From the county health department:
There are a large number of spots available for the free coronavirus testing clinic on Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Fire Training Center, 7690 State Street Road in the Town of Batavia, from 1 – 4 p.m.
Preregistration is required. Please click on the link to register: https://on.ny.gov/3beJV5T
Press release:
Data Update – Due to the volume and rapidly changing numbers we are no longer reporting mandatory quarantine data.
Vaccine Information: We are currently scheduling Point of Dispensing (POD) mass vaccination clinics for Priority Groups 1A and 1B. To check your eligibility to either of these groups go to: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/phased-distribution-vaccine#phase-1a---phase-1b Links for preregistration are updated on a week to week basis based on vaccine availability.
If appointments become full, please check the state vaccine webpage: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ or the GO Health Vaccine webpage: http://bit.ly/39bfElNGOHealthVaccine or check with your primary care provider or pharmacy. Due to high traffic volume, the registration links may temporarily become unavailable.
Please continue to try again if experiencing any errors with registration. The process of getting the vaccine out to priority groups and eventually the general public is going to take many weeks, months.
For more information about the vaccine and access for those who are 75 and older who do NOT have internet access, please contact your respective Office for the Aging (OFA). For Genesee OFA please call (585) 813-2457 for COVID-19 Vaccine assistance between 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and leave a message and someone will return the call. For Orleans OFA please call (585) 589-3191 between 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and leave a message if you get voicemail and someone will return the call.
The OFA offices can only assist with the NYS online tool as noted below. Individuals will need to call the COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline to make appointments at the listed providers.
The NYS Department of Health has set up various opportunities for vaccination. As of Jan. 11, New Yorkers in Phase 1a and segments of Phase 1b are eligible for the vaccines. ALL VACCINATIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Eligible groups include doctors, nurses and health care workers, people age 65 and over, first responders, teachers, public transit workers, grocery store workers and public safety workers. Residents and staff at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities will continue to be vaccinated through a federal program, which the state is providing resources to accelerate.
To see who are currently included in the 1A and 1B priority groups go to: https://apps.health.ny.gov/doh2/applinks/cdmspr/2/counties?OpID=50500884
For Genesee County (585) 344-2580 ext. 5555 or e-mail Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us.
For Orleans County (585) 589-3278 or OCPublicHealth@orleanscountyny.gov. To check eligibility go to https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/.
The vaccine availability is limited and determined by the state. For more information on when it will be available for the general public keep checking our websites or the NYS Department of Health website: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/
Percent Positive 7-day average as of Jan. 3 (https://forward.ny.gov/percentage-positive-results-county-dashboard):
To review the raw positive data for each of the counties click the following link: https://covid19tracker.health.ny.gov/views/NYS-COVID19-Tracker/NYSDOHCOVID-19Tracker-Map?%3Aembed=yes&%3Atoolbar=no&%3Atabs=n
Click here to view the Genesee and Orleans County online map of confirmed cases.
A reminder the numbers listed as positive/active are current community cases. The recovered numbers are only for community cases and do not include non-county regulated facilities. The total positive cases includes community active/positive, community recovered, and all those from non-county regulated facilities.
Rapid Testing: Preregistration is required for rapid testing clinics.
Genesee County Drive-through Testing Clinic Results -- Jan. 7:
Please note if you have recently tested positive, please do NOT come and get tested again at these clinics. These clinics are to identify new cases, not to determine if you are now negative. It is important to understand that you may still test positive for weeks after initially testing positive.
Use the Rapid COVID-19 Test Intake Form for either the Orleans County or Genesee County COVID-19 Rapid Test Clinics. You will need one form per person being tested.
If you are filling out the form, please complete it, print it out and bring it with you. Click here for the form: http://bit.ly/GOHealthIntakeForm
Preregistration is required for all clinics.
To register for the Orleans County Testing Clinic on Jan. 13, please go to: https://on.ny.gov/35mHMRI
To register for the Genesee County Testing Clinic on Jan. 12 and Jan. 14, please go to: https://on.ny.gov/3beJV5T
For both Genesee and Orleans to help the process please note the following guidelines:
Everyone in the vehicle is to have their mask on when they pull up at the testing site.
Monroe Community College – testing by appointment only: https://www.monroecc.edu/index.php?id=29078
Niagara County Community College -- https://covid19screening.health.ny.gov/covid-19-screening/
Quarantine and Isolation Update
New guidance for those on mandatory and precautionary quarantine as long as you have no symptoms: for community members, travelers and healthcare personnel (with exceptions):
Consistent with recent CDC guidance, quarantine for individuals exposed to COVID-19 can end after 10 days without a testing requirement if no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period.
For those who work as healthcare professionals at Nursing Homes, Adult Care Facilities, certified as Enhanced Assisted Living Residences (EALR) or licensed as Assisted Living Programs (ALP):
Individuals can be released from quarantine after 10 days of being symptom free, however, they are still furloughed (not able to report for work) for the full 14 days.
Individuals will have to continue to self-monitor the entire 14 days. Individuals must be counseled to continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face covering, through Day 14.
These quarantine requirements are also applicable to travelers who are not essential workers and/or who did not complete the testing requirements described in Executive Order 205.2.
If you are being tested for COVID-19 it is important that you self-quarantine until you get your test results whether you have symptoms or not. If you are symptomatic, meaning you are coughing, have a fever or other symptoms, self-quarantine even if you are an essential worker until you get your results back, if you have COVID-19 you may be spreading it! That means to stay home and limit contact with other people, even in your household.
Press release:
With New York State under increasing pressure to allocate the various COVD-19 vaccinations that in some instances have been destroyed or continue to be stored without being used, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Jan. 8 that a new group of recipients would be eligible to receive the vaccinations.
This new group – categorized as 1b – is confined to those 75 years and older as well as utility workers, corrections officers, first responders (police, firefighters, EMTs and support personal) and primary through grade 12 school faculty and staff, including licensed childcare providers.
For a full list of priority workers, click here.
People age 75 and over will primarily be vaccinated at pharmacies and other sites that are part of the “retail network.” Use the online tool to find a location.
As of Monday, Jan. 11, the COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline will open for scheduling vaccination appointments for eligible New Yorkers: 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).
“Residents need to be aware that we have already received reports where people are being contacted by scammers about how they can get a vaccine,” said Genesee County Legislature Chair Shelley Stein. “We are asking those who are eligible for the vaccine to please register on-line or call the COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline to schedule an appointment.”
For others in groups 1a and 1b they can see local information about clinics and clinic schedules here and fill out a registration form and schedule an appointment. Clinics may fill quickly, so please be patient and check the site periodically.
In Genesee County, there are approximately 4,892 residents/ employees in 1a; and in Orleans County 4,321 in 1a residents/ employees.
There are approximately 8,525 residents/ employees in 1b in Genesee County, including 4,809 age 75 years and older; and 6,032 residents/ employees in 1b Orleans County, including 2,959 age 75 years and older.
To date, approximately 200 doses of the vaccine have been received by both counties (400 total). Not all of the doses of the vaccination have been administered, but all of the doses are already scheduled for vaccination over the next few days.
“As the numbers demonstrate, there is nowhere near the amount of vaccine for the number of people who are eligible to receive it. This is a rapidly changing situation, so we understand the frustrations, questions and concerns that we are receiving from many residents,” Stein said.
“This whole process will be determined by the supply of the vaccines and as such we need to be flexible as we anticipate the situation will continue to change. We ask and urge patience among our residents.”
Press release:
A global coronavirus pandemic, racial injustice, economic hardship and political turmoil — although history may remember 2020 for the challenges faced, these difficulties have also proven an opportunity for long-lasting change that will have a positive impact on the lives of residents in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region.
In its new two-minute Annual Report to the Community video, Rochester RHIO (Regional Health Information Organization) showcases how the dedication of employees, stakeholders and participants have led to even stronger health data collaboration and infrastructure across 14 counties. It is available here.
Through the secure electronic exchange of vital health information, Rochester RHIO helps improve care for more than 1.5 million residents. RHIO has been at the forefront of health information exchange (HIE) technology, policy and implementation for more than a decade and its leadership and collaboration have regional, state and nationwide impact.
“Our community has come together in new ways and RHIO has been there in support,” said Jill Eisenstein, CEO and president, Rochester RHIO. “We’ve helped public health officials track and manage the spread of COVID-19; launched a new advanced clinical query portal and expanded our work with emergency medical services providers and community-based organizations to benefit patients in our region; and, we will collaborate with our community partners to improve the region’s health equity by working to ensure that health information is free from racial bias.”
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
Explore+ Advanced Clinical Query Portal
RHIO’s newly launched Explore+, is a redesigned advanced clinical query portal created specifically for the multiple and often complex demands of Health Information Exchange data environments, providing improved data characterization with options to view data by encounter, consolidated timeline and expression.
The video and additional story vignettes are now being shared across the region. For more information, visit https://rochesterrhio.org/
About Rochester RHIO
Rochester RHIO is a secure electronic health information exchange serving authorized medical providers and 1.5 million residents of Monroe, Allegany, Cayuga, Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties in Upstate New York.
The service allows a medical care team to share records across institutions and practices, making patient information available wherever and whenever needed to provide the best care. Patients benefit from fewer repeated tests, easier second opinions, a reduced risk of mistakes caused by poor handwriting or incomplete records, and more informed care during office visits and emergencies.
It is a Qualified Entity of the Statewide Health Information Network of New York (SHIN-NY). Health care professionals and patients can learn more by visiting RochesterRHIO.org or by calling (877) 865-RHIO (7446).
From Vickie Muckle, executive assistant to the county manager:
There are several spots open at the free COVID-19 testing clinic today at the Fire Training Center at 7690 State Street Road in the Town of Batavia.
Because the State system is down today, folks do not need to preregister they can just show up. We will be there until 4 p.m. today.
NOTE: Apologies for not posting this yesterday. We moved back into our house (from our fire in April) yesterday and it was a very busy day and evening, and has been crazy so far this morning).
Press release:
Press release:
Press release:
On Dec. 28, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020.
Certain provisions were included with this law to eliminate the requirement to file property tax exemption renewal applications for the Senior Citizens exemption and the Limited Income Disability exemption in 2021.
Property owners who received either of those exemptions on the 2020 assessment roll do not have to send a request to their local assessor to continue receiving the exemption for 2021 as the exemption will automatically roll over.
There are some exceptions where an application for an exemption for 2021 may be requested at the discretion of each assessing jurisdiction.
This includes a change in one’s primary residence; another owner being added to the deed; property transferring to a new owner; or a person who has died. This law also only applies to renewal applications, if you are looking to receive either of these exemptions for the first time you must still apply with your local assessor.
“Residents should be aware that this law does not impact the STAR program, however, anyone who received an Enhanced STAR exemption in 2020 will continue to have their income automatically verified via the State’s income verification program,” said Genesee County Legislature Chair Shelley Stein. “So, typically no action should be required to continue receiving an Enhanced STAR exemption as well.”
For more information, residents are urged to contact their local Assessor or Real Property Tax Services in the Genesee County Treasurer’s Office at (585) 344-2550, ext. 2215.
The Genesee County Legislature’s Ways & Means Committee has agreed to give Legislature Chair Rochelle Stein the authority to sign documents related to the COVID-19 pandemic that need prompt attention without prior formal consent of the full board.
At a meeting via Zoom videoconferencing on Wednesday, Stein referred to a memorandum of understanding from the New York State Health Department that “came very quickly (this week) and in order for Genesee County to receive COVID vaccine this had to be turned around immediately,” she said.
“This is actually on our agenda today as a ratification of my prior signature. This really helps the public health department to keep the process rolling so that Genesee County has the opportunity for that vaccine to be delivered here locally.”
Stein reasoned that while in the pandemic, the county must act quickly and prudently to support the health department.
“So, in consultation with our public health department and our county manager and the county attorney – once having all of their approvals to sign this MOU – I did provide my signature,” she said. “If there are other COVID-related agreements that need to be signed very quickly, such as this, I think that I would feel better as the chair having the weight of the rest of the legislature with me as I take that on.”
Therefore, she asked for the committee’s approval to sign these types of documents, only as they relate to COVID-19.
Committee members were in full agreement, with Ways & Means Chair Marianne Clattenburg noting that she believed Stein already had this authority during emergency situations.
“And she’s not going to sign anything where any funds are expended or anything like that,” Clattenburg added.
The recent MOU with the state DOH to ensure distribution and administration of the vaccine by the Genesee County Health Department was time sensitive, prompting County Attorney Kevin Earl to render an opinion “that under these exigent circumstances to obtain vaccine that is crucial to the health and welfare of Genesee County residents, the Chair could sign the MOU, subject to ratification and approval of the terms and conditions by the full Legislature.”
Legislators Gary Maha, Christian Yunker, John Deleo and Gregg Torrey spoke in favor of the request, with Torrey asking if a formal resolution was needed to put this plan into action.
At that point, Earl said he was first looking for a consensus and then will draft a resolution to be considered at the next full legislature meeting (on Jan. 13).
Legislator Gordon Dibble said he wanted to make sure that the legislature was informed in a “timely fashion” when these situations arise and Stein assured him that would be the case.
Clattenburg, speaking directly to Stein, said lawmakers have “total confidence in you and you’re doing a great job.”
“We want to thank you on behalf of all our citizens for the work that you are doing as the chair. This is something that I know you didn’t anticipate last January,” Clattenburg added.
Stein thanked legislators and county employees for pulling together during some trying times.
“We could not do this without a full team effort and everyone working on behalf of the citizens of Genesee County,” she said. “It really is amazing what you can do when you decide to work together.”
Press release:
Press release:
Data update for Jan. 6, 2021:
Press release:
Out of nearly $20 million ESL Federal Credit Union reinvested in the Greater Rochester community in 2020 through its philanthropic efforts, more than $10 million was dedicated to supporting the pandemic response through grants to nonprofit agencies across the community.
As the pandemic continues into 2021, the full-service financial institution, with a branch in Batavia, is prepared to carry on its commitment to support nonprofit agencies throughout the community and the people these agencies serve.
“Nonprofits have been experiencing critical financial hardships throughout the pandemic and that is expected to continue well into 2021,” said Faheem Masood, president and CEO, ESL Federal Credit Union.
“To support the stability and resiliency of these agencies so they can continue to provide critical services, nonprofit and corporate funders need join together to lift up these organizations for the benefit of the people in the greater community.
"Our purpose at ESL is to help our community thrive and prosper, and thanks to trust and loyalty of our members, we are ready and able to do our part to reinvest in the community as we all work together through this public health crisis.”
Some of the grants ESL provided in 2020 to support the coronavirus pandemic response included:
“The critical issues our community faces because of this pandemic and beyond are best addressed when organizations come together and collaborate for the greater good,” said Ajamu Kitwana, vice president/director, Community Impact, ESL Federal Credit Union.
“This level of collaboration will continue to be a necessity in 2021 and ESL is prepared to learn from our work in 2020 and understand where funding needs are greatest as we move forward.”
ESL’s Community Impact team was created in an effort to support the building of a healthy, resilient and equitable Greater Rochester. The Community Impact efforts of ESL focus on expanding individual opportunity, building strong neighborhoods and strengthening organizations and systems.
Over the past three years, ESL’s philanthropic reinvestments in the community have totaled more than $40 million.
Press release:
Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the more than $3 million “Raising the Bar” Restaurant Recovery Fund to assist restaurants in New York State during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This grant funding has been made possible through financial donations led by Diageo North America and supported by Coastal Pacific Wine & Spirits (a division of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits) and will be implemented by the nonprofit National Development Council (NDC).
The “Raising the Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund” will help eligible restaurants adjust their operations to the impacts of COVID-19 and adherence to New York State’s public health and safety measures during the winter months when outdoor dining is limited.
Empire State Development Acting Commissioner, and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, “The restaurant industry is a critical component of our state's economy -- encompassing hundreds of small businesses who employ thousands of New Yorkers.
"This industry has been among the hardest hit by the devastating effects of COVID-19, working hard to stay open, serve customers and keep employees safe. This fund is designed to help establishments adapt during this unprecedented time with assistance to sustain their businesses during the winter months to come."
“Raising the Bar” grant funding can be used for COVID-19-related improvements and equipment that will allow the business to: comply with social distancing guidelines; expand take-out/delivery operations; or accommodate outdoor dining such as plexiglass barriers/partitions; signage promoting social distancing and hygiene protocols; heaters, heat lamps, weatherization upgrades and insulated delivery bags; improvements that will allow the business to continue operating through the winter months such as filtration system upgrades and food heaters to maintain temperature for to-go orders; and purchasing PPE and sanitation supplies necessitated by the pandemic; and COVID-19 related business improvements like patio heaters or contactless technology.
Qualifying purchases and expenditures must be from Sept. 1, 2020 onward to be eligible. Initial round of grants are up to $5,000.
Initial grant funding will be awarded based on the received applications and dispersed independently by NDC, an experienced national economic nonprofit that has been in operation since 1969.
“Diageo is committed to supporting restaurant owners, particularly those in underrepresented communities, who have been disproportionately harmed by COVID-19,” said Debra Crew, president, Diageo North America.
“We are honored to serve as a founding contributor of the ‘Raising the Bar’ Restaurant Recovery Fund, providing much needed relief to an important industry that serves as a vital part of the economic engine of local communities. We encourage other organizations and businesses that also call New York ‘home’ to join us in this endeavor to make the impact of the program even stronger.”
“The hospitality industry in New York needs help now more than ever and we are here for them like they’ve always been here for us,” commented Wayne E. Chaplin, Chief Executive Officer, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
“The Raising the Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund provides an essential lifeline to restaurant owners so they can continue to operate safely, and stay afloat during this critical time. We are proud that our Coastal Pacific Wine & Spirits division is working with the State of New York, our valued supplier, Diageo, and the NDC to provide this much needed and urgent financial support.”
"At NDC, we are eager to get moving on this restaurant grant program," said Dan Marsh, president of National Development Council. "Having worked on numerous loan and grant programs in New York and across the country, what we have seen is that smaller restaurants -- especially minority and woman-owned establishments -- are not getting the help they really need. A tailored grant program specific to this industry is critical."
Eligible businesses consist of New York State restaurants that have no more than $3 million in 2019 revenue and are engaged in providing food services and meals prepared on-premises to patrons who traditionally order and are served while seated, including certain on-premises food and drinking establishments licensed through the State Liquor Authority (SLA) and which need funding to adjust to COVID-related impacts and protocols.
Establishments providing take out or grab and go food services due to COVID-19 restrictions are also eligible to receive the grant from NDC. Additionally, these establishments must have been in operation on or before March 1, 2019 and certify and demonstrate that they have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19.
All businesses must continue to comply with the New York Forward reopening guidance and Cluster Action Initiative guidance, as applicable. Restaurants can apply to the “Raising the Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund” starting Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. For more information visit the ESD website.
Press release:
New Yorkers who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine -- currently that includes healthcare workers -- should check as soon as possible with their organizations or employers to see if they qualify.
The vaccine may be available to you for only a limited time period, before it gets redistributed by the state, so please act immediately.
“We encourage as many as possible to receive the vaccine—we may have only a short time to stop the virus, and it depends upon as many people getting vaccinated as possible, as soon as possible,” said Nancy Ciavarri, MD, chief medical officer, Oak Orchard Health.
Oak Orchard Health has received a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine from NYS Department of Health. We are allowed and directed to provide the vaccine for certain types of workers in the communities we serve but must follow strict guidelines provided by NYS DOH.
Oak Orchard Health
Originally founded in 1966, Oak Orchard has grown from a migrant health project into an integrated health center with multiple locations providing health care services for everyone located in the communities we serve. Currently serving over 23,000 patients at eleven locations, Oak Orchard Health is a recognized patient-centered medical home and 501(c) nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) located inthe towns of Albion, Alexander, Batavia, Brockport, Corfu, Lyndonville, Hornell and Warsaw.
Press release:
Press release:
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will purchase an additional $1.5 billion worth of food for nationwide distribution through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.
In total, USDA has distributed more than !32 million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This new round of Farmers to Families Food Boxes will go a long way in helping American families access nutritious and healthy meals as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic," Perdue said.
Press release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley is praising the recent decision made by the Department of Labor’s Farm Laborer Wage Board to maintain the 60-hour overtime threshold until at least next November.
Hawley had been advocating in recent months to maintain this overtime threshold in light of a proposal to lower it. Hawley feared it would make operating an agribusiness even more difficult during what has been a hard year for the agricultural sector due to the negative impact COVID-19 has had on the industry.
“This announcement is a big relief for farmers and agri-business entrepreneurs throughout the state, and I’m glad there’s one less thing to worry about in what’s already been an incredibly challenging year for agriculture,” Hawley said.
“While there is still work to be done helping our farmers through the COVID-19 pandemic, I am glad we avoided what would have certainly been a catastrophic mistake for our farmers and agricultural workers and entrepreneurs.”
Press release:
Genesee County's seven-day average positivity rate is 12.4 percent.
Press release:
Data Update – Please note the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments will be closed for the New Year’s Day holiday, Friday, Jan. 1 and will not be updating data until Monday afternoon.
We thank each of you for your encouragement, assistance, diligence during this very extraordinary year. We look forward to continuing to provide updated health information and wish each of you a safe, healthy and Happy New Year!
We encourage everyone to limit their time in public and to celebrate virtually with family and friends who don’t live with you.
With the start of a new year less than 10 hours away, it certainly would be nice if the world could just turn the page and put 2020 – a year marked by a global pandemic known as COVID-19 – in the rearview mirror.
Unfortunately, however, the challenges and stress caused by the coronavirus will continue for at least several more months and words such as quarantine, contact tracing, asymptomatic testing and vaccine will continue to be part of our everyday vocabulary.
Earlier today, Paul Pettit, public health director for Genesee and Orleans counties, with support from Genesee County Manager Matt Landers and Legislative Chair Rochelle Stein, updated the media on the latest developments and statistics via Zoom videoconferencing.
Pettit touched upon all the buzzwords mentioned above, as well as addressing what could be a new and even bigger problem – an apparently more contagious variety of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19) that is spreading throughout the United Kingdom and has been identified in California and Colorado.
“About the strain, what we do know is that it is a lot more infectious, so it spreads a lot easier, which is the concerning part,” Pettit said, responding to a question from The Batavian seeking to know if local health officials have the capacity to test for the variant mutation of the virus. “But what we do know is that it is not any more aggressive or severe – it appears anyways – than the strain that we have been dealing with locally, but that again could change as time goes on.”
Pettit said not much is known about the new strain, but worries that due to the higher level of infectiousness, more people could get sicker at a quicker rate.
“That again is a concern with higher positivity rates and mainly with the stress on our health care system,” he said. “If we have more folks getting infected, specifically more at-risk folks that will be infected, (that will) put a strain on our bed capacity and the ability to deal with those folks who need a higher level of care … and that could lead to a quicker overwhelming of our medical system.”
Pettit said the new strain has not been identified in New York, but "it being in California and Colorado, it's more than likely -- it's just a matter of time before it is identified (in New York)."
"It is being tested for out of Wadsworth (a state facility), so the state lab is looking for this variant," he said. "The 3,000 or 4,000 tests that they've run or analyzed has not shown it yet. We do not have the local ability to look for it in our rapid testing, but we did reach out to Wadsworth to see if they would like us to be part of a sentinel process where we can send them -- or make sure they get samples from around here to test for that variant."
Pettit also talked about the Moderna vaccine – a two-step process that is said to be about 95-percent effective against the virus – and outlined the pecking order, so to speak, of those who will receive it.
Again, responding to a question from The Batavian regarding who comprises the 1B group, which follows the 1A group of healthcare personnel, Pettit said he wasn’t sure beyond “certain essential workers” such as law enforcement and firefighters.
“We have a general idea … but the state has not really fleshed out the details of the 1B group … they want us to focus on (vaccinating) the 1A group,” he said, previously mentioning that the 1B group in Genesee County is estimated at around 13,000 people and in Orleans County at around 9,000 people.
After that, there is a 1C group (with close to the same numbers) and then “bucket 2” or the general public, he said.
Pettit mentioned the procedural challenges once it’s time to vaccinate those in 1B (hopefully in late January) because those in the 1A group likely will be ready for their second shot.
“We need to make sure we're giving that second shot at that four-week mark while trying to vaccinate new people in the 1B group. So, this is where it gets into the complexity and logistical challenges of this vaccination campaign,” he said.
When asked about utilizing volunteers from the community – namely the Medical Reserve Corps in Genesee and Orleans counties – Pettit said he is open to enlisting as many people willing to help in the testing and vaccination process as possible. Currently, many citizens have stepped up on an individual basis to support the cause, he noted.
“We actually have had one (a Medical Reserve Corps) in Orleans County for many years now and the Genesee County Legislature approved expanding the Orleans County one into Genesee about a year and a half ago,” he said. “Medical Reserve Corps do have an important role to play in medical emergencies.”
Pettit admitted that the local MRS is not “overly robust and populated” but mentioned that Serve New York is the statewide program by which those – especially healthcare workers – can sign up to help out.
“As we need volunteers, we can call up and activate those members who are part of Serve New York,” he said. “They are automatically adopted into our Medical Reserve Corps … and we will be utilizing folks through Serve New York.”
He said that he is hopeful that by the time the campaign is over in “three, four, six months, we’ll have about 200 to 300 people in our Medical Reserve Corps because once we have them captive, we’re going to keep them.”
Other new information shared during the 50-minute presentation:
Genesee County: 2,374 positive cases; 65,126 negative; 173 active cases in isolation; 489 in quarantine; 29 deaths; 1,854 have recovered, which means they have cleared the 10-day isolation period.
Orleans County: 1,342 positive cases; 34,209 negative; 195 active cases in isolation; 601 in quarantine; 61 deaths (mostly from long-term care facilities last spring); 914 recovered, which means they have cleared the 10-day isolation period.
Regionally (Finger Lakes): The Genesee County seven-day positivity rate is 11.2 percent and 14-day is 11.5 percent. The Orleans County seven-day positivity rate is 9.1 percent and 14-day is 8.4 percent.
Genesee County is higher than most of the region but is leveling off, Pettit said, adding that it could qualify for Yellow, Orange or even Red Zone status, but that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is “pivoting away” from micro-cluster analysis to focus on hospitalization rates.
Pettit said the University of Rochester Medical Center is the “hub” that oversees COVID vaccination in the Finger Lakes Region but that he is part of the task force that will help ensure equitable allocation of the vaccine.
“This is unlike anything we’ve ever seen in New York State,” he said. “The vaccine is flowing – coming in slowly – and we’ll get it to residents as quickly as we can.”
The first group of people – the 1A group – is being vaccinated, with 284 staff members at United Memorial Medical Center already receiving the initial dose.
He said the vaccine is not available to the general public yet and that aspect is under the control of New York State. He noted that those who try to circumvent the system are subject to revocation of their medical license and fines of up to $1 million.
Pettit revealed the number of people who qualify for the vaccine in each of the groups as follows:
Group 1A – 4,892 in Genesee County; 3,421 in Orleans County;
Group 1B – 13,000 in Genesee County; 9,000 in Orleans County;
Group 1C – 13,000 in Genesee County; 9,500 in Orleans County;
Bucket 2 – General public.
Pettit also said that testing will continue in both counties – on Tuesday and Thursday in Genesee and on Wednesday in Orleans – and that contract tracing, while “difficult and challenging,” also is ongoing, but is in the hands of state authorities after contacts are made by local health officials -- a fact emphasized by Stein as she opened the media briefing.
"Genesee County does the initial investigation on positive cases and identifies those who are positive," she said. "The process usually takes 24 hours of receiving a test result."
She said after that state contact tracers handle the cases and that is where the delay comes in -- sometime four to six days.
Stein asked residents to be patient with this process before encouraging them to support local businesses, especially restaurants, while continuing to follow the safety protocols.
Pettit also said the state has changed the 14-day quarantine period to 10 days to line up with Center for Disease Control guidelines.
When asked if the data provides any sense of hope, Pettit said the “hope is the vaccine.”
“Getting folks vaccinated, getting them protected – the most vulnerable. The nursing homes, seniors, those with underlying health conditions – that’s really where we need to focus right now,” he responded. “As we start to get them vaccinated and protected, I think that is going to put us in a whole different position as we start to move forward with risk and exposure potential, which I think is going to move us hopefully to where we need to be.”
Copyright © 2008-2022 The Batavian. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
