By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2020 at 11:13 am
This map made by EJW Media shows the route for Saturday’s Cruisin’ Main Street ride, which starts in Holley at 9 a.m. and ends in Lyndonville, about 2 hours later. The route doesn’t include a drive past Medina Memorial Hospital.
HOLLEY – A big turnout is expected on Saturday for a 50-mile trip throughout Orleans County to highlight small businesses in the community.
Adam Johnson, owner of the 39 Problems bar and restaurant in Albion, is organizing the “Cruisin’ Main Street” event. He said he has heard from many businesses who want to be involved, including some in Rochester and Buffalo.
The ride starts in Holley with vehicles urged to line up on Maziarz Drive at the Holley Business Park at about 8:30 a.m. The caravan of vehicles will leave at 9 a.m. and head to Kendall, then Carlton, Albion, Medina and end in Lyndonville. The route will pass through all four village downtown business districts and will include eight out of the 10 towns in the county. The trip is expected to take about two hours.
Johnson said many businesses are eager to reopen. They have been sidelined the pass two months and are feeling financial pressure. They are concerned about the businesses’ viability and also about their employees.
In the past eight weeks, 3,331 Orleans County residents have filed unemployment claims, which is 20 percent of the workforce in Orleans County.
Johnson urges people to be out along the route to wave and show their support (while practicing social distancing). Participants can join for the entire 50 miles or for shorter stretches.
There has been one change in the planned route. Johnson had hoped for some of the vehicles to pass by Medina Memorial Hospital to show support for the healthcare workers. But Medina Police Chief Chad Kenward and Sheriff Chris Bourke urged the group to not go down the narrow Ohio Street that leads to the hospital. They feared there would be a bottleneck and emergency vehicles would be delayed if they needed to get to the hospital.
Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes region, which was able to start phase 1 of reopening today. There are still many businesses that don’t have permission from the state to reopen. Hair salons and barbers, which are mainstays on Main Street, need to wait until phase 2.
Restaurants and food businesses can’t reopen their buildings for dine-in customers until phase 3.
Johnson said Saturday’s ride was inspired by a similar event on April 5 in Genesee County. Bruce Scofield of Scofield Roll-Off organized the “Corona Convoy” that included 160 truckers.
At the end of the cruise in Lyndonville, there will be a turnaround area, courtesy of Mizkan America. This turnaround will accommodate vehicles of all sizes. Vehicles will have the option to continue west to disperse, or turn around and disperse to the east.
“Let’s all have a good time!” Johnson posted on Facebook. “Drive safe, enjoy each other’s companionship, and drink in a little sunshine.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a group of 15 senators to introduce legislation to ban “ghost” guns.
As reports emerge that the health and economic crises caused by the coronavirus pandemic have increased demand and sales of untraceable weapons, the Untraceable Firearms Act would require distributors and manufacturers to comply with federal firearm safety guidelines.
“The notion that anyone — including convicted felons, domestic abusers, and other dangerous individuals — can download instructions to manufacture or sell an untraceable gun is chilling,” said Senator Gillibrand. “These ‘ghost’ guns bypass our background check system and make it harder for law enforcement to keep us safe. Congress must catch up with technology and outlaw these dangerous weapons.”
The Untraceable Firearms Act would address ghost guns and their core building blocks – unfinished frames and receivers – and the gun-making kits used to build them in the definition of “firearm” under federal law.
This would require online gun kit manufacturers and distributors to comply with the same federal regulations that oversee the production and distribution of completed firearms. This legislation would also require that sellers have a manufacturer’s license and put a serial number on the frame or receiver included in each kit, and that purchasers undergo a background check.
The Untraceable Firearms Act incorporates the Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act, which prohibits firearms that can be easily modified to pass through metal detectors undetected.
This legislation is endorsed by leading gun violence prevention groups including Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords, and Newtown Action Alliance.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2020 at 8:53 am
In Orleans, 20% of workforce has filed for unemployment in past 2 months
The number of people filing unemployment claims in Orleans County and New York State isn’t slowing down.
New York State had 203,928 people file unemployment claims last week, which was up from 197,607 the week of May 2. The 203,928 compares to 12,832 during the same week in 2019.
State-wide there have now been 2,041,694 unemployment claims the past two months.
Orleans County had 285 people file unemployment claims last week, the same as the week of May 2. That brings the total unemployment claims in the county to 3,331 in the past eight weeks, since the state shut down many businesses or significantly curtailed their activities.
Orleans County has a workforce of about 17,000 people. The 3,331 unemployment claims represent about 20 percent of the workforce.
Here are the weekly unemployment claims the past eight weeks in the GLOW counties and statewide:
The NYS Department of Labor announced that in just over a month, more than 330,000 New Yorkers have been approved for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program, which provides unemployment benefits to individuals who do not qualify for traditional unemployment insurance.
In total, the Department of Labor has now paid $7.4 billion in unemployment benefits to New Yorkers since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March — three-and-a-half times the total paid in benefits last year.
“Every state is facing a historic surge in unemployment claims and New York is no different, but we have moved faster and more aggressively than others to get beneficiaries their money, and in just over two months have paid out over three-and-a-half years’ worth of benefits,” NYS Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. “We know New Yorkers are struggling, and we know they need support now, and we are working day and night to get money into more New Yorkers’ hands faster — including through these emergency measures — and we will continue to provide the support people need to help them weather this unprecedented crisis.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 May 2020 at 9:18 pm
‘She is funny and she keeps everybody moving. She is such a happy baby.’
Provided photos: Clarissa Bowen has been a part of the Bowen family in Clarendon since she was born. Her adopted mother, Crystal, delivered the baby with the biological mother on May 7, 2019. Clarissa officially joined the family after an adoption ceremony by Skype this afternoon.
Clarissa Bowen, 1, is a happy baby.
CLARENDON – A Clarendon family this afternoon officially welcomed a new member, Clarissa Rose Bowen, after an adoption ceremony.
Orleans County Family Court Judge Sanford Church presided over the proceeding with attorneys for the Bowen family, Clarissa and child’s biological mother. What was unusual? The ceremony was done through Skype.
Crystal Bowen, Clarissa’s adoptive mother, is thankful the court worked out the details through Skype so Clarissa’s adoption could be official and not have to wait for an in-person proceeding. The Bowen family said the attorneys said it was one of the first adoptions finalized in the state through Skype.
The courthouse is currently off-limits due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s cool they got it done with everything going on,” Mrs. Bowen said this evening.
Clarissa has been with the Bowen family since soon after she was born on May 7, 2019.
She joins Crystal and her husband Jason, and their five biological children: Jared, 14; Chelsea and Cassidy, who are Leap Year twins age 12; Chloe, 10; and Cheyanne, 6.
Crystal is friends with the baby’s biological mother. The mother, when she was six months pregnant, had already asked Crystal and her husband to adopt the baby. Clarissa’s birth certificate even includes the Bowen last name.
The biological mother was home in her apartment when she went into labor at 7:30 a.m. on May 7, 2019. Crystal headed to her apartment to take the biological mother to the hospital that day. But there wasn’t enough time. Crystal called 911 and she delivered the baby in the apartment.
The Bowen family includes: Crystal and Jason Bowen in back, and children from left: Cassidy holding Clarissa, Cheyanne in front, Chloe, Jared and Chelsea.
The biological mother remains friends with the Bowen family, and she sees Clarissa often.
“Clarissa is a wonderful addition to our family,” Mrs. Bowen said. “We love her very much and couldn’t imagine life without her.”
Mrs. Bowen, 40, was adopted herself at age 10. She said she had a tough time before that in foster care. She grew up in North Carolina before being adopted by a family in Webster when she was 10.
Even with five biological children, she wanted to either be a foster or adoptive parent.
“I came from a rough past,” she said. “You can either let your past make you or break you. You can use it as an excuse to break you or you can better yourself.”
The family celebrated Clarissa’s adoption today.
Mrs. Bowen said her home in Clarendon has always been open to children in the community (except the past two months during the Covid-19 pandemic).
“People know they can come to our house and feel safe,” she said.
Her husband works as a truck driver for a roll-off company. Mrs. Bowen is a cosmetologist who does hair and nails. Hair salons are currently closed in New York because of Covid-19. The Bowen kids attend Holley Central School. They are missing their friends and teachers a lot after about two months of being home due to the pandemic.
Clarissa is well loved by her siblings.
“She has fit right in,” Mrs. Bowen said. “She is a beautiful baby. She is funny and she keeps everybody moving. She is such a happy baby.”
The Bowens may still pursue fostering other children. Mrs. Bowen encouraged others in the community to consider being foster or adoptive parents.
“I would be open to helping another child,” she said. “As adults, that’s our job. It takes a village to raise a child. People should ask themselves if they have that love to give.”
Canal Village Farmers’ Market will open for season on June 6
Photo by Tom Rivers: A crowd of 225 people enjoyed a five-course meal last Aug. 8 for the fourth annual Farm to Table Dinner. The event is hosted by the Orleans Renaissance Group.
Press Release, Orleans Renaissance Group
MEDINA – What would’ve been the fifth annual Farm to Table Dinner in Medina has been cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns.
The annual August event is organized by the Orleans Renaissance Group with Zambistro of Medina. The dinner features a gourmet five-course meal using as many local ingredients as possible from Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market.
The table is set for over 200 guests and stretches the entire length of North Main Street in Medina’s Historic Downtown District.
“It’s a monumental undertaking,” said Chris Busch, ORG President. “Given circumstances as they currently stand, it would be logistically unfeasible. I have no doubt that we’ll be back better than ever in 2021.”
The Canal Village Farmers’ Market is currently open with limited offerings, and will open for their summer season on Saturday, June 6, at 9 a.m.
“The market has remained open with limited offerings throughout the winter and spring,” said Busch. “Market Manager, Gail Miller, with Ken and Rose Baker of Baker Farm have done an absolutely amazing job providing local meats, eggs and more to customers during the Covid crisis. When the crisis hit, they stepped up in a big way. They’ve done an incredible service to the community for many, many weeks.”
Busch said hundreds of pre-packaged orders have been sold and delivered weekly via the market, and a similar system will be available during the regular market season. More weekly information can be found on the Farmers’ Market Facebook page.
Masks and social distancing are required to visit the market as per current NYS farmers’ market regulations. The market operates on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 127 West Center Street in Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 May 2020 at 4:59 pm
All 12 fire departments in Orleans County on Saturday will be distributing cloth masks for free at their fire halls from 10 a.m. to noon, or until supplies are depleted.
Each household will be given two of the cloth masks for every member of the household over 2 years old.
The Orleans County Emergency Management Agency received an additional shipment of 7,500 cloth facemasks which will be distributed at the following locations:
Albion Fire Department: 108 N. Platt St. in the Village of Albion
Barre Fire Company:4709 Oak Orchard Rd. in the Town of Barre
Carlton Fire Company Rec Hall: 1853 Oak Orchard Rd. in the Town of Carlton
Clarendon Fire Company: 16169 E Lee Rd. in the Town of Clarendon
East Shelby Fire Company: 5021 East Shelby Rd. in the Town of Shelby
Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company: 3353 Hulberton Rd. in the Town of Murray
Holley Fire Company Fireman’s Field: 55 N. Main St. in the Village of Holley
Kendall Fire Department: 1879 Kendall Rd. in the Town of Kendall
Lyndonville Fire Department: 148 N. Main St. in the Village of Lyndonville
Medina Fire Department:600 Main St. in the Village of Medina
Ridgeway Fire Company: 11392 Ridge Rd. in the Town of Ridgeway
Shelby Fire Company: 4677 South Gravel Rd. in the Town of Shelby
Since the COVID-19 Pandemic began in March, the Emergency Management Office has been working diligently to acquire and distribute personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer.
To date the EMO has distributed the following:
30,200 Gloves
19,775 Surgical Masks
1,985 N95’s
349 Gowns
911 Face Shields
15,000 Cloth Facemasks
1,828 Gallon Containers of Hand Sanitizer
20,000 2 oz. Bottles of Hand Sanitizer
The office has distributed cloth facemasks to the public, government agencies and first responders. Public distribution included 29 different gas stations, grocery stores and pharmacies, as well as RTS, Community Action, Path Stone and the food pantries.
Additionally, Office of the Aging has received 5,300 masks for distribution to the residents they serve. The Department of Mental Health has received 2,000 masks for distribution to the residents they serve.
The EMO and the Department of Public Health have been working with Cornell Cooperative Extension who have received 4,000 masks and an additional 384 gallons of hand sanitizer to keep the agriculture industry working in a safe and healthy manner. Some supplies the EMO received were earmarked for specific heath care facilities and the distribution numbers above do not reflect those supplies.
The Emergency Management Office has received several calls from local businesses about where and how to obtain PPE for their employees. Currently, the EMO supplies are limited and are prioritized for healthcare workers and first responders.
In accordance with the Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.16, “For all essential businesses or entities, any employees who are present in the workplace shall be provided and shall wear face coverings when in direct contact with customers or members of the public. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings for their employees.”
The EMO also hasn’t vetted vendors nor does it endorse any particular vendor. However, on the EMO website, there is vendor information on where to obtain PPE and other supplies to include hand sanitizer and disinfectants for purchase.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 May 2020 at 4:29 pm
Orleans County has 4 more confirmed cases of Covid-19
Orleans County has four new confirmed cases of Covid-19, including two at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion.
That nursing home also suffered another death from the virus, a person over age 65, bringing the total deaths at The Villages to 20, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments is reporting this afternoon.
“Our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of this individual during this difficult time,” the Health Departments said in a news release this afternoon.
Of the four new cases in the county, two are at The Villages, which has now had 77 residents test positive for Covid-19. The two other positives reported today include a resident in Ridgeway and a person living in Kendall. Neither of the two new cases in the community were on quarantine prior to testing positive.
The county has now had 146 people with confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Of the four new cases, one person is in the 30s, one in the 60s, and two people are in their 70s.
Four of the previous positive community cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation, bringing the total recoveries to 48, the Health Departments reported.
There are 12 people hospitalized with Covid-19 from Orleans.
In Genesee County, there is one new confirmed case of Covid-19, bringing the county’s total to 166 positive cases. The new positive case is a person from Darien in the 30s. The newly positive individual was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
A Genesee County resident over age 65 also has died from Covid-19. The county has now suffered four deaths from the coronavirus.
The county also had one more person recover from Covid-19, bringing the total recoveries in the community to 96. Four residents remain hospitalized due to the virus.
Click here to view an online map of confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
The facility breakdown is only showing those facilities from where the Health Departments received notification of a positive swab for Covid-19. Facilities will be added if there is a positive case of Covid-19.
If a regulated facility from either county is not listed, there are no positive cases of Covid-19. The local health departments do not have oversight with many regulated facilities, which may include nursing homes, correctional facilities, hospitals or group homes for disabled residents.
From the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:
• Un-PAUSING does not mean business or life as usual! Be advised the more socialization that occurs the higher risk of transmitting the virus, especially to those who are most vulnerable.
It is imperative we still restrict social/family gatherings until we are certain to have this under control and/or there is a vaccine. It is expected we will see an uptick of positive cases and mandatory quarantines as social interaction increases. If cases increase, it shows us people may be ignoring the orders to not have gatherings of 10 or more people, not social distancing and/or not wearing face coverings properly. This can also impact our ability to continue the re-opening phases. We ask that you respect the guidance and continue to social distance.
• New York State on PAUSE: To assist local authorities with enforcement of these orders, the Governor 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.
• Re-Opening Guidance: The State has provided a template for all businesses to help develop their written Safety Plan to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This plan does not need to be submitted to a state-agency for approval, however it must be retained on the premises of the business and must be made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection.
Be advised the local health departments are NOT the gatekeepers in these next steps. We are NOT reviewing/approving plans and we don’t have the ability to make decisions on who is / who isn’t a part of the first phase nor have we been provided with guidance on interpreting who is and who isn’t included.
• For guidance on Phase 1 re-opening, go to the NY Forward website (click here).
• Both county operations in Genesee and Orleans are to stay reduced until June 7, according to the Governor’s Executive Order and Phase 1 guidelines.
• For questions regarding your specific business/organization contact the Regional Control Room at flnyf@esd.ny.gov.
As the New York State court system continues to navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks announced the gradual return of judges and staff to courthouses in upstate counties that have met the Governor’s established safety benchmarks.
Spanning five Judicial Districts, the return to courthouses will start next week in 30 upstate counties: on Monday, May 18, in the counties of Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates, Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and Schoharie; followed by Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties on Wednesday, May 20.
While remaining open for business during the pandemic, the court system had limited operations, consolidated court facilities, implemented and expanded virtual court operations, and taken a wide range of other measures over the past two months to restrict courthouse traffic and contain the spread of COVID-19. With guidance from
public health officials, plans to safely resume more normalized court operations have been ongoing.
Beginning next week, New York State court system judges and chambers staff, along with designated clerks and support staff, in the previously named upstate counties will return to their courthouses. Importantly, new cases may be filed in these counties electronically.
Courthouse areas that will be used in this first phase include judges’ chambers, clerks’ offices and back offices. Social distancing and other steps restricting courthouse traffic will be enforced to protect the health and safety of judges and staff, attorneys, litigants and members of the public.
Among other safety measures:
Non-employee court visitors will be required to undergo COVID-19 screening before entering the courthouse.
All staff who interact with court visitors must wear a mask.
Anyone entering the courthouse will be required to wear a mask, with masks available for those who need one.
Courtroom and other areas will be carefully marked to ensure proper physical distancing.
Court facilities will be regularly sanitized.
Hand sanitizer dispensers will be available throughout the courthouse.
Acrylic barriers and other safety features will be installed in courthouse areas as needed.
The plans in these jurisdictions will serve as a template for the return of judges and staff to courthouses in other counties of the State.
“I look forward to next week’s return of judges and staff to courthouse facilities in many of our upstate counties−marking a major first step in our resumption to in-person court operations,” said Chief Judge DiFiore. “I am thankful to Administrative Judges Craig Doran and Anthony Cannataro, who are leading our statewide planning efforts, and to all the judges and staff in these upstate counties, for their hard work in preparation for this milestone.”
Added Judge Marks, “As we enter this first phase of our return to our courthouses, we will move carefully and steadily. We will regularly review our safety and other practices,
adapting our protocols and facilities as needed, as we strive to serve the justice needs of New Yorkers while balancing the safety of all those who work in and visit our courthouses.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 14 May 2020 at 1:36 pm
Orleans Community Health is responding to the recent article from an aide who quit her job at The Villages Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion.
Hope Albone recently shared her concerns about all the residents who have contracted the coronavirus and the 19 who have died. She commented the staff felt the virus was brought to the facility by a resident who had attended dialysis in Batavia.
Laurie Joslyn, manager of Orleans Community Health’s dialysis units in Medina and Batavia, explained there has been no cases of the virus in either of those units. Batavia does, however, have a dialysis facility not affiliated with Orleans Community Health.
Joslyn said they take the utmost precautions to make sure their patients remain safe.
“We have had no positive cases of the virus,” Joslyn said. “Every patient and every staff member is screened every day, and none of us have been exposed.”
Should they have a case diagnosed, Joslyn said they have an isolation area to keep that patient away from the others.
She said they are still taking applications for new patients in Batavia, but the slots at the Medina site are full.
Between the two sites, they treat 80 patients a week. In Medina, the site is open from 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with two shifts per day. In Batavia, they operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Joslyn said several of the patients have come to her with concerns about the virus.
“But once I explain the precautions we take, they are comfortable,” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 May 2020 at 11:20 am
Mike Zeliff sent in this photo of the sunrise at 5:45 a.m. today. He took it from the bridge on Route 31 in Knowlesville.
After a streak of chilly weather, higher temperatures have returned. Today the high is forecast for 63, with showers likely with a possible thunderstorm, after 5 p.m.
Friday there will be occasional showers with a high of 67, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.
The weekend highs include 62 on Saturday and 66 on Sunday.
2,500 nursing home residents have died from Covid-19 in NY
Press Release, State Senator Rob Ortt
Today, State Senator Rob Ortt (R,C,I,Ref-North Tonawanda) was joined by his colleagues, Sen. Pat Gallivan, and Sen. Chris Jacob, in requesting a formal, independent investigation into New York State’s nursing homes.
The request for this investigation was made to the New York State Senate Health Committee, the New York State Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, and the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Sen. Rob Ortt, Member, Senate Committee on Health, said, “We must have an independent investigation into our state’s nursing homes to determine what missteps and mistakes were made that led to the devastating loss of life we have seen in these homes across New York. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the already substandard conditions in some of our state’s nursing homes, has created dire circumstances – for the residents, their loved ones, and their caregivers. These facilities are home to some of our most vulnerable individuals, and we must ensure that there is proper oversight into actions taken by New York State’s Department of Health to protect this vulnerable population.”
Sen. Patrick Gallivan, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Health, said, “As more and more questions are raised about the conditions inside nursing homes and the oversight and directives provided by the Department of Health, it is becoming apparent that an outside, independent investigation is warranted. Residents, families and staff deserve full transparency and we need to find out why the virus has had such a devastating impact on so many nursing homes across the state.”
Sen. Chris Jacobs, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, said, “A thorough and independent investigation into nursing home operations in New York State and the Health Department’s role in oversight and ensuring compliance is long overdue, and it is tragic that it took the misguided policies pursued during this COVID-19 pandemic and the devastation they brought to get us to this point. I am very hopeful that the investigations we are calling for will lead us to implementing the kind of reforms and policy changes that will result in a dramatically improved level of care for our seniors, and a greater comfort level for their families. They deserve that at this stage of their lives.”
In recent history, the standards of nursing homes in New York State has decreased, with the NYS Department of Health (DOH) failing to hold homes responsible for violations received during routine compliance reviews. Owners with poor track records of safety compliance were allowed to continue purchasing new nursing homes, and the routine practice of alerting nursing homes of upcoming inspections by the NYS DOH created an environment where nursing home standards were able to skirt by safety standard test.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Five-Star Quality Rating System makes it clear just how poor the standards of New York’s nursing homes have become, rating 101 nursing homes across NYS with one out of five stars (click here for more information).
Until last week, it was state policy to have COVID-positive nursing home employees work as long as they did not display symptoms, and another Department of Health directive forced nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients. Complaints from nursing home staff also indicate that they were not given adequate personal protective equipment in the early stages of the outbreak. There are currently over 2,500 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in our nursing homes, with thousands more presumed dead due to the virus.
Although New York’s Governor and Attorney General announced that they would be looking into nursing home concerns, there are concerns that the narrow scope of the proposed investigation will fail to provide complete and independent findings.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 May 2020 at 10:11 am
Orleans County hit a milestone on Tuesday when it reported that more than 1,000 tests for Covid-19.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, the county on Tuesday reported there have been 1,009 tests for the virus, with 142 testing positive with 867 negative, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
On Wednesday, the total tested in Orleans County was up to 1,064, with 142 confirmed cases of Covid-19.
The county has 40,352 residents, according to the Census estimate in 2019. That breaks out to one tested for every 38 residents.
One of the seven criteria for reopening the state’s economy is a region must test one out of every 30 residents each month. Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes region, which meets the testing standard as a region.
Orleans County officials and the county’s state representatives have asked for the Governor’s Office to approve a drive-through testing site in the county. The nearby counties – Genesee, Niagara, Erie and Monroe – all have drive-through testing locations but that can be a 45-minute drive for Orleans residents, said Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature.
The county did receive some good news with Covid-19 testing on Wednesday. Oak Orchard Health was approved for $449,314 in emergency funding from the federal government to do Covid-19 testing.
Oak Orchard Health has centers in Albion, Lyndonville, Brockport, Warsaw and Hornell. The organization wants to offer Covid-19 testing at all of the sites, Oak Orchard officials said.
“We are working through the details to finalize our plans to expand our testing capacity for all of Oak Orchard,” said Stacie Bridge, director of operations for Oak Orchard Health. “Supplies are limited so we are working through how to obtain the quantities we need as well to support all the communities we serve.”
Paul Pettit, the public health director for Genesee and Orleans counties, said increased testing will be critical in tracking the virus in the county.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 May 2020 at 8:52 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Workers for Titan Construction in Gasport build an amphitheater at Bullard Park in Albion in this photo from June 12, 2019. Phase one of the reopening of the economy includes construction work.
Orleans County can reopen some businesses in phase one of the state’s staggered approach to adding more businesses and activities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Orleans County is included in the nine-county Finger Lakes Region, one of four regions to meet the state criteria to reopen on Friday. The Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley and North Country also will reopen in phase one.
As long as Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations don’t spike, and the regions meet thresholds for testing and tracing, they can keep moving through four phases of a full economy.
The state provides details with guidelines about recommended best practices and mandatory requirements for all of the businesses in phase one in the “New York Forward” website. Click here to see the breakdown.
In general, businesses need to maintain social distancing for employees, have personnel wear face coverings and reduce the maximum capacity of people by 50 percent.
In tightly confined spaces, only one person at a time should be in the space. The state also wants businesses to post social distancing markers using tape or signs that denote 6 feet of spacing in commonly used and other applicable areas on the site.
Businesses are encouraged to limit in-person gatherings as much as possible and use tele- or video-conferencing whenever possible.
Here is a list of what’s included in Phase 1:
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production
Other Animal Production
Other Crop Production
Support Activities for Animal Production
Support Activities for Crop Production
Support Activities for Forestry
Construction
Building Equipment Contractors
Building Finishing Contractors
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 May 2020 at 8:13 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: A boater passes through the channel at Oak Orchard Harbor at Point Breeze in this photo from May 28, 2015. Fishing is big business in Orleans County.
Phase one of the reopening of the economy listed fishing as an allowable activity.
There was uncertainty if that included charter boats. On Wednesday, the state made it clear charter boats are included and provided guidelines for “commercial fishing services and for-hire vessels.”
That is welcome news in Orleans County, where fishing has a $28 million annual economic impact – in a normal year. That is based on a 2017 survey from the State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Out-of-state anglers account for 70 percent of the fishing economic output in Orleans County, $19,620,488 of the $27,989,393. County residents who fish accounted for $1,767,334 in economic activity while other New York state residents outside Orleans represented another $6,601,571.
The state provided a list of precautions to protect against Covid-19 for charter boats and commercial fishing services.
Some of the guidelines for employers and employees include:
Limiting in-person gatherings on vessels and boats, as follows:
• Commercial Vessels: No more than the minimum number of crew members necessary for safe operations; provided, however, that members wear acceptable face coverings when unable to maintain an appropriate social distance of 6 feet.
• All Other Vessels and Boats: No more than the maximum number of people who can safely maintain an appropriate social distance of 6 feet, inclusive of both crew and passengers, unless all are members of the same household. If such distance cannot be maintained, acceptable face coverings must be worn at all times by all individuals on the vessel.
• Walk-In Fishing Guide: Permitted so long as personal contact is minimized and social distancing protocols, including wearing acceptable face coverings when individuals are less than 6 feet apart from one another, are adhered to by all parties.
Recommended Best Practices
• Consider touchless payment, where possible; and if not possible, have hand hygiene supplies (e.g. hand sanitizer) for use after each transaction.
• Face coverings must be cleaned or replaced after use or when damaged or soiled, may not be shared, and should be properly stored or discarded.
• Limit the sharing of objects (e.g. tools, machinery, vehicles) and discourage touching of shared surfaces; or, when in contact with shared objects or frequently touched areas, wear gloves (trade- appropriate or medical); or, sanitize or wash hands before and after contact.
• Passengers aboard for-hire vessels must use appropriate face coverings when social distancing of six feet cannot be maintained, unless they are under three years of age or cannot medically tolerate such covering.
• Regularly clean and disinfect all areas of the vessel at the beginning and end of each trip.
• Cleaning and disinfecting of facilities and vessels, shared surfaces, and other areas, as well as equipment and tools, should be performed using Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) products identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as effective against COVID-19.
• If cleaning or disinfection products or the act of cleaning and disinfecting causes safety hazards or degrades the material or machinery, personnel should have access to a hand hygiene station between use and/or be supplied with disposable gloves.
• Ensure that vessels with food service abide by the same health and safety protocols that are in effect for food service establishments.
• Prohibit shared food and beverages (e.g. buffet-style meals).
• Conspicuously post completed safety plans on site.
For more information on the guidelines from the state, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 May 2020 at 5:15 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: These cherry blossoms in Albion on East Park Street are holding up well after a chilly stretch of weather.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a frost advisory for Orleans County of much of Western New York from midnight to 8 a.m. Thursday.
Temperatures will be in the lower to mid 30s and will result in frost formation.
The frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered. The Weather Service encourages people to take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
