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.

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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.

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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.

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‘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

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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.

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Photo courtesy of Rochester Regional Health

BATAVIA – Norma Longrod, 94, of Orleans County has been released from a Batavia hospital after beating Covid-19, Rochester Regional Health said today.

Longrod was admitted to United Memorial Medical Center in March. She had fallen and had a fever of 102. She was immediately placed in isolation at the hospital away from other patients.

She took hydroxychloroquine at the Batavia hospital to help in her recovery.

“Somehow she was able to stay strong enough and pull through this,” said Dr. Peter Janes, a hospital at United Memorial. “It’s pretty amazing. She ended up being a pretty resilient lady.”

She is one of the oldest people in Western New York to recover from the coronavirus.

In a video posted by Rochester Regional Health, Longrod thanks the hospital for her care. She urged people to take precautions from the virus.

“They’re crazy if they don’t take it seriously,” she said.

She is now recovering at Orchard Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.

Click here to see the video about Longrod posted by Rochester Regional Health.

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Orleans has 6 new cases, with 10 more in Genesee

Orleans and Genesee counties both have several new confirmed cases of coronavirus, the local health department is reporting this afternoon.

Since Saturday, Orleans has six new confirmed cases for a total of 15 while Genesee has 10 more for a total of 32.

“Today’s jump in numbers are reflective of increasing community spread and the fact so many are still out and about, taking the family grocery shopping, going to work sick, and having gatherings at home,” the Genesee and Orleans County Health Department said in a news release. “Keep in mind as you disregard the Governor’s orders and related guidance, you are risking exposure to yourself and your family members and are perpetuating the spread of COVID-19 for everyone in our communities.”

In Orleans County, the breakdown of the cases includes:

• Four of the positive cases are 65 and older and reside in the central part of the county;

• One of the cases is a person under the age of 65 who lives in the eastern part of the county;

• One of the cases is 65 and over and resides in the western part of Orleans County.

• One of the six people are under isolation at a hospital and the other five are under mandatory isolation at home.

• Two of the Orleans positive cases were under precautionary or mandatory quarantine when they became symptomatic.

In Genesee County, the breakdown of the new cases includes:

• All 10 new cases involved people under the age of 65 residing in the central part of Genesee County.

• Four of the positive cases were under mandatory quarantine and are now under mandatory isolation.

• All of the positive cases are under mandatory isolation at home.

Contact tracing has been initiated for all new cases, with known contacts under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if symptoms become present, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported in a news release.

The Health Department stated the following:

• 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 we will send out a media announcement to help seek contacts

• We are asking that people be respectful and accommodating of health care workers and responders. They are doing their job to protect you and our community.

• Be Responsible – 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.

• When you are sick, stay home from work!  A significant increase in the number of mandatory quarantines being reported today is due to a symptomatic person going to work at a local business.  If you are part of gatherings and even one person tests positive everyone in close contact to the positive will be placed on mandatory quarantine.  We’re all in this together, we need to make sacrifices in the short term to get us through this challenging time.

• Click here to view the Genesee and Orleans County online map of confirmed cases.

• Connect together by celebrating apart. We understand that Easter is a time many families gather to celebrate the holiday with spring time traditions such as Easter egg hunts and large family dinners. We are asking our communities to think of fun and clever ways in which you can still virtually connect with your loved ones while keeping everyone safe and healthy.

• Going out for essentials: 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.

• Practice social distancing everywhere, including outdoors.  As the weather begins to warm up it is important to understand that you must continue to practice social distancing. This means maintaining 6 feet of distance between you and other people. DO NOT play or participate in sports or activities that bring people together. If you are walking, jogging, or biking outside, make sure you pass people at a minimum of 6 feet apart. Being outdoors will not protect you from contracting the virus. Remember this is only temporary. The more we practice social distancing the sooner we can get back to normal.

• Please stay home if you are sick. DO NOT go to work if you are sick, symptomatic, or feel unwell. If you develop symptoms while at work, go home immediately.

• Medical Concerns: If you feel you may have COVID-19, call your primary care provider or healthcare facility ahead of time. Do not go directly there. Call ahead to get guidance.

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There are two new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Orleans County, and one new case in Genesee, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this evening.

That brings the number of confirmed cases to 11 in Orleans, and 21 in Genesee County.

The Health Department doesn’t have more information to release publicly today on the ages and locations of the people who tested positive for the virus.

Those details will be provided on Monday. The Health Department has initiated contact tracing, reaching out to people who have been in close contact with the people who tested positive. Close contacts will be put in precautionary quarantine for up to two weeks to see if they develop any symptoms for Covid-19.

The 32 cases in the two counties are among 113,704 cases in the state. New York State this morning reported 10,841 new cases in Covid-19 since Friday, the biggest one-day increase in cases since the first case was confirmed a month ago.

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This map shows Orleans on top, and Genesee below. The western section of Orleans includes the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway (Medina) and Yates (Lyndonville); Carlton, Gaines, Albion and Barre in the central section; and Kendall, Murray (Holley) and Clarendon on the eastern side. In Genesee County, the western end includes Alabama, Pembroke and Darien; the central section is Oakfield, Elba, Batavia, Alexander and Bethany; the eastern side includes Byron, Bergen, Stafford, Le Roy and Pavilion.

The Genesee and Orleans County Public Health Departments has a new online map that clearly tracks the confirmed cases of coronavirus in the two counties. (Click here)

The map shows the two counties and breaks the cases in three sections for each county: western, central and eastern. If there are many more cases, the Health Department may additionally break out which town the person resides in who has tested positive for Covid-19.

Right now, everyone should assume the virus is spreading in the community and is everywhere, said Paul Pettit, Public Health director for the two counties.

The map shows 9 cases in Orleans – 1 in the western part, 7 in central Orleans, and 1 on the eastern end. In Genesee, there are now 21 cases with 4 in the western section of the county, 6 in central Genesee, and 11 on the eastern end.

The case tracker online shows combined data for the two counties, and reports confirmed cases, 30; active cases, 27 (there have been 2 recoveries and 1 death from the virus).

The trackers also lists total tests administered at 381, total negative results at 351, people currently in precautionary quarantine at 16, people currently in mandatory quarantine at 51 and people currently in mandatory isolation at 27.

Pettit in an online news conference today strongly urged the community to practice social distancing. Staying six feet apart is one of the best weapons in preventing the spread of the virus. He urged frequent hand washing, wiping down common surfaces and staying home as much as possible especially if you’re feeling sick.

The Genesee and Orleans Health Departments today issued the following information: 

Operational Updates

• Be on the lookout for “GO Health Minutes.” These short video clips will feature different guests within the health departments as well as legislative members, businesses, organizations and some of our neighbors to highlight important information pertaining to COVID-19.

We will frequently be releasing new videos so be sure you are subscribed to our GO Health NY YouTube channel and check our websites and our social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

• Social distancing must be practiced in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. This means canceling events such as parties, celebrations, and neighborhood gatherings where people congregate together.

This also means that children and adults should not play contact sports. These are temporary requests that will help stop the spread of the virus so that we can resume normal activities.

If you must go to the store, always maintain at least 6 feet of space between you and other people and wash hands frequently. Stores are not to be utilized as a social event.  It is important people limit their trips to the store, choose a designated shopper and if at all possible leave the children home.  Keep a 6 foot distance between other shoppers.

Take out/food trucks are not a gathering place. Keep 6 feet of space between other customers.

Stay Home

• Please remain home if ill, even if a person has a negative COVID-19 result it is important to continue to limit physical contact.  Flu and COVID-19 are still transmittable and people should continue to remain home and limiting contact with others.

• If you work with a vulnerable population, self-monitor prior to going to work, if you become sick while at work, contact your supervisor immediately and leave the premises to decrease the risk of contact with others. When not working, follow social distancing and limit time in public.

Medical Concerns

• If you feel you may have COVID-19, call your primary care provider or healthcare facility ahead of time. DO NOT GO DIRECTLY THERE, CALL AHEAD TO GET GUIDANCE.  Swabbing will be based on those who are in higher risk categories – elderly and immune compromised and those with underlying health issues.

Swab sample results are coming back slower than expected – some are over a week or more. With more testing, we expect this will continue. Whenever anyone is swabbed for potential COVID-19, self-isolation is advised until the test result is back.

Scam Alert

• Older Adults: Be alert for scams, including government grant scams. What to look for: Do not accept unsolicited phone calls or e-mails from someone claiming to be an official from the Federal Grants Administration, which does not exist, or a nonprofit organization like the National Residential Improvement Association offering grands or funding for repairs.

• Don’t click on social media messages or posts from people excited to share thousands of dollars, free grants, etc.

• The scammers may try using utility companies to access your information. Contact the utility using the number you have on your monthly bill not what the potential scammers have given you.

• Let calls you don’t recognize go to voice mail, most scams won’t leave a message, however, don’t return unsolicited calls. Write down the number and check online or have someone check for you to make sure it is legitimate. If you are unsure, or if it sounds too good to be true, ignore it and talk with a family member, the Office for the Aging, the Better Business Bureau or your local police.

Helpline

• Anxiety, Depression, Fear: If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, fear about this outbreak call the Care + Crisis Helpline at 585-283-5200, text 741741 or call the NYS COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 884-863-9314. They have trained listeners available 24/7 to help you through this.

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Gov. Cuomo’s executive order to take excess ventilators from hospitals upstate is deeply concerning to Paul Pettit, the Public Health director for Orleans and Genesee counties.

Paul Pettit

The two counties don’t have very many ventilators among their hospitals, only 13 with two at Medina Memorial Hospital and 11 at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

Pettit said the local Covid-19 cases are rising, with 21 in Genesee and 9 in Orleans. He expects the numbers to continue to go up.

Covid-19 can cause a serious respiratory infection for some people that contract the virus, and they may need a ventilator to stay alive.

“This could put us in a very precarious situation,” Pettit said about the governor’s executive order. “This is very concerning to myself.”

The governor’s order also extended to each hospital’s supply of personal protective equipment – the N-95 respirators, gowns and face shields. Pettit said the local providers are going through the PPE at a fast rate each day.

“The last thing we want to do is not have enough when our peak comes,” Pettit said about PPE and ventilators. “I don’t want our communities to be in a precarious position.”

The governor said he would give a hospital back their ventilators and PPE if they face higher demand. The downstate hospital systems are facing the brunt of the cases right now in the state.

Cuomo sees the apex hitting downstate and then moving across the state. He would then redeploy the ventilators.

In his executive order, he said he will send the National Guard to get the equipment.

Pettit said the local hospitals and Health Department are pushing back through local state legislators.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, issued this statement:

“I am absolutely dumbfounded at the steps the governor has taken today to leave upstate New York as vulnerable as downstate has been during this health crisis,” Hawley said. “Not only will upstate hospitals now be left with fewer ventilators for our citizens who need them, but an increase in transport of coronavirus cases to upstate almost certainly means the virus will spread even quicker in our districts. It’s the worst possible management of this crisis I have seen thus far, and I am asking the governor to rescind his Executive Order. Upstate and Western New York lives matter.”

State Assemblyman Michael Norris, R-Lockport, issued this statement: “The Governor’s Executive Order to take ventilators and health care equipment from our WNY hospitals puts our community and health care professionals at great risk. Once they leave our region there is no guarantee they will ever come back. The lack of testing for WNY makes this action an even greater concern, as we don’t have the full scope or handle of how far this virus has spread within our community. The Governor has mentioned a ‘rolling apex’ however we do not know when the apex for Western New York will be. The citizens of Western New York are rightfully concerned and the Governor needs to reconsider his executive order.”

State says it would redistribute 20% of unused ventilators

The Governor’s Office late this afternoon issued this statement from Rich Azzopardi, a senior advisor to Gov. Cuomo:

“In addressing the coronavirus pandemic, it is essential that we all work together. While the pandemic is primarily in downstate New York now – it is projected to peak and reduce in downstate and the increase in upstate. It is essential that we all help each other and the Governor is asking upstate hospitals to loan 20 percent of their unused ventilators to struggling downstate hospitals.

“Ventilators literally save lives. They will be returned or reimbursed to those hospitals. Moreover, when the pandemic wave hits upstate New York, the Governor will ask downstate hospitals for similar help. We are not upstate or downstate we are one state and we act that way.”

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‘No town is exempt from this. It is widespread in our community.’ – Paul Pettit, Public Health director

Orleans County has three new confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the county’s total to nine, Public Health Director Paul Pettit said this afternoon.

The new confirmed cases are all in the central part of the county, with one person under age 65 and two over 65.

One of the persons is under isolation at a hospital, while two are in isolation at their homes, Pettit said.

None of the new cases were previously under mandatory or precautionary quarantine.

Genesee County also has four new cases, for 21 total, Pettit said.

One of the people is under 65 in the central part of Genesee, while the other three are under 65 in the eastern part of Genesee.

In Genesee, all four were previously under mandatory quarantine and now are under mandatory isolation.

“No town is exempt from this,” Pettit said. “It is widespread in our community.”

Orleans Hub will have more information posted soon.

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Orleans remains at 6 cases, with 122 testing negative for coronavirus

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are reporting one new case of Covid-19 in Genesee County, for 17 total. Orleans County has no new confirmed cases and remains at 6.

The person with the new confirmed case in Genesee is under age 65 and resides in the central part of the county, the Health Department reported.

The new positive case was not under precautionary or mandatory quarantine when they became symptomatic.

The Health Department is doing contact tracing for all new cases where known contacts are placed under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if symptoms become present

“Limited information is provided to the public in compliance with HIPAA regulations and out of the respect of those impacted by this virus.” The Health Department said in a news release.

The following is part of a press release from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Cumulative Data

• In Orleans, there have been 6 confirmed cases of Covid-19, 122 negative tests, 6 people in mandatory isolation after testing positive, 9 in mandatory quarantine and 11 in precautionary quarantine.

• In Genesee County, 17 have tested positive and 197 tests have come back negative. There are also 15 people currently in mandatory isolation, 37 in mandatory quarantine, 11 in precautionary quarantine, 1 death and person who has recovered.

New York State cases/Restrictions/Guidelines

• Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today at his press conference there are now a total of 92,381 confirmed positive cases of Covid-19 in NYS.

• 13,383 (14 percent) of Covid-19 patients are hospitalized.

• The Governor has extended NY PAUSE program (non-essential workers down to 0%) until April 15; this will be evaluated every two weeks

• New Yorkers without health insurance can apply through NY State of Health within 60 days of losing coverage (click here for more information.

• The President and CDC have ordered a travel advisory (NY, NJ & CT) – this is not a lock down, these federal actions support state actions to date. It is OK to be outside in your yard, ride bikes, visit a state park for walks, to take rides in your vehicle. However congregating and taking the family shopping does not comply with social distancing (keeping 6 feet from others, limiting time out in public)

Operational Updates

• Social distancing must be practiced in order to stop the spread of Covid-19. This means canceling events such as parties, celebrations, and neighborhood gatherings where people congregate together. This also means that children and adults should not play contact sports. These are temporary requests that will help stop the spread of the virus so that we can resume normal activities. If you must go to the store, always maintain at least 6 feet of space between you and other people.

• Please remain home if ill, even if a person has a negative Covid-19 result it is important to continue to limit physical contact. Flu and COVID-19 are still transmittable and people should continue to remain home and limiting contact with others. If you work with a vulnerable population, self-monitor prior to going to work, if you become sick while at work, contact your supervisor immediately and leave the premises to decrease the risk of contact with others.  When not working, follow social distancing and limit time in public.

Medical concerns

• If you feel you may have Covid-19, call your primary care provider or healthcare facility ahead of time. Do not go directly there. Call ahead to get guidance. Swabbing will be based on those who are in higher risk categories – elderly and immune compromised and those with underlying health issues.

• Swab sample results are coming back slower than expected. With more testing, we expect this will continue. Whenever anyone is swabbed for potential Covid-19, self-isolation is advised until the test result is received.

Older adults

The Office for the Aging in both counties continues to operate. They are still providing meals to their residents and are working with their vendors to provide the potential increase in meals to the residents they serve.

For Genesee County: NYConnects / Office for the Aging call 585-343-1611 Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00.

For Orleans County: Older Adults in Orleans County can contact Arc of Genesee Orleans Nutrition Program at 589-5424 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Office for the Aging staff members are coordinating with Meals on Wheels to ensure meal delivery to seniors in need. The staff are keeping their spirits up to stay safe and still deliver smiles with nutrition. There is a suggested donation for meal delivery, but do not let cost get in the way of asking for this help. If you have concerns about not having enough food call NY Connects/Office for the Aging at 589-3191.

Anxiety, Depression, Fear

• If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, fear about this outbreak call the Care + Crisis Helpline at 585-283-5200, text 741741 or call the NYS COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 884-863-9314, they have trained listeners available 24/7 to help you through this.

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HOLLEY – The Village of Holley is keeping its trails open to the community but will immediately be closing the playgrounds, pavilions and park bathrooms, Mayor Brian Sorochty said.

“We recognize that getting outdoors to walk, jog, or ride your bike is a great way to stay healthy and active, and reduce stress,” he posted on the village’s Facebook page. “But this must be done in conformance with the CDC/NYSDOH guidelines regarding social distancing and other measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus. The Village of Holley strongly encourages all citizens to follow these guidelines at all times.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and State Department of Health have issued these guidelines to help prevent the spread of colds, flu and COVID-19:

• Stay home if you are sick, or showing or feeling any COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, coughing, and/or troubled breathing;

• Practice social distancing by keeping at least six feet of distance between yourself and others, even when outdoors;

• Avoid close contact, such as shaking hands, hugging, or high-fives;

• Wash hands often or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are not available; and

• Avoid unnecessary contact with surfaces that are often touched, such as doorknobs and handrails.

“Please remember that we are all in this together and we must all do our part,” Sorochty said. “Be safe and be healthy.”

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The Orleans and Genesee County Public Health Department has reported that 3 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Genesee County, bringing the total confirmed cases there to 16.

In Orleans County, there are no new cases, keeping the county’s total at 6.

In Genesee, the three new cases are all people under the age of 65. One lives in the central part of the county, while two others are on the western side of the county, according to the Health Department.

In addition, those new confirmed cases include two people who were under mandatory quarantine. Since they tested positive they are now under mandatory isolation.

Cumulative Data

• Orleans County –  6 confirmed cases, 110 negatives who were tested, 6 in mandatory isolation (after testing positive), 9 in mandatory quarantine, 5 in precautionary quarantine, 0 deaths and 0 recoveries.

• Genesee County – 16 confirmed cases, 161 negatives, 14 in mandatory isolation (after testing positive)m 30 in mandatory quarantine, 11 in precautionary quarantine, 1 death and 1 recovered.

Contact Tracing

Contact tracing has been initiated for all the new cases.  Known contacts have already been placed under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if indicated (if symptoms become present), according to the Health Department.

If a person is identified as a contact, they will be notified by the local Health Department, quarantined and, if warranted, swabbed if indicated.

HIPPA Regulations

“Limited information is provided to the public in compliance with HIPAA regulations and out of the respect of those impacted by this virus,” the Health Department said in a news release. “When, and if, there is a situation where potential contact is made in a public location where contact tracing doesn’t have actual names we will send out a media announcement to help seek contacts.”

Some in the community continue to voice requests about knowing the locations of individuals who have tested positive, those who are being monitored and where they have been in the county so that they may know where to avoid.

“The current situation is that every place is potentially a location that you could catch the virus,” the Health Department stated. “It would be a disservice to our communities to share specific locations that could indicate that there is any area in either county that is unaffected by the threat of COVID-19.  Please stay at home as much as possible, please stay home if you are sick, please encourage others to do the same and please show kindness to others.”

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Information from Orleans and Genesee County Public Health Departments

There is one new confirmed coronavirus case in both Orleans and Genesee counties, the Public Health Department reported today at 4 p.m.

The new case in Orleans is an individual under age 65 from the central part of the county. Orleans now has six confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Genesee’s latest case is under the age of 65 residing in the central part of the county. Genesee now has 13 confirmed cases.

• None of the new positive cases were under precautionary or mandatory quarantine when they became symptomatic and are not believed to be connected, the Health Department said.

• Contact tracing has been initiated for all the new cases. Known contacts have already been placed under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if indicated (if symptoms becomes present).

If a person is identified as a contact, they will be notified by the 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,” according to a news release from the Health Department. “When, and if, there is a situation where potential contact is made in a public location where contact tracing doesn’t have actual names we will send out a media announcement to help seek contacts.”

Community Spread

Means you can get it from respiratory droplets from infected people and on any surface as long as the virus is still viable. If you touch a door handle, counter, etc. that has the virus on it, then touch a mucous membrane (nose, mouth, eyes) you can introduce the virus into your body.

Identifying a store or business where people may have been doesn’t help because the virus is everywhere and can give a false sense of security that the virus isn’t somewhere else. Limiting trips to the store and designating only one person for shopping can lower the risk of spreading the virus.

With the rising numbers, it is important to know the social distancing guidance will work but it takes time before we can see the results. The coming weeks are most critical in determining how many lives can be saved in our communities by staying safer at home, social distancing, and having good hand (wash often) and cough (do not cough in your hand, but in a disposable tissue or your elbow) hygiene.

Nature Breaks and Parks

We are getting reports of groups not practicing social distancing. Many parks have roped off areas of their parks to discourage group play (basketball, football, soccer, using shared equipment or frequently touched surfaces such as the playground equipment). This is not a time for playgroups. Parents remind your children they are to keep their distance from non-household members to limit the spread of disease.

State Parks are free with limited services available. They are encouraging New Yorkers to recreate locally, practice social distancing, and use common sense to protect themselves and others. Contact your local park for specific information on any changes to their operations in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

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