The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and the National Center for Missing Children and Exploited Children are seeking the public’s help in finding a Holley teen and a baby who were last seen on Tuesday.

Alyssa Bel, 15, of Holley and Natalie Huntington, a nearly 2-month-old baby from Holley, may be in the company of a juvenile male and headed to Florida.

Anyone with information about Alyssa and Natalie should contact the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office at (585) 589-5527 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST).

ALBION – Orleans County saw a big increase in early voting this past weekend on the first two days that people had a chance to cast ballots in person. The pace didn’t slow down on Monday and Tuesday.

There were 476 early voters on Monday, followed by 530 on Tuesday.

There were nearly 700 over the weekend, with 364 on Saturday, followed by 332 on Sunday.

That means 1,702 people have already voted in person out of about 23,000 registered voters in the county or about 7.4 percent.

The county has already far exceeded the number of early voters in the 2019 general election when only 374 people used the option over nine days. That was the first time people could do early voting in person in Orleans County.

Early voting continues until Nov. 1 at the Board of Elections at the Orleans County Administration Building on Route 31. The hours include:

• Today from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Oct. 29-30 (Thursday and Friday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Oct. 31-Nov. 1 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The county has also seen a big increase in requests for absentee ballots. That deadline has passed.

There were 2,885 applications for absentee ballots, which was up from the 952 received in 2016 during the last Presidential election.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Genesee Community College is shown at the main campus in Batavia in this photo from Feb. 13, 2018.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature for the first time is capping its contribution to community colleges and any amount over that will be passed on to the towns.

The county will cap its share to community colleges at $2,050,000 beginning in 2021, Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, advised town officials on Tuesday.

The Legislature already had sent notice to the towns. The topic was discussed on Tuesday evening during the Orleans County Association of Municipalities.

The county will be spending $2,240,251 for community colleges this year. That is $190,251 over the cap it will be setting. The county will pay the full amount this year, but starting in 2021 the towns will pay any local cost over the $2,050,000.

Johnson said the town share will be based on credit hours of residents in those towns. Based on the data in 2019/2020, the additional $190,251 overages for each town would be $40,384 in Albion, $8,283 for Barre, $14,105 in Carlton, $15,040 in Clarendon, $14,096 in Gaines, $9,063 in Kendall, $21,020 in Murray, $34,297 in Ridgeway, $22,198 in Shelby and $11,760 in Yates.

Community colleges were supposed to be funded with the state paying a third, the student paying a third, and the local town/county paying the other third.

But Johnson said the state has pulled back on its contribution, putting more pressure on students and local municipalities.

The County Legislature this afternoon is scheduled to pass a resolution calling on the state to increase funding for community colleges. The Legislature also is scheduled to vote on setting a cap at $2,050,000 for community colleges.

“We just had to draw the line,” Johnson said.

Most community college students from Orleans go to Genesee Community College. But Orleans County has paid towards local students who attend other community colleges in the state, and some are far more costly than GCC, including the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

Sean Pogue, the Barre town supervisor, said the college costs will be difficult for towns, who are stressed to stay under the state-imposed tax cap which is about 2 percent.

“We don’t have any money to play with,” Pogue responded to Johnson. “We’re already at the 2 percent increase. I don’t have any room for this.”

Johnson said the county kept the towns and villages whole with their share of local sales tax. And the county will still be paying about 90 percent of the local community college cost share, based on 2020 numbers.

There is a chance the local share will be under the $2,050,000 county cap next year and the towns won’t have to pay towards the cost.

“There is no way to tell what 2021 will do,” Johnson said. “Will more people go to college? I hope they do. The Orleans County Legislature values our residents expanding their knowledge base.”

Village accepts construction bids for water line, sewer plant upgrades

MEDINA — The Village Board on Monday evening approved three construction bids for about $4 million to upgrade infrastructure in the village.

Most of the work will be at the wastewater treatment. Medina awarded two bids for the sewer plant.

Villager Construction of Airport was approved as the low bidder for phase 2 of an upgrade project at the sewer plant for $2,845,000. The company was about $164,000 less than the next lowest bidder.

The other project is for electrical upgrades at the plant. Medina accepted the low bid of $438,000 from the Concord Electric Corporation in Rochester. There were four other bidders ranging from $459,310 to $647,835.

Medina is adding a new ultraviolent disinfection system to the plant as part of this project. It will have a new concrete chamber between the Gravity Thickener Building and Secondary Clarifiers to house the new UV disinfection system.

The project includes re-routing existing sludge piping, combined effluent piping, and storm water piping that is currently in the location of the proposed UV concrete chamber.

Villager Construction will need to remove existing grit concentrator, piping, fittings, and associated equipment located in the Grit Removal Room.

The company will install a new grit concentrator and associated appurtenances including piping,

fittings, valves, control panel, accessories and all appurtenances.

Villager will need to modify the microscreen filter area for the new filter system, provide modifications to existing water system piping to accommodate installation of new

filter system, provide and install new filter system, blowers, accessories, and appurtenances, as well as other upgrades.

Village Board urged to reject low bidder for East Avenue project

The board also accepted Milherst Construction Inc. of Clarence Center as the low bidder on the East Avenue forced main extension and pump station rehabilitation for $533,880. That was $34,835 less than the next lowest bidder, Villager Construction. There were six bidders on the project, with the highest at $880,875.

Wendel, an engineering firm hired by the village, discussed the project with Milherst and reviewed other municipal project done by the company and recommended Medina accept the bid.

Medina officials were urged to reject Milherst as an irresponsible bidder. Matt Kent, an analyst with New York Foundation for Fair Contracting, said Milherst has a prior felony conviction for defrauding New York State in an 8-year unemployment insurance scheme that defrauding the state $79,616. The company had workers collect unemployment while they worked off the books. Milherst pleaded guilty to grand larceny in 2016.

The company was forced to pay back the $79,616 and a penalty of $12,461 to the state Department of Labor.

Company leaders also haven’t always disclosed that conviction in questionnaires to municipalities when they submit bids on construction bids, Kent said.

Village officials said Milherst has settled with the state for the grand larceny and the company receives strong reviews for its construction work.

Owen Toale, Medina’s deputy mayor, said rejecting Milherst would mean Medina would have to spend about $35,000 more on the project.

“Wendel has recommended them. They do quality work,” Toale said. “My responsibility is to the 6,000 residents of the Village of Medina – $35,000 is a lot of money.”

CLARENDON – People who attended a wedding on Oct. 17 in Clarendon may have been exposed to Covid-19. They are urged to closely monitor themselves for symptoms.

If symptoms appear, they should contact their primary care provider immediately and also self isolate until they receive the results of a Covid test, according to a notice from the Orleans and Genesee County Health Departments.

The wedding on Oct. 17 was on Acton Road in Clarendon, a site with a Bergen address.

“A significant number of known close contacts have been identified through contact tracing and have been placed under mandatory quarantine or isolation,” said Paul Pettit, public health director in the two counties. “However, there are individuals that attended the wedding that were not part of the original guest list and those contacts may not be aware they may have been exposed to the virus.”

Symptoms of Covid-19 include but are not limited to fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

To find a testing site, click here.

Orleans reports 9 more recoveries from Covid-19

There are six new confirmed cases reported today in Orleans County and four in Genesee County.

Orleans County with the 6 new positive cases has now had 391 people test positive since March.

The new positive cases in Orleans County reside in Carlton, Clarendon and Murray. The individuals are in the following age groups: 20s, 30s, 40s, 60s and 80s.

None of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reported this afternoon.

Orleans also is reporting nine more recoveries and those people have been removed from the isolation list.

Orleans also has 4 more individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. Two residents are also hospitalized due to Covid.

Genesee County has four new positive cases of Covid for a total of 358 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in Batavia, LeRoy and Pavilion. They are in the age groups of 0-19, 30s and 60s.

One of the individuals was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive. Genesee also has 25 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Genesee also has two people hospitalized due to Covid.

There are currently 62 total active cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, with 34 in Orleans and 14 each in Genesee and Wyoming. Click here to see an online map of confirmed cases in the three counties.

A reminder from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments:

• Gathering Size: According to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.45, all non-essential gatherings of up to 50 individuals of any size for any reason (celebrations, weddings, or other social events at public facilities or private venues) unless otherwise designated (ex. religious gatherings) are now allowed for those regions in phase 4.

And that’s only if appropriate social distancing, wearing cloth masks/face coverings over the mouth and nose, and cleaning and disinfection protocol requirements are followed. With the recent uptick of individuals testing positive and the stricter guidance placed by the Governor, it is important to remember that those who plan and host non-essential gatherings (whether at a venue or a private residence) as noted above, can be fined up to $15,000, and/or cause our counties to be considered a micro-cluster which will place the area under stricter restrictions.

Standpipe from 1934 taken down after water system connected to new water tower

Photos by Tom Rivers

ELBA – The water tank that has been a part of the Elba landscape since 1934 came down just after 1 p.m. today. The standpipe held about 300,000 gallons of water.

It has been replaced by a new 750,000-gallon water tank that serves the village and also a growing water system throughout the town. (Elba has sent construction of phase 7 of its town-wide water district out to bid.)

The water tank landed with a loud thud and unleashed a lot of mud, including several chunks that hit the Orleans Hub editor.

Iseler Demolition of Port Hope, Mich. brought of team of welders to take apart the tank. Iseler cut out sections on the bottom of one side of the tank, the same method used to cut down a tree.

Once an opening was cut out at the bottom of the tank, Iseler cut loose the last bolt used to help hold down the tank. The standpipe seemed to groan and then toppled over.

Iseler employees then went to work cutting the tank into pieces. Most of it will be recycled. Some small pieces will be given to people village and town officials and people who worked on the project.

Elba Town Supervisor Donna Hynes was given the plaque on the tank on Monday, which noted when it was constructed. She has the plaque at the Town Hall right now.

Isler employees cut up pieces of steel from the bottom of the tank after it toppled over.

Elba Mayor Norm Itjen said the water tower has been up his entire life and the entire lives of most local residents. The structure, which was about 80 feet high, could be seen several miles away down Route 98 from Batavia.

Itjen said he is pleased the community has upgraded its water system, with new waterlines, a new water tank, and a different water provider. Elba was using a well off Barrville Road. Elba switched to the Genesee County water system about two years ago with the water coming from the City of Batavia.

Itjen said the community has been water quality and the new water lines and water tower have boosted water pressure by about 10 to 15 pounds for most water customers.

Before the upgrades, the village Department of Public Works was frequently called into duty to fix leaking water lines.

The welders go to work taking the water tank apart.

Iseler expects to have the tank gone on Wednesday.

Here is how the two water tanks looked at about noon, about an hour before the standpipe was taken down.

Massachusetts also on list but travelers from there don’t have to quarantine for 14 days

 Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that California has been added to New York State’s Covid-19 travel advisory.

No areas have been removed. The advisory requires individuals who have traveled to New York from areas with significant community spread to quarantine for 14 days. The quarantine applies to any person arriving from an area with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or an area with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

Neighboring state Massachusetts now meets the criteria for the travel advisory, in addition to Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. However, given the interconnected nature of the region and mode of transport between the states, a quarantine on these states is not practically viable. That said, New York State highly discourages, to the extent practical, non-essential travel between Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania while they meet the travel advisory criteria.

“We know Covid is spreading at increased rates in other states and New York State is not in a hermetically sealed bubble,” Cuomo said. “The numbers are a reminder that Covid is still here and continues to spread in communities across the state, particularly when people choose not to follow the safety protocols in place to control the virus.”

The full list of 43 states and two territories on the travel advisory now includes: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.

“We continue to see outbreaks linked to mass gatherings at houses of worship, at weddings and funerals, and other events where the virus can quickly spread,” Cuomo said. “Now, 45 states and territories meet the requirements for our travel advisory. We cannot let our guard down and risk going backwards in New York. It’s going to take the work of all of us to remain vigilant. Stay NY Smart – wear a mask, socially distance and follow the public health guidance. It’s there to save lives.”

Press Release, Save Ontario Shores

YATES – Local opposition to a proposed industrial wind turbine project in the towns of Somerset and Yates has increased significantly according to a new survey commissioned by Save Ontario Shores.

• 83% of the residents who participated in the survey in late August and early September said they were opposed to the Lighthouse Wind project, which calls for the construction in the two Lake Ontario shoreline communities of 47 turbines that would be 600 feet or taller. Including 240-foot long blades.

In 2015, the Town of Somerset’s survey showed that 67% of respondents were opposed to the project; SOS’s survey in Yates that year showed 78% were opposed.

“After five years, any lingering doubts about the level of opposition to this project has evaporated,” said SOS President Pam Atwater. “Governor Cuomo and project developer Apex should look very closely at these survey results and acknowledge that the project is not acceptable to our communities.”

In latest survey, 2,148 surveys were mailed to Somerset and Yates residents; 31% were returned to the Buffalo accounting firm Lumsden & McCormick, LLP, which tabulated the results. The survey margin of error is +/- 3%.

• The respondents also said they opposed industrial wind projects in the Great Lakes because of the negative impact it will have on fishing and boating (78% concerned); the legacy pollutants (chemicals remaining in the environment long after they were first brought into use – 78% concerned); and the number of birds and bats that would be killed by industrial wind turbine blades operating in the lake (84% concerned).

“Enough is enough! Each town, not the state, should decide for itself how best to contribute to a more sustainable future that is in harmony with the values and character of each community,” said Town of Yates Supervisor Jim Simon. “Our town is working with local farmers on the possibility of a renewable energy biodigester to convert cow manure into biogas. This initiative is proof that a community can contribute to the governor’s renewable energy goals while staying true to its rural character and residents’ desires.”

“Our town as well as all towns should be able to decide what is best for our community and residents, not the state,” said Town of Somerset Supervisor Jeff Dewart. “There is an 1,800-acre industrial site in Somerset that is closed. It would be a good place to put a solar farm and a data center, along with a multi-use site including a park for our town. This would demonstrate that our community is contributing to the governor’s renewable goals.”

• An overwhelming number, 89%, oppose legislation approved early this year by New York State giving Albany substantial power to rapidly review, evaluate and permit the siting of industrial wind turbine and solar energy projects with decreased opportunity for public or local municipality input.

Recent studies have estimated that using industrial wind and solar projects to meet the governor’s renewable energy goals will require hundreds of thousands of acres of land in Upstate New York, which currently produces 88% of its electricity from zero emissions generation (largely hydro-electric and nuclear). Downstate uses 70% fossil fuel generated electricity. 88% of the survey participants said Upstate New York was being asked to bear an unfair burden in order to meet the governor’s energy goals.

This survey is released as Governor Cuomo’s renewable siting office has draft regulations and standards that when finalized will decrease citizen and municipal voices and options, will lighten requirements for developers and speed up the siting process for projects so large that they will change the character of a region. Out-of-state developers profit at the expense of rural communities, rural habitat and wildlife in Upstate New York that is already saturated with zero emissions electricity.

“This is not just an assault on local rule – it’s an all-out declaration of war by the governor,” said Yates Town Board Member John Riggi.

• 86% of the respondents support establishing local moratoriums to study and develop standards for battery storage safety and transmission line construction before any new industrial wind and solar projects are constructed.

“We are calling on Governor Cuomo to explore alternative ways to reach statewide climate goals, and not force massive industrialization on communities like Somerset and Yates whose residents clearly do not want them and whose environment, economy and community character would be harmed by them,” Atwater said. “He should be developing an energy policy that brings together New Yorkers, not one that tears communities apart.”

MEDINA – The Medina Area Partnership was able to work out the details this morning for having Beggar’s Night on the Medina school campus this Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.

Orleans Hub this morning had an article that the location would be at the Olde Pickle Factory. That gave the Medina Area Partnership an option after the Orleans County Health Department shared its concerns about having the event at Rotary Park.

Having the event at the school will reduce potential neighborhood impacts. MAP didn’t want a long line of vehicles backed up on a residential street.

Motorists on Friday should enter the school campus on Maple Ridge Road and will exit on Gwinn Street.

Scott Robinson, MAP president, said the Medina Police Department recommended the school, saying it would be much easier to manage the traffic.

Families participating in Beggars’ Night should stay in their vehicles. Medina merchants and MAP members will be handing out about 600 take-home boxes or bags of candy.

Medina also is allowing trick-or-treating on Halloween from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the village.

Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

Provided photo: Katy Franks holds the plaque she awarded by Brockport State College.

LYNDONVILLE – Katy Franks, a special education teacher for Lyndonville Central School District, was honored with a teacher educator award from Brockport State College.

She received Brockport’s Marguerite Hare Browne/Gerald L. Browne School-Based Teacher Educator Award (grades 7-12) for her outstanding dedication to SUNY students.

“Lyndonville Central School is proud to have Katy Franks as a teacher and a mentor to future educators,” said Lyndonville Superintendent Jason Smith. “She has worked for the district for over 15 years and is a true asset to our team.”

Franks is an exceptional school-based teacher educator who supports 7-12 teacher candidates enrolled in SUNY Brockport’s teacher certification program in the Department of Education and Human Development. To be nominated for this award, Franks demonstrated an exemplary performance as a teacher and has provided numerous opportunities for SUNY Brockport student-teachers to gain valuable experience working with students.

Although Franks is not “technically each (Brockport) student’s teacher of record, she is amazing and invests deeply in ensuring our adolescent level students placed at Lyndonville get rich experiences working with students with disabilities throughout their student-teaching,” stated Allison Wright of Brockport State College.

Franks is “very professional and always willing to go above and beyond,” said her previous direct supervisor, Anne Marie Holland. “She is a great role model for student teachers, field placements and for the new teachers she has mentored over the years.”

$1.3 million grant program for lead-based paint hazards expanded throughout Genesee, Orleans counties

Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

This week, October 25-31, is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which is a time when families, community organizations, and local governments join efforts in the fight against lead poisoning in their communities.

Lead poisoning in children can lead to hyperactivity, reduced cognitive (thinking) ability, and other permanent, negative health effects. One of the goals of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) is to spread awareness of this public health issue and to increase lead poisoning prevention throughout our communities.

“Lead poisoning can be prevented!” said Paul Pettit, Public Health Director in Genesee and Orleans counties. “The key is to keep children from coming in contact with lead. Take time this week to learn about ways to reduce your child’s exposure to lead in their environment and prevent its serious health effects.”

This year, the Center for Disease Control has compiled three themes for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week:

• Get the facts: Most childhood lead poisoning occurs when children swallow or inhale dust containing lead, often from lead-based paint which was commonly used throughout homes until 1978. Children ingest (eat) lead when they put their hands or other dust-covered objects, such as toys, in their mouth, eat paint chips or soil contaminated with lead, and inhale lead dust, particularly during home renovations or other paint disturbances.

• Get your home evaluated: Although the use of lead was banned from products such as paint since 1978, many homes in our communities still have remnants of old lead paint in them. Old, chipping paint, particularly around window sills, door frames, banisters and porches pose a serious health risk, especially in young children who tend to spend most of their time crawling or playing on the floor.

• Get your child tested: A blood test is the only way to discover if your child has been exposed to lead resulting in a detectable blood lead level. New York State requires that health care providers test all children for lead at age 1 and again at age 2.

Health care providers are required to ask parents/guardians about their child’s exposure to potential lead hazards up until 6 years old. If there is any suspected exposure in that time frame, another blood lead test may need to be administered.

In New York State, the goal is to have 80% of children tested for lead at these ages. Local data shows that the screening rates among children in Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties fell below the state goal in 2019. Lead testing and early detection can prevent long-term health problems for your child and their future. Make sure to talk to your child’s doctor about lead screening at their next appointment!

Funding may be available to help make your home lead safe. In January 2020, the Genesee County Health Department (on behalf of GO Health) received a $1.3 million federal HUD grant to address lead-based paint hazards in homes and rentals throughout the City of Batavia and the Village of Albion, including installation of replacement windows, paint, siding, and other home repairs. Specifically, the grant targets low-income households with children under the age of 6; this includes homeowners and landlords with low-income tenants.

Recently, Genesee County was able to revise the grant target area to include all areas within Genesee and Orleans counties, making potential grant funding available to qualified applicants throughout both counties.

“Lead hazards exist in older homes all over Genesee and Orleans counties,” said Darren Brodie, Lead Program Coordinator for Genesee and Orleans counties. “We want every eligible resident to have a chance to apply for these funds, and we’re prepared to help them through the process.”

For those who don’t know whether they qualify as low-income, as defined by HUD, the information can be found online or by contacting the Health Department directly. This target area expansion is expected to go into effect in November of 2020, and the Health Department is currently accepting applications county-wide for both Genesee and Orleans in anticipation of the expansion.

For more information on the GO Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program, National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, or for general information on lead hazards and the negative effects of lead poisoning, call the Genesee County Health Department at (585) 344-2580 x5507, or email health.GOlead@co.genesee.ny.us.

Lead hazards in the home won’t go away on their own. Lead poisoning prevention starts with YOU!

Number of workers in county down by 1,100 in past year

Orleans County’s unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in September, a big drop from the 9.8 percent in August.

The 9.8 percent unemployment rate in August was the first time it dipped under 10 percent since April when it was 15.9 percent. Then the unemployment rate was 11.5 percent in May, 10.8 percent in June and 12.7 percent in July.

The total number of people working in the county has dropped from 17,000 in September 2019 to 15,900 last month, according to the state Department of Labor.

The number of people unemployed increased from 700 to 900 from September 2019 to September 2020.

The 5.5 percent unemployment rate compares to 3.9 percent in September 2019.

Statewide the unemployment rate was 9.4 percent in September, compared to 3.6 percent in September 2019. Nationally the rate was 7.7 percent in September, compared to 3.3 percent a year before.

The unemployment rates for other nearby counties include (with the rate for August in parentheses):

• Erie, 6.7 percent (10.8 percent)
• Genesee, 4.8 percent (8.1 percent)
• Livingston, 4.6 percent (7.6 percent)
• Monroe, 6.6 percent (10.5 percent)
• Niagara, 6.6 percent (10.9 percent)
• Wyoming, 4.4 percent (7.5 percent)

The highest rates in the state are in New York City with 18.8 percent in the Bronx, 14.1 percent in Kings, and 13.8 percent in Queens.

The lowest rates include 4.0 percent in Hamilton County, 4.1 percent in Yates County and 4.3 percent in Tompkins County.

Orleans County has 19 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the last update on Friday.

The new positive cases reside in Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon and Murray. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 60s and 80s, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

Two of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.

Five of the new cases are students at Albion Central School. All five are hybrid learners – two at the high school, one at the middle school and two at the elementary school. Hybrid learners attend in-person two days a week.

Four of the students had not been in school for the week prior to testing positive. The Health Department determined there is no need to do further contact tracing in the school for those students.

Contact tracing regarding the fifth student has been completed. Staff members and parents of any students who were identified as being close contacts have been notified by the Health Department.

The individuals are under mandatory isolation and will remain there until fully recovered, the Health Department said this afternoon.

Contact tracing is in process. Individuals identified by the Health Department as being close contacts either have been contacted or will be by the Health Department contact tracers and they will be placed under mandatory quarantine.

Orleans has now had 385 people test positive for Covid-19 since March.

The county is also reported one resident is hospitalized due to Covid-19, the first hospitalization in the county from Covid in several weeks.

Orleans also has 16 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

Genesee County received 5 new positive cases of Covid-19 and has now had 354 people test positive since March.

The new positive cases reside in Alabama, Bergen, Bethany and LeRoy. The individuals are in their 20s or 60s.

The individuals were not on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, according to the Health Department.

Genesee also is reporting two more recoveries and those individuals have been released from mandatory isolation.

The county has two people hospitalized due to Covid-19.

Genesee also has 13 new individuals on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states.

The local Health Department also is reporting that a resident previously reported as positive at Premier Genesee, a nursing home in Batavia, has now been identified as a negative Covid patient. That individual has been removed from the local numbers of confirmed cases.

Click here to see an online map of the 64 confirmed cases in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, which includes 10 in Genesee, 37 in Orleans and 17 in Wyoming.