something you don’t want to do. Maybe you don’t really believe or you don’t want to hear that this is a significant issue for us. We’re all in this together.’ – Paul Pettit
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Village of Albion last week closed Bullard Park to the public to fight the spread of the coronavirus in the community. Many communities have closed parks, especially playgrounds during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties is urging all residents in the community to take the coronavirus seriously.
Paul Pettit, the public health director, said big increase in cases in the two counties in the past few days shows people are not adhering to social distancing with many going to stores, work and public places, sometimes while they are symptomatic.
In Orleans County, the number of cases has increased from 9 on Friday to 17 today. In Genesee County, the confirmed cases is up from 21 on Friday to 44 today.
“We’re asking you all, we’re asking the public to do their part, even if it’s painful, even if it’s something you don’t want to do,” Pettit said. “Maybe you don’t really believe or you don’t want to hear that this is a significant issue for us. But we’re all in this together, we live together, we play together, we work together. This is something that we all have to be part of to be successful and continue to flatten the curve and push this out so we don’t continue to have a spike in cases.”
Pettit said the Health Departments in the two counties receive many calls from the community about people congregating and not observing social distancing.
This week is Public Health Week in the state. Pettit said the local health departments have dedicated and hard-working staff. But Pettit said the community’s health, especially during this pandemic, depends on everyone doing their part.
“Public health is not about one person, it’s not about an agency or a government bureaucracy doing their work,” Pettit said. “Public health is about all of us together in our community. We’re going to be as healthy as we’re going to be, we’re going to be as a sick as we’re going to be as a result of the actions we take today, as a result of the way we come together and look at this as a community wide issue.”
“I call on every single of you that we are all public health, we’re all in this together, and we need to take this very seriously, and make sure we adhere to the guidelines and the guidance before so we make sure we can get through this difficult situation in front of us as quickly as we can,” Pettit said.
The best defense against Covid-19? Stay home as much as possible, Pettit said.
The Health Department provided the following update this afternoon:
Going out for essentials – recommendations
• If you have to pick up essential items such as groceries or prescriptions, only one member of the household should be going out. Make a list ahead of time to limit your exposure in the store. Maintain at least 6 feet of distance between you and other people.
• Do not bring in unessential items such as purses, phones, etc. These items can carry germs from the store and back home with you. Wash your hands frequently and use a cloth face shield to protect yourself and others from spreading the virus.
Businesses and Employers
• Essential businesses must continue to comply with the guidance and directives for maintaining a clean and safe work environment issued by the New York State Department of Health and every business, even if essential, is strongly urged to maintain social distance to the extent possible.
• As an employer or business, it is your responsibility to protect your workforce and to follow and understand guidance as it pertains to Covid-19. The health and safety of your employees should be your utmost concern.
Below are some things to consider:
• Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Develop policies that encourage sick employees to stay at home without fear of repercussions, and ensure employees are aware of these policies. There is a lot of guidance and information available to businesses and employees in regards to coverage of wages and protections related to Covid-19
• Provide education and training materials in an easy to understand format and in the appropriate language and literacy level for all employees, like fact sheets and posters.
• If an employee becomes sick while at work, they should be separated from other employees, customers, and visitors and sent home immediately. Follow CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting areas the sick employee visited.
• Have conversations with employees about their concerns. Some employees may be at higher risk for severe illness, such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions.
• The Governor has established the New York State PAUSE Enforcement Assistance Task Force where individuals can file complaints regarding the operation of non-essential businesses or gatherings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Click here to file a complaint online. You may also call 1-833-789-0470. Businesses that are not in compliance with the Governor’s executive order may be penalized.
• If you believe your employer is in violation of either existing labor laws or recently issued executive orders, please contact the New York State Attorney General’s office at (212) 416-8700 or Labor.Bureau@ag.ny.gov.
Use of Cloth Face Coverings
• The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
Recent studies have suggested that Covid-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms. Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing or proper hand washing.
• The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
• Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
The cloth face cover should:
• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• be secured with ties or ear loops
• include multiple layers of fabric
• allow for breathing without restriction
• be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 April 2020 at 4:47 pm
Genesee has 10 new cases, 2 more in Orleans since yesterday
Orleans and Genesee counties are both seeing a significant jump in confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Orleans has two more new cases today, after six new confirmed cases on Monday. Orleans now is at 17 total cases, Public Health Director Paul Pettit said at a 4 p.m. news briefing.
Genesee County has experienced a bigger increase, with 10 new cases today after 10 on Monday. Genesee is now at 44 total positives.
In Orleans County, both new cases are people under age 65, with one from central Orleans and the other from the eastern end of the county.
Pettit said the Health Department expects to make more information available about the cases, putting them in age brackets by decade. Right now the department only reports if the person is 65 or older or under 65.
Many of the cases are younger adults who are being active in the community, either going to the store frequently, going to work or attending social gatherings.
Pettit said it is imperative that people of all ages stay home as much as possible to stop the spread of what he said is a “prolific” virus, capable of easily passing from one person to another.
Of the two new cases in Orleans, one person was already under quarantine after being a known contact with someone who tested positive, while the other didn’t have a known connection to someone with the virus.
Of the 10 new cases in Genesee County, 7 are under age 65 in the central part of the county and 3 are under 65 in eastern Genesee.
All 10 of the new positives are people who were under precautionary or mandatory quarantine. They had known connections with others who had Covid-19.
Of the 44 cases in Genesee, 10 people have recovered from the illness and while four of the 17 in Orleans are considered to be recovered.
Click here to see a two-county map with more details about the cases and testing in the two counties.
