COVID-19 Daily Update: April 17, 2020

SITUATIONAL UPDATE

April 22, 2020

New Cases

·         As of 2:00 p.m. today:

o   Genesee County received 5 new positive cases of COVID-19 for a total of 92 positive cases

§  Four positive cases reside in Batavia and one resides in Pembroke.

§  One individual is in their 20’s, one individual is in their 30’s, one individual is in their 50’s, one individual is in their 60’s, and one individual is in their 90’s.

§  1 of the positive individuals was on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.

§  3 of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.

o   Orleans County: 8 new positive case  of COVID-19 for a total of 43

§  Of the new positive cases today, 7 live in Albion and 1 lives in Ridgeway

§  We have one individual in their 50’s, 2 individuals in their 60’s, 2 individuals in their 70’s and 3 individuals in their 80’s.

§  One has recovered and has been released from mandatory isolation

§  4 of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.

·         Due to the current limited swabbing kits, there continue to be guidelines in place for primary care providers to order COVID-19 swabbing.  This is based upon screening for high risk categories.  Contact your primary care provider first to discuss symptoms and ability to be swabbed.

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

·         If a person is identified as a contact, they will be notified by the County Health Department, quarantined and if warranted, swabbed if indicated.  Limited information is provided to the public in compliance with HIPAA regulations and out of the respect of those impacted by this virus.

·         When, and if, there is a situation where potential contact is made in a public location where contact tracing doesn’t have actual names of close contacts, we will send out a media announcement to help seek contacts.

·         If you are experiencing ANY COVID-19 related symptoms STAY HOME!  Do not go to work, do not go to the store, do not go anywhere, YOU are spreading the virus.  STAY HOME!

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

·         Because COVID-19 is circulating locally, we can’t stress enough how important social distancing is and that EVERYONE needs to take this seriously and stay home! It is your social and civic responsibility to protect yourselves and others.

o   If you must shop for essentials, such as food, necessary household supplies or prescriptions, shop solo!  Wear a face covering and wash or sanitize your hands frequently.

Mental Health

 ·         Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations and having to socially distance yourself from someone you love can be difficult. Below are resources that can help you connect to a professional that can help you through these challenging times:

o   Care + Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 at 585-283-5200 or text  ‘Talk’ to 741741

o   New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling

o   Head Space:  A mindfulness app called Headspace is offering some meditations to listen to for free to ease minds in such a stressful time. The app is free to download and includes meditations, sleep, and movement exercises to help with the varying emotions you may be feeling. The app does include in-app purchases. https://www.headspace.com/covid-19

·         The Governor issued an executive order requiring all people in New York to wear masks or face coverings, including taking public or private transportation or riding in for-hire vehicles to begin at 8:00 p.m. tonight.   Coverings are to protect others from you when out in public.  You are still to do your best to social distance at least 6 feet and not congregate.  You will need to be careful removing them from your face so as not to be exposed to any germs from the outside.  Once removed, make sure you wash them in hot water, if able, and dry in a hot dryer.  Wash your hands immediately after removing the mask.  For more information about masks go to reliable sights such as the CDC:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

·         The Governor’s Executive Order directs employers to provide essential workers with masks free of charge to wear when interacting with the public.

·         The Governor issued an executive order requiring nursing homes to inform family members of residents of COVID-19 cases.

·         New Yorkers who have recovered from COVID-19 are encouraged to donate blood. Here’s information on how to donate or for the American Red Cross Donation Program, click here.

·         The Governor has extended the Disaster Emergency through May 15, 2020.  https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/no-20216-continuing-temporary-suspension-and-modification-laws-relating-disaster-emergency

·         Complaints regarding businesses are being referred to the State Department of Labor via online form https://labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/laborstandards/coronavirus-complaints.shtm or phone:  1-822-789-0470.

·         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.

·         New York State Department of Health – click here

·         CDC – click here

·         Genesee County Health Department – click here

·         Orleans County Health Department – click here

·         NY State of Health – click here

·         If you believe an employer is violating either existing labor laws or recently issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo, please contact the NYS Attorney General’s office at (212) 416-8700 or Labor.Bureau@ag.ny.gov

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