Local News

A significant increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases in Genesee County. The health department late yesterday reported 10 new cases of the virus and most of them were traced to an employee of a local business who went to work while sick.
The business was not named.
All of the new cases were individuals under 65, all are in mandatory quarantine.
The latest count has the county’s total positive coronavirus cases at 32, and there has been one death.
Right now, no one is hospitalized with COVID-19 locally.

The City of Batavia is clamping down on groups congregating in city parks.
The city has announced that while the parks are open, the use of playground equipment, tennis courts, and basketball courts will be prohibited. City Hall says it will enforce the rules but the police department says they do not expect to issue tickets – just verbal warnings.
The rule is in response to social distancing recommendations.

Has coronavirus hit an apex in New York?
Governor Cuomo is calling the current trend hopeful but inconclusive, citing a flat daily death toll for the last two days — and drops in hospitalizations and ICU admissions. Cuomo says he now wants the navy hospital ship docked off Manhattan to care for coronavirus patients The ship “Comfort” had only been used for non-COVID-19 patients.
Cuomo announced schools and non-essential businesses will remain closed till April 29th.

School districts statewide find out more today on what the cancellation of June’s Regents exams will mean for students.
It was announced yesterday the tests are being scrapped due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has forced students out of the classroom.
High school students must pass certain exams to get a Regents diploma, but there’s no word yet on the impact canceling the upcoming tests will have on graduation requirements.

Western New York drivers are saving more of their hard-earned money when they fill up their vehicles. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is $2.27 That’s down 5- cents from last week and is 26 cents cheaper than this time a month ago.

News Release

Genesee County Office of Emergency Management in cooperation with the Genesee County Health Department will be utilizing WEA, a public alert and warning system to reinforce the importance of health and safety guidance issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), NYS Department of Health and the Genesee County Health Department.

Periodic messages will be sent out to promote health and safety and to ensure timely and accurate information is shared with all Genesee County residents.  You will be receiving an alert to your cell phone on April 7^th, 2020 at approximately 12 PM and 6 PM.

Your impact on the community is great and your efforts in promoting safety guidelines is appreciated.

Recommended guidance to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 include:

• Stay at home
• Wash your hands frequently
• Follow social distancing; stay 6’ away from non-household members

We thank you and your community for your cooperation during these difficult times.

Frequently Asked Questions: Wireless Emergency Alerts

Why are Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) important to me?

• Alerts received at the right time can help keep you safe during an emergency. With WEA, warnings can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm’s way, without the need to download an app or subscribe to a service.

What are WEA messages?

• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency messages sent by authorized government alerting authorities through your mobile carrier.

What types of alerts will I receive?

• Imminent Threat Alerts that include extreme weather, and other threatening emergencies in your area
• Public Safety Alerts that are less severe in nature than Imminent Threat Alerts
• AMBER Alerts
• Presidential Alerts during a national emergency
• Messages that are opt in message to support state and local WEA testing

What does a WEA message look like?

• WEA will look like a text message. The WEA message will show the type and time of the alert, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert. The message will be no more than 360 characters.

News Release:

Effective Immediately,
EMERGENCY ORDER #1-2020

Acting under the State of Emergency Declaration issued by my hand at 4:30 p.m. on March 22, 2020
and continuing in effect for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days, I issue the following emergency
order(s), which shall be in effect through April 11, 2020, and is subject to renewal:

1. All Public Parks within the City Limits of the City of Batavia, New York remain open to public
use from 7a.m. to dusk. During the times that public parks are open, State of New York
declared restrictions on congregating will be observed. In addition, all playground areas, tennis
courts, pickle ball courts, basketball courts, picnic pavilions, splash pads, and other park
facilities that are used for activities that constitute congregating are closed to public use.

As a reminder, all public parks in the City of Batavia are closed dusk to dawn. Closures will be
enforced.

Local coronavirus infections rose by one over the weekend.
The Genesee Orleans Health departments reported late Saturday that one new positive case of COVID-19 was reported.
In neighboring Orleans County: two new cases were announced Saturday. This brings Orleans’ total to nine. No further information on these newest cases will be revealed until this afternoon.

Governor Andrew Cuomo says New York could be at or near a plateau of its COVID-19 outbreak but that the next few days will tell. He says the number of patients being released from hospitals is rising, while the number of new hospitalizations is dropping.

A show of support for working men and women in Genesee County helping to deal with the coronavirus outbreak..
More than 150 big trucks rolled down Route 5 from Stafford yesterday afternoon.
The Corona Convoy as it came to be known traveled, with police escort, through seven towns in the county.
The convoy also raised $4,500 dollars for Crossroads House.

A new test being made in Rochester is designed to help doctors fight the spread of COVID-19. The test allows researchers to check for antibodies that would determine if a person had the coronavirus and recovered from it. It would help researchers better understand how the virus has spread.

Domestic violence victims have a new resource during the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Andrew Cuomo has unveiled a new hotline with the promise that every single call will be responded to and investigated. The number is on our website. In some areas of New York, there has been a 15-to-20-percent increase in domestic violence reports, due to most residents staying at home

Domestic violence victims have a new resource during the coronavirus pandemic.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has unveiled a new hotline with the promise that every single call will be responded to and investigated.

The number is 1-800-942-6906. In some areas of New York, there has been a 15-to-20-percent increase in domestic violence reports, due to most residents staying at home.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have received 3 more COVID-19 cases, the departments said on Saturday night.

Genesee County reported one new case while Orleans County reported one.

Contact tracing has been initiated.

No further information will be released until Monday., 2020

Local coronavirus infections up by four.
The Genesee Orleans Health departments reported late yesterday that all four new cases of the virus have been contracted by persons under 65.
This brings the total number of infections in Genesee County to 21.
They have been isolated at home. None are hospitalized.
In neighboring Orleans County: three new cases were announced yesterday. This brings Orleans’ total to nine.

Public Health Director Paul Petitt says contact tracing is done with all positive cases.
Persons who come in contact with infected individuals are notified and placed in quarantine.
If a person tests positive and has been in a public place

Petitt urged families with Easter and Passover plans to be creative with their Holiday celebrations. He suggested Facetime or Zoom meetings with family members to maintain social distancing.

Governor Cuomo has signed an executive order mandating that the state can confiscate ventilators from medical facilities around the state.
The National Guard will have the job of obtaining those ventilators and then distributing them to places of need.
The order does not sit well with Genesee County’s Paul Petitt
NEWS_C “concerns about” (:14)
Cuomo says New York has been hit the hardest so far due to it being an international destination, with significant amounts of air travel.

Families along Batavia’s famed Redfield Parkway are treating their neighbor to lunch and dinner on Saturday.
Their neighbor happens to be Tops Friendly Market.
The Redfield Drive Association got together and raised the money to purchase the food from T F Browns and Compadres Taqueira.
The restaurants supplied enough food for both shifts at Tops.

Chris Collins will get to remain a free man a bit longer.
A judge has granted the former congressman’s request to delay the start of his prison sentence until June 23rd.
Collins, who represented Genesee County in Washington, pleaded guilty to federal insider trading charges. He was supposed to start his two-year sentence April 23rd. His lawyers cited concerns over the coronavirus saying the 69-year-old Collins is at risk of getting severely ill should he be exposed to the disease.

The latest update on coronavirus locally: One new positive case in Genesee County, an individual under 65. This brings the county’s total to 17. Next door in Orleans County, no new cases reported.

From the police blotter this morning:

Quentin Bloom

Michael Lanze

Quentin Bloom of North Spruce Street in Batavia arrested for criminal contempt and harassment. BPD says Bloom was arrested following a domestic incident on Edward Street where he smacked a person he had been court ordered to stay away from.

30 year old Michael Lanze of Rochester arrested for criminal contempt and burglary. Police say Lanze was found in a Hutchins Street apartment he was ordered to stay away from.

A LeRoy company doing its part to meet the critical shortage of hospital ventilators.
Aluminum Injection Mold was contacted a week ago to mold plastic over a ventilator part being made in Ohio.
Normally, this would take five to seven weeks to construct such a mold.
But by yesterday morning, the Aluminum Injection Mold part was ready for final assembly by a Long Island company manufacturing the lifesaving devises for hospitals treated COVID-19 patients.

Organizers of Genesee County’s popular “Day of Caring” have had to postpone this year’s event due to COVID-19.
The event was originally scheduled for May 13th.
The United Way sponsored the event which involved hundreds of volunteers.
The United Way says they hope to re-schedule the event.

Former Republican Congressman Chris Collins is asking for the start of his prison sentenced to be delayed.
Lawyers for the ex-27th District representative are citing concerns over the coronavirus. They say the 69-year-old Collins – who had represented Genesee County in Congress – is at risk of getting severely ill should he be exposed to the virus.
Collins pleaded guilty last year to federal insider trading charges. He’s scheduled to begin his 26 month sentence on April 23rd

The latest update from the county health department shows Genesee County with a total of 16 coronavirus infections. Three cases were added yesterday….all three are under the age of 65.
The complete text of the health department’s daily local update of Coronavirus can be seen HERE.

Planning for a new Genesee County jail have been put on hold.
County lawmakers say uncertainty over the budget has delayed any work on the jail project until next spring.
County Manager Jay Gsell said that due to the effect of bail reform plans to construct a four-pod jail may be reduced to three.

State lawmakers have reportedly struck a deal on the state budget. According to the Wall Street Journal, spending will be cut due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The exact price tag of the budget hasn’t been announced.
The deadline for passing a budget was earlier this week, but since lawmakers failed to approve it on time, the paychecks of thousands of state workers were put on hold.

Officials are switching a position that they took early on in the COVID-19 outbreak saying that people should wear face masks to avoid droplets getting airborne and causing more infections. Officials are still warning against buying up all the masks that are commonly used by healthcare professionals as they need them to do their jobs. Although masks may not completely prevent the virus they may help with slowing down transmission. The change in policy comes as doctors and researchers learn more about the COVID 19 virus.

Four teens have been arrested in Rochester for assaulting a woman as she was leaving the Hilton Family dollar. The teens allegedly attacked the woman because she was wearing a respirator mask. According to the victim the teens accused her of spreading the coronavirus before punching her in the face and stealing her wallet and keys. 18 year old Rocco Gingello, 19 year old Alexis Gingello and 19 year old Taya O’Connor all of gates were charged with second degree robbery and 19 year old Nicholas of Greece was charged with second degree robbery, fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon and other driving related charges.

Several school districts including the Pembroke central school district are planning drive by parades. The Pemproke Teacher’s Association is sponsoring a thinking of you drive by parade this Friday. Planners are asking participants to gather at the High School Parking lot at 12:30 Friday afternoon to get organized.
They ask everyone to decorate their cars, write messages on your back windows with washable markers (they will have some) – all while maintaining the required six foot social distance
Check with your school district to see if they are planning something similar.

Officials are telling people to be on the lookout for scams that have to do with the Novel coronavirus. Scams can take the form of offers of treatments or cures for COVID 19, offers of over the counter tests, and fake stimulus checks or IRS calls that ask you to give personal information or money in order to claim the money. There are no fda approved treatments or cures and you should never give out personal information or money to a caller. Hang up and ignore these calls.

Farmers, Contractors, and Truckers will be participating in the corona convoy across Genesee County on Sunday April 5th. Starting in Stafford and crossing Genesee county this convoy of hope will raise awareness and money for the Crossroads house in Batavia.

The law street yard waste station has announced that it will be open with temporary hours on April 6th for city residents to dispose of their yard waste. The new hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 2 pm.

The Law Street Yard Waste Station will open with temporary hours beginning April 6th for City residents to dispose of “yard waste”. Special hours for yard waste station will remain in effect during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Until further notice the yard waste station will open at 8 AM and close at 2 PM, Monday through Friday during normal business days for the City of Batavia. All customers are asked to the abide by social distancing policies put forth by the Genesee County Department of Health, New York State Department of Health and the CDC. Specific instructions include:

• Use the Law Street entrance to enter and exit the City Yard Waste Station only.
• Distance yourself at least six feet from any employees or other customers.
• Do not visit the Yard Waste Station if you are sick and/or have Covid-19 symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath).
• Please wash your hands thoroughly before and after your visiting the Yard Waste Station.
• Sanitize containers or vehicles used to transport yard waste.

As a reminder, the City does not provide spring curbside pickup of yard waste materials (grass, leaves and limbs) and City residents are encouraged to bring these material to the Law Street Yard Waste Station as needed.

The following items cannot be accepted at the station: tree stumps, building materials, rock, fill (soil and stone) other debris. Yard waste needs to be free of trash (paper, plastic, bottles, cans…etc.), as this material cannot be processed. All containers (totes, boxes, bags…etc.) need to be taken back with the customer.

As a reminder please use Law Street entrance to enter and exit the City Yard Waste Station only.

Governor Cuomo is warning New Yorkers that the state’s ongoing battle against coronavirus will likely be a long one.
Over 75,000 State residents have been infected while more than 15-hundred people have lost their lives.
Health officials say since New York is a hotbed for the virus, the number of cases and deaths will keep climbing for weeks.

The latest local update from the County Health Department shows one new case of COVID-19 in Genesee County and one new case in Orleans County.
The new case in Genesee County is a person under 65.
Contact tracing has been initiated for both new cases. Known contacts have already been placed under mandatory quarantine.

Governor Cuomo says his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Governor Cuomo says it happened right after his mom left his brother’s house, and that if she were still there, she might have caught the virus as well.
Cuomo is issuing a warning to New Yorkers about following the social distancing mandates, especially with those who might be more susceptible to contracting the virus.

Monroe County deputies have arrested four people who allegedly attacked a woman wearing a respirator mask. Investigators say the assault happened at the Family Dollar store in Hilton last week.
The victim says the suspects accused her of having coronavirus before she was punched in the face and had her wallet and keys stolen.

The Holland Land Office Museum has gone virtual. The museum has announced they have added local history activities to their website and Facebook page. They have also added their own version of Jeopardy – all on line HERE.

From our let’s make the best of it department:
The Pembroke Teachers Association is sponsoring a “Thinking of You” drive-by parade for this Friday.
Planners are asking participants to gather at the High School Parking lot at 12:30 Friday afternoon to get organized.
They ask everyone to decorate their cars, write messages on your back windows with washable markers (they will have some) – all while maintaining the required six foot social distance

Across New York, it is estimated there are more than 400,000 individuals living with some type of dementia, with another one million+ people providing some kind of care for them. Their needs for access to help, support and education is ongoing, and to address those needs, the Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter is offering a number of virtual programs accessible from any location via computer or mobile device.

Chapter dementia care consultants are planning a number of free online classes for participants to attend from the safety and comfort of their own homes. In the month of April, these education programs will be offered virtually:

Overview of Virtual Programs and Services
Friday, April 3 – 2:00pm
Friday, April 17 – 2:00pm

Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Tuesday, April 7 – noon
Tuesday, April 14 – noon
Tuesday, April 21 – noon
Tuesday, April 28 – noon
Wednesday, April 29 – 8:00am

Know the 10 Warning Signs
Friday, April 10 – 2:00pm
Friday, April 24 – 2:00pm

Effective Communication Strategies
Thursday, April 2 – 6:00pm
Wednesday, April 22 – 8:00am
Thursday, April 30 – 6:00pm

Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors
Thursday, April 9 – 6:00pm
Wednesday, April 15 – 8:00am

Legal and Financial Planning for Dementia
Wednesday, April 8 – 8:00am
Thursday, April 16 – 6:00pm

Dementia Conversations
Thursday, April 23 – 6:00pm

Meaningful Activities for Family Caregivers
Monday, April 20 – 1:30pm

To register for any/all of these classes and learn how to access them, visit: bit.ly/WNYeducation or call 1.800.272.3900.

Caregiver support group meetings are also being offered in a number of ways, including telephone conference calls and webinars. To learn more about taking part in a virtual support group meeting, visit: bit.ly/WNYsupport. The Association’s around-the-clock Helpline is also available to answer questions about programs and how to access them, address concerns, and discuss other resources. That number is 1-800-272-3900.

Confidential care consultations to discuss care planning, finances, and more will continue to be available via telephone to the Helpline: 1-800-272-3900. Video chats are also possible for these free virtual meetings.

And finally, the Association has a dedicated website to help caregivers whose loved one is at home and those whose loved one is residing in an assisted living facility, That website is: alz.org/COVID19.

The Village of Attica in the best interests of its residents and community has closed the Municipal Playground located at Main Street and North Pearl Street and the Village Park on Exchange Street with the exception of the parks Walking Path.

With the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control, the New York State Department of Health and the Wyoming County Health Department the decision was made to close these facilities until further notice. With the ever-increasing spread of the COVID-19 virus and the increasing number of active cases and deaths it is imperative that we protect the public and slow the spread of this epidemic.

The municipal playground at Main and North Pearl St has been taped off with signage. The Village Park on Exchange Street has the entrance and exit barricaded with signage. The only exception is use of the walking path, with the strong recommendation of social distancing of at least 6 feet. Anyone utilizing the walking path will be allowed to park street side and enter the park by foot.

Once the epidemic has been declared under control the Village will sanitize all park equipment and facilities prior to reopening to the general public

The Coronavirus has claimed its first life in Genesee County.
Officials said a person, over the age of 65, who resided in the central part of the county, has died from the virus.
There are now 12 positive cases of COVID-19 in the county.
Orleans County has a total of five cases.

More coronavirus cases and deaths are being reported across New York State. Over 1,200 people have been killed by the virus while the number of confirmed cases is more than 66,000. Governor Cuomo said he believes the highest number of infections is still a couple of weeks away.

The Village of Albion has announced that its closing all village parks to help slow the spread of the virus. Albion police say there have been too many people playing football and basketball and using playground equipment in a way that does not conform to social distancing guidelines.

A new poll shows New Yorkers are giving Governor Cuomo high marks for how he’s dealing with the Coronavirus crisis. According to the Siena College poll, 87 percent of those surveyed approve of the job he’s doing. When it comes to the federal response, only 41 percent of those polled say they believe President Trump is doing a good job.

Traffic on the New York State Thruway has declined during the Coronavirus outbreak. Officials say traffic dropped over 30 percent between March 8th and the 28th.

The Girl Scouts of Western New York has moved to all-online sales of cookies. They had to cancel more than 750 planned, in-person cookie sales booths.

Genesee County has recorded its first COVID-19 death.
Public Health Director Paul Pettit confirmed this afternoon that a person over the age from the central part of Genesee County has died.
The patient had been seriously ill before testing positive for the Corona Virus.
Pettit also reported today there are three new cases of COVID-19 bringing to total to 12.

News Release: Village of Albion Police

The Village of Albion has Closed All Village Parks Effective Immediately. This closure is to help conform with Center for Disease Control guidance measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus. Many people have been seen at the parks on Playground Equipment, Playing Basketball and Football.

The Village of Albion would like all citizens to follow the CDC Guidelines below:

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND WE MUST ALL DO ARE PART.

Know How it Spreads
• There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

• The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. o Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). o Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

• These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

• There is no exact scientific study as to how long the Virus Lives on Surfaces. Clean your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact • Avoid close contact with people who are sick

• Put distance between yourself and other people

• Distance is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

The grim tally of COVID-19 infections in Genesee County has increased by one.
Late on Saturday, health department officials revealed that a person under the age of 65, living in the central part of the county, has contracted the virus. This person is under mandatory isolation at home. People this person had had contact with have been notified.
This latest case brings to eight the number of COVID-19 infections in Genesee County, a number expected to keep increasing.
New York State officials are reporting nine cases in the county – no reason given for the discrepancy.

Governor Cuomo is projecting a grim outlook on the impact coronavirus will have on New York State.
The governor said he believes thousands of New Yorkers will likely die due to the illness.
The state currently has the highest number of confirmed cases in the country with over 59,000 while the death toll is also increasing.

Lawmakers are still working to hammer out a state budget ahead of the April 1st deadline. Members of the Legislature are expected to start taking a look at budget bills today. The governor says negotiations continue on several key issues including bail reform and legalizing gestational surrogacy. He also says the final budget agreement will likely include major cuts to education funding.

Here is a bit of good news, Western New York drivers are continuing to pay less at the pump.
According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is $2.33. That’s down six cents in the last week and is 23-cents cheaper than this time a month ago.

COVID-19 continues its spread across Genesee County.

UPDATE: 6:15PM Saturday, Mar 28: The Genesee County Health Dept. reported an additional case of COVID-19 bringing the total number of cases to eight. Officials said this person is under the age of 65, lives in the central part of the county and is under mandatory isolation at home.

Paul Pettit, Director of Public Health

According to the latest numbers issued by the county’s health department late on Friday afternoon there have been three new cases of the Coronavirus. This brings to total number of confirmed infections in Genesee County to seven. Public Health Director Paul Pettit said of the new cases two persons are over the age of 65 living in thne center part of the county. The other case, he said, involved a person under the age of 65.

According to Pettit none of the three new cases appear to be related and none were under any type of quarantine. Pettit believes the exposure is what officials call “community spread,” transmission of the virus hot within a household.

At United Memorial Medical Center triage tents have been set up in the parking lot to pre-screen potential patients. COVID-19 testing is being done at the facility, but hospital President Dan Ireland says there is no guarantee you will get a test just by showing up…

PHOTO: Dan Ireland, President of UMMC

In Genesee County, 17 people are under precautionary quarantine and 34 people are under mandatory quarantine.

A program reminder: on Monday afternoon WBTA will present another hour-long special: “COVID-19, a Local View.”
We will once again have a panel of experts on hand to answer your questions about the status of the virus in Genesee County and the response to it.
Our special will air this Monday afternoon at one o’clock on WBTA FM & AM, online at WBTAi-dot-com and will be video recorded for playback later in the day on The Batavian.

If you are in the mood for some positive news the popular ice cream stand Blondies Sip-N-Dip has reopened for the season.
The couple says Blondies will observe social distance. They will serve customers at the East Main St. Rd. location in Batavia via a drive up/walk up window.

There are three new cases of Coronavirus reported in Genesee County. This brings the total number of infections to 7.
Public Health Director Paul Pettit issued his daily briefing late this afternoon

Of the the new cases, Pettit said none of those people were under any type of quarantine and are not related. He believes the exposure is what officials call, community spread – not spread within the home.
Pettit said of those people who have respiratory symptoms and have been tested for COVID-19 are negative for the disease. He said this is indicative that other respiratory illness, such as the flu, are still around

PHOTO: Paul Pettit

UMMC President Dan Ireland said that COVID-19 testing is being done at the tent facility set-up in the hospital parking lot but there is no guarantee you will get a test just by showing up

PHOTO: Dan Ireland

WBTA is planning another one-hour special, COVID-19, A Local View, for this Monday afternoon at one o’clock.
We will be taking your phoned in questions for a panel of experts including two doctors from UMMC, officials from the county health department and Emergency Management Office.

Two new cases of the coronavirus infection have been reported in Genesee County raising the total number of those infected to four.
According to the latest report from the county Health Department yesterday afternoon two residents tested positive for the virus, one person was under the age of 65 and the other was older.
Both patients live in the central part of the county, have been placed under mandatory isolation and been hospitalized.
The Health Department has already initiated contact tracing for both new cases and known contacts have already been placed under mandatory quarantine.
If any of the contacts begin showing symptoms they will be tested as well.
If a person is identified as a contact, they will be notified by the County Health Department and quarantined.
Also as of yesterday afternoon Orleans County had one new case.
The individual is under 65 and has been isolated in an adjacent county.

The U.S. now has the most cases of coronavirus in the world.
Data from Johns Hopkins University shows the U.S. now has more than 82-thousand cases, passing both Italy and China.
Over eleven-hundred people have died in the U.S. Most of those deaths have been in New York and Washington State.

The news is getting worse when it comes to the number of New Yorkers infected by the coronavirus.
Officials say there are now over 37-thousand confirmed cases while the number of deaths attributed to the disease is also rising.
Governor Cuomo is still predicting the pandemic will overwhelm the state’s health care system and says work continues on making more hospital beds available.
Experts believe the number of coronavirus cases in New York could peak in two or three weeks.

Three more Erie County residents have died as a result of the coronavirus.
Officials say the individuals were a woman in her 70s, man in his 70s and man in his 80s.
Their names haven’t been released.
A total of five Erie County residents have passed away due to the illness.
Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases in the county is now over 220 and expected to keep rising.

The death of a fourth Monroe County resident has been attributed to the coronavirus.
No information about the individual has been released.
Meanwhile, the number of infected people in the county has risen past 145.
Over 30 people have been hospitalized due to the disease and more than 500 are in mandatory quarantine.

The United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia along with several other Rochester Regional Health hospitals added tents to their facilities this week as an extension of primary care services.
The tent sites are being used to decrease the potential of exposure to COVID-19 while keeping patients and individuals safe.
The tents are not just to be used for COVID-19 testing but health care workers will evaluate for other medical issues.
Beginning Monday UMMC will staff the tents from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Before coming to the site, people experiencing symptoms are still encouraged to contact their primary care provider.

The Law Street Yard Waste Station remains closed until further notice.
All non-essential operations including the Waste Station have been suspended for the time being due to the precautions related to COVID-19.
When suspensions are lifted the City will provide additional information as to when the Yard Waste Station is re-opening.

News Release: Genesee Orleans Health Depts.

SITUATIONAL UPDATE
New Cases
• As of 2:00 p.m. today:
Genesee County received 2 new positive cases of COVID-19
Orleans County received 1 new positive case.

• For Genesee: Two new cases, one positive case is under the age of 65 and resides in the central part of Genesee County. The second positive case is over the age of 65 and also resides in the central part of the county. These two latest cases bring to four the number Based on the ongoing investigation, these cases are not connected. These two individuals are under mandatory isolation and are in the hospital.
• For Orleans: The new positive case is under the age of 65 and is a resident of the central part of the county. This individual is being isolated in an adjacent county.
• Contact tracing has been initiated for all the new cases. Known contacts have already been placed under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if indicated (if symptoms becomes present). If a person is identified as a contact, they will be notified by the County Health Department, quarantined and if warranted, swabbed if indicated.

Cumulative Data
• To Date: Genesee County has received 61 negative test results and Orleans County has received 61 negative test results for COVID-19.
• Orleans County: 6 people are under precautionary quarantine, 8 people are under mandatory quarantine, and 4 people are under mandatory isolation 1 of whom is hospitalized and 3 are recovering at home (one out of county).
• Genesee County: 18 people are under precautionary quarantine, 26 people are under mandatory quarantine, and 2 people are under mandatory isolation at home and 2 people are under mandatory isolation and are hospitalized.

• Healthcare providers must advise patients undergoing testing for COVID-19 to self-isolate until testing is resulted and COVID-19 is ruled out.
o If COVID-19 testing results are positive, patients must be continued on mandatory isolation as noted below:
 IF a patient was on mandatory or precautionary quarantine when tested and results for COVID-19 are negative, healthcare providers must advise patients to continue quarantine until 14 days after last travel or exposure to a known case (per public authorities).
 If a patient was not previously on quarantine and was tested for illness consistent with COVID-19, once the result is negative and COVID-19 is ruled out, the patient may be advised that they need not be on quarantine.
• Currently, NYS clearance protocol for discontinuation of mandatory isolation for persons with confirmed COVID-19 is the following: it has been at least 7 days since the initial positive test for COVID-19, at least 3 days without fever and no use of fever-reducing medication, improvement in the signs and symptoms of the illness and 2 negative swabs at least 24 hours apart. Swabbing through the Health Departments is warranted as part of our quarantine / isolation protocol for those who become symptomatic. We are not providing community testing at this time.
• Please remain home if ill, with all of the directives regarding social distancing that are still be in place, especially if a person has a negative COVID-19 result it is important to limit physical contact. The flu and COVID-19 are still transmittable and people should continue to remain home and limiting contact with others. Do not be afraid of people because they may be coughing or sneezing, they may have allergies, but continue to keep your distance (at least 6’).

OPERATIONAL UPDATES
• If you feel you may have COVID-19, call your primary care provider or healthcare facility ahead of time. DO NOT GO DIRECTLY THERE, CALL AHEAD TO GET GUIDANCE. Swabbing will be based on those who are at higher risk categories – elderly and immune compromised and those with underlying health issues.
• Swab sample results are coming back slower than expected. With more testing, we expect this will continue. Whenever anyone is swabbed for potential COVID-19, self-isolation is advised until the test result is received.

RETURNING SNOWBIRDS / Those at Higher-Risk
• We encourage people to seek creative ways to keep in touch, especially for those who are returning home from their winter residences and those who are older and/or have underlying health conditions. If you have access to the internet there are several applications that you can use for free to ‘connect’ with family and friends.

NEW YORK STATE CASES / RESTRICTIONS / GUIDANCE
• Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today at his 11:30 a.m. press conference there are 6,448 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 37,258 positive cases in NYS.
• 5,327 (14%) COVID-19 patients are hospitalized.
• NYS is seeking volunteers to work as part of the state’s surge healthcare force, so far 40,000 have volunteered. To volunteer go to: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/get-involved-how-you-can-help

News Release

East Bethany, NY – York State’s First County Forest has an Environmental Education Assistant
Internship position open for May – August of 2020. The position is administered through the Student
Conservation Association (SCA) and is located at Genesee County Park & Forest in East Bethany,
NY. Applicants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED and a US
citizen. Environmental Education Assistants develop, organize, plan and lead environmental education
programs to audiences of all ages in a wide variety of settings under the guidance of park staff.
Environmental Education Assistants also coordinate the efforts of park volunteers.

Job duties include but are not limited to:
 Conducting programs for schools, summer rec groups, scouts and the general public
 Providing customer service to park visitors and program participants
 Planning volunteer and park events
 Writing articles for the parks seasonal newsletter
 Marketing of park events, programs and resources
 Scheduling and coordinating volunteers to assist with park events and projects
 Providing training and orientation to new park volunteers

SCA interns earn a stipend of $125/week while serving and are eligible for an education award of $1,612
that may be used for student loans, tuition, classes or future college costs.
This position requires 16 weeks of 40 hour/week of service from May until August of 2020. Hours are 6
am to 5 pm Wednesday through Saturday. Flexibility is given in order to cover the prescheduled
programs that are outside of the normal working hours within the 40 hour work week.

Additional benefits:
 First Aid/AED/CPR training provided
 Experience and on-the-job training in Environmental Education and Volunteer Coordinating
 Deeper knowledge of natural history and ecology
 Job duties include volunteer outings (kayaking, hiking)
 Networking with professionals in Environmental Science and Education

To apply:

Apply online HERE
For additional information contact Shannon Lyaski, Conservation Education Program Coordinator at Shannon.Lyaski@co.genesee.ny.us.

News Release

The Law Street Yard Waste Station opening has been delayed. Due to the precautions related to COVID-19 all non-essential operations have been suspended for the time being. When suspensions are lifted the City will provide additional information as to when the Yard Waste Station is opening.

Thank you for your cooperation at this time.

Press Release:

BATAVIA, NY – The City of Batavia announced that applications for a $300,000 New York Main Street Grant Program that is available to all building owners within the Batavia Improvement District (BID) and Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) area will be extended until April 10, 2020.

In light of recent events, mandates and changes to all of our routines, the City of Batavia will extend the due date of these grant fund applications to the close of business on April 10th, 2020.

The City of Batavia encourages all residents to stay safe in these unprecedented times and continue to support your local businesses in any way possible. Our local businesses need our community support now, more than ever.

Guidelines and the applications can be found on the BDC website: http://bataviadevelopmentcorp.org/main-street-building-improvements If you have any questions please contact Andrew Maguire by email at amaguire@bataviadevelopmentcorp.org

One more Genesee County resident has tested positive for coronavirus.
The individual who resides in the central part of Genesee County is reportedly under the age of 65 and remains under mandatory isolation while recovering at home.
Contact tracing has already been initiated and known contacts have been placed under mandatory quarantine to be swabbed if they are showing any symptoms of the virus.
As of yesterday afternoon, Genesee County has received 49 negative test results and Orleans, 52 negative test results for COVID-19.
Orleans County has 6 people are under precautionary quarantine, 7 people in mandatory quarantine, and 3 people are in mandatory isolation 1 of whom is hospitalized and 2 are recovering at home.
In Genesee County 18 people are under precautionary quarantine, 16 people are under mandatory quarantine, and 2 people are in mandatory isolation recovering at home.
There will be no community testing at this time according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
They say if you feel you may have COVID-19, call your primary care provider or healthcare facility ahead of time and do not go there directly before receiving guidance from your provider.

Coronavirus Cases in New York State surpass 30,000 mark
Governor Cuomo announced the new milestone of infection yesterday and the said the death toll due to the virus is rising also.
With the expectation of a surge of coronavirus cases in the coming weeks Cuomo’s continuing to ask for help from the federal government.
The governor is promising the state will send any unused medical equipment and supplies to other areas that may need them once the worst of the outbreak is over in New York.

The City of Batavia announced that applications for a $300,000 New York Main Street Grant Program that is available to all building owners within the Batavia Improvement District and Downtown Revitalization Initiative area will be extended until April 10th.
Guidelines and the applications can be found on the BDC website at http://bataviadevelopmentcorp.org/main-street-building-improvements and any questions should be directed to Andrew Maguire by email at amaguire@bataviadevelopmentcorp.org

A school resource officer with the Buffalo police department is in critical condition after testing positive for coronavirus.
According to The Buffalo News, the 65 year old is in a medically induced coma at Erie County Medical Center.
Three other members of the department have also reportedly been infected with the disease.
Officers have received hand sanitizer and gloves to lower their chances of getting sick.
They can also give out masks to protect themselves from people who may be ill.

Erie County officials say a second person has died due to the coronavirus.
The individual was a man in his 70s but his name isn’t being released.
There are now over 140 coronavirus cases in the county and due to a dwindling amount of medical supplies there are restrictions on who is eligible for testing.
Individuals who can get tested include health care workers, people living in places like nursing homes and members of law enforcement.

Wegmans is working on giving its cashiers some extra protection from germs.
The supermarket chain will be installing plexiglass shields at its stores to screen employees from customers.
Cashiers are also being told to wipe down their stations between transactions.
Those workers have been at an increased risk of getting sick as customers pack stores to buy items due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

SITUATIONAL UPDATE – Provided by Genesee Orleans Health Departments

• As of 2:00 p.m. today Genesee County received 1 new positive cases of COVID-19.
• The positive case is under the age of 65 and resides in the central part of Genesee County. The individual is under mandatory isolation and is recovering at home.
• Contact tracing has been initiated for the new case. Known contacts have already been placed under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if indicated (if symptoms present). If a person is identified as a contact, they will be notified by the Genesee County Health Department.
• Since the onset of testing, Genesee County has received 49 negative test results and Orleans, 52 negative test results for COVID-19.
• Orleans County: 6 people are under precautionary quarantine, 7 people are under mandatory quarantine, and 3 people are under mandatory isolation 1 of whom is hospitalized and 2 are recovering at home.
• Genesee County: 18 people are under precautionary quarantine, 16 people are under mandatory quarantine, and 2 people are under mandatory isolation at home where they are recovering.
• As we receive more test results, local contact tracing will continue within our departments for any positive results. The cases and stories are being built and documented. Contact tracing is initiated based on the day the identified positive case became symptomatic. Identified contacts are notified by the local health department, quarantined and if warranted, swabbed as indicated.
• Currently, NYS clearance criteria require 2 negative COVID-19 swabbing results prior to being released. Swabbing through the Health Departments is warranted as part of our quarantine / isolation protocol for those who become symptomatic. We are not providing community testing at this time.
• Please remain home if ill, with all of the directives regarding social distancing that are still be in place, especially if a person has a negative COVID-19 result it is important to limit physical contact. The flu and COVID-19 are still transmittable and people should continue to remain home and limiting contact with others. Do not be afraid of people because they may be coughing or sneezing, they may have allergies, but continue to keep your distance (at least 6’)

OPERATIONAL UPDATES
• If you feel you may have COVID-19, call your primary care provider or healthcare facility ahead of time. DO NOT GO DIRECTLY THERE, CALL AHEAD TO GET GUIDANCE. Swabbing will be based on those who are at higher risk categories – elderly and immune compromised and those with underlying health issues.
• Swab sample results are coming back slower than expected. With more testing, we expect this will continue. Whenever anyone is swabbed for potential COVID-19, self-isolation is strongly encouraged until the test result is received.

RETURNING SNOWBIRDS
• Due to the number of positive cases in New York State, there are stricter guidelines in place and may be different from your winter address. All large gatherings have been canceled or postponed. We strongly encourage anyone over 65 or those with underlying health issues to consider self-quarantine which means to limit contact with others as much as possible. Stay at home as much as possible as this age group is one of the higher-risk groups. This includes visiting the grocery store to limit exposure to any respiratory virus. Check with your grocery store / pharmacy to see if they have special considerations for seniors and those with underlying health issues such as special hours, curbside pick-up or delivery. Monitor your symptoms and if you develop a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, call your primary care provider immediately.
• If you are in need of household essentials such as groceries or prescriptions, ask a family member, neighbor, someone in your social support network for assistance. They may be able to shop for your needs and leave the items outside your door so they do not have any physical contact with you.

NEW YORK STATE CASES / RESTRICTIONS / GUIDANCE
• Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today at his press conference there are 5,146 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 30,811 positive cases in NYS.
• 3,805 (12%) COVID-19 patients are hospitalized.

COVID-19 RELIABLE SOURCES
• New York State Department of Health – click here
• CDC – click here
• Genesee County Health Department – click here
• Orleans County Health Department – 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
• Mental Health in both counties are available in various capacities and the Care + Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 at 585-283-5200 or text 741741 for anxiety and stress
• New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling

Press Release:

Re: Spring Concert Cancelled

Who: Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble
What: Spring Concert
Where: Alexander High School
When: Saturday, April 25, 2020- Cancelled 4:00 PM

To Whom It May Concern:

Due to the density control guidelines and conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble, along side with many local music/arts organizations, has cancelled their Spring 2020 concert at Alexander High School.

Please stay safe, healthy and we look forward to performing for our community at a future date.

Sincerely,
GVWE Board

Press Release:

The New York State Elections Commissioners’ Association is calling for immediate action by the Governor and New York State Legislature to protect our electoral process during the COVID-19 pandemic. Election Boards throughout the state are risking personnel safety and health to prepare for impending elections on April 28, 2020. We are facing critical shortages of inspectors and polling places due to the ongoing public health crisis. Over the next week, BOEs will find it almost impossible to meet mission critical deadlines for testing machines and preparing ballots because of staff shortages due to the ongoing stay-at-home order. We ask Governor Andrew Cuomo, NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and NYS Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to consider the following items by either Executive Order or Legislative action:

1.) Postponing the Democratic Presidential Primary scheduled for April 28th to June 23rd. Fielding inspectors in the midst of this health crisis is dangerous and may be impossible. Traditional polling places may be unusable as they are currently restricted or closed to the public. Postponing until June will not only give us time to plan, but will ease the burdens on host counties budgets that are devastated by the COVID-19 crisis.

2.) Amend 8-400 of NYS Election Law to allow for Absentee Balloting during all times of declared state of emergency due to infectious disease or pandemic. This will allow all voters who are at-risk but perhaps not yet sick to apply for and receive an absentee ballot. At risk or vulnerable citizens should not have to make decisions on whether to exercise their right to vote or risk their health.

3.) For all Primary & Special Elections: Give wide latitude to the local Board of Elections to consolidate polling places and election districts to best operate the election. While we hope the COVID 19 crisis will be better by June, it is quite likely we will have limited numbers of polling places and inspectors even then. We need this flexibility to adjust to circumstances on the ground in our jurisdictions that may be changing right up until the June 23rd Election.

Acting on these items will buy us precious time and save our host counties significant amount of resources while also preserving the rights of voters and safety and health of Election Workers. Every day that we do not act makes us less prepared and wastes valuable time and money.

In order to accommodate families and residents impacted by the response to COVID-19, the City has decided to suspend enforcement of overnight parking regulations until further notice allowing overnight parking.
If a vehicle is blocking work for the Department of Public Works or in the event of an emergency, residents will be asked to move their vehicle or it may be towed.
All other parking regulations such as blocking a fire hydrant, parking in a fire lane or parking in a handicap zone will still be strictly enforced.
Residents are also reminded to prevent theft by locking their vehicles and always removing valuables.

Police Officers in Batavia will no longer provide courtesy unlock of vehicles, unless there are exigent circumstances such as a child or pet locked inside while taking enhanced extra precautions when responding to calls for service.
To better aid in appropriate response from emergency personnel, callers to dispatch will need to answer screening questions.
City of Batavia Police Officers and other emergency personnel may wear respirator masks, protective gloves, clear safety glasses and other personal protective equipment when answering calls.
Anyone with signs or symptoms for Coronavirus should inform dispatchers, officers, and emergency personnel as soon as practicable.

As of yesterday afternoon there are now 3 new positive cases of coronavirus in Orleans County and still 1 confirmed case for Genesee County.
In Orleans County 4 people are under precautionary quarantine, 13 people are under mandatory quarantine, and 3 people are under mandatory isolation 1 of whom is hospitalized and 2 are recovering at home.
The contact tracing has been initiated for the new cases.
Known contacts to these two cases have already been placed under mandatory quarantine and will be swabbed if indicated.

In Genesee County 7 people are under precautionary quarantine, 21 people are under mandatory quarantine, and 1 person is under mandatory isolation at home and is recovering.
According to Paul Pettit, Director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments “We will start to see our numbers increase moving forward.”

The first coronavirus death has been confirmed in Erie County.
Officials say the individual was a woman in her 80’s but didn’t release her name or say if she had any underlying medical conditions.
Meanwhile, County Executive Mark Poloncarz says the number of people infected by the disease has passed 100 and is expected to keep getting bigger as more test results come back.
The highest number of cases are in Buffalo and Amherst.
Poloncarz is continuing to urge folks to keep taking part in social distancing to try and slow the spread of the illness.

Monroe County officials have confirmed a third death due to the coronavirus.
They say the individual was a patient at Strong Memorial Hospital but didn’t release their name.
Meanwhile, the number of county residents infected by the disease is now sitting at 106.
As of yesterday, 15 people have been hospitalized after being diagnosed with coronavirus.
Over 470 more are also in mandatory quarantine.

One of the candidates for the vacant 27th Congressional District seat is calling for the upcoming special election to be rescheduled.
Democrat Nate McMurray tells The Buffalo News that due to the coronavirus, the health and safety of voters and poll workers can’t be put at risk.
McMurray is challenging Republican Chris Jacobs in the special election which is set for April 28th.
The winner will fill the seat left open by former Republican Congressman Chris Collins who resigned after pleading guilty to federal insider trading charges.

News Release

Effective Sunday March 22, 2020 the enforcement of overnight parking regulations will be suspended until further notice. Overnight parking will be allowed to accommodate families and residents impacted by COVID-19.

We encourage residents who can still utilize their driveways for parking to do so, however we do not want to penalize families that might have extra vehicles at their residence at this time. Please continue to lock your vehicle and always remove valuables to prevent theft.

In the event of an emergency, or your vehicle is blocking work for the Department of Public Works (i.e. snowplowing, water main break, etc.), you will be asked to move the vehicle or it may be towed. All other parking regulations such as blocking a fire hydrant, parking in a fire lane or parking in a handicap zone will be strictly enforced.

Also effective Sunday March 22, 2020 City of Batavia Police Officers will not provide courtesy unlock of vehicles, unless there are exigent circumstances such as a child or pet locked inside.

Furthermore, on Sunday March 22, 2020 City of Batavia Police Officers will begin to take enhanced extra precautions when responding to calls for service.

Callers to dispatch will need to answer screening questions to better aid in appropriate response from emergency personnel. City of Batavia Police Officers and other emergency personnel may wear respirator masks, protective gloves, clear safety glasses and other personal protective equipment when answering calls.

These measures will ensure the safety of the community and first responders so that they can continue to serve residents in the best capacity possible. Anyone with signs or symptoms consistent with the CDC guidelines for Coronavirus should inform dispatchers, officers, and emergency personnel as soon as practicable. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

If you have any questions about these measures please feel free to contact Police Chief Shawn Heubusch at sheubusch@batavianewyork.com.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we all work together to keep Batavia safe.

News Release

National Fuel recognizes that during these unsettling times there may be instances where customers find themselves facing financial difficulties. Customers whose income situations have changed in the last 30 days may be eligible for HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program), a federally funded programs that provides financial heating assistance to those who qualify.

Customers who receive Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) grants are also automatically enrolled in the Statewide Low Income Program (SLIP), a program that provides monthly discounts on gas delivery charges. The discount amount is based on the amount of the HEAP grant they receive.

In addition to HEAP, other programs are available to help individuals who struggle to make their bill payments. National Fuel encourages customers to contact a customer service representative at 1-800-365-3234 weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. to discuss their personal situations. A quick call can provide information on the following programs:
• Neighbor for Neighbor Heat Fund is open year round and helps qualified customers who are aged 55 years or older, have a certified medical condition, are disabled, are a veteran, or are currently receiving unemployment benefits to prevent an energy emergency.
• Deferred Payment Agreement allows the potential to negotiate a repayment plan in the event of a problem or special circumstance.
• Special Protections is applicable for households where all residents are aged 62 years or older, 18 years or younger, blind or disabled.
• Budget plan billing is available for customers who want to have level, predictable monthly payments.

As always, if you smell gas, leave fast! If a rotten-egg natural gas odor is present, leave the premises immediately and call National Fuel’s emergency line, 1-800-444-3130, from a different location. If you smell gas outdoors, call National Fuel’s emergency number and provide the address nearest to the site of the odor.

National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation is the Utility segment of National Fuel Gas Company, a diversified energy company that is engaged in a number of natural gas-related activities. The Utility provides natural gas service to more than 740,000 customers in Western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.nationalfuel.com.

Press Release:

Batavia, N.Y. – United Memorial Medical Center continues to take steps to further prepare to meet the needs of our community during this COVID-19 pandemic. This week, a series of tents will be installed outside the Emergency Department. With this, there will be changes in traffic patterns at the main 127 North Street campus.

Access to the hospital and offices via Summit Street will be restricted to ambulances only. All other hospital traffic will be directed to the main entrance or Chandler Avenue.

Our main entrance continues to provide access for patients and permitted visitors to the following departments:

• Inpatient Units
• Non-Invasive Cardiology
• Pediatric Cardiology Clinic
• Pre-Admission Testing
• Radiology
• Wound Care

Chandler Avenue will serve as the entrance for:

• Community Pharmacy
• Emergency Department
• Lipson Cancer Institute
• 33 Chandler Avenue
• 229 Summit Street
• 217 Summit Street
• 215 Summit Street
• 207 Summit Street
• 203 Summit Street

If you are driving in the area, please plan for potential delays and drive with caution.
We continue to advise patients that are sick and experiencing symptoms to contact their primary care provider first. For more information regarding COVID-19, visit rochesterregional.org/COVID19 or call 922-INFO.

GAPA Logo Contest photo caption: (left to right) Brenda Lee Heineman, Norb Fuest, Megan Johnson, Blake Paserk, Steve Mahoney and Doug Russo.

Press Release:

Batavia, New York, March 23, 2020 – Blake Paserk, a junior from Batavia High School, and Megan Johnson, a junior from Oakfield-Alabama High School, are first-year students in the Graphic Arts Program at the Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center. When Doug Russo, the Graphic Arts Instructor at the Batavia CTE Center, shared with his class that the Genesee Area Personnel Association (GAPA) wanted to develop a new logo, both Megan and Blake jumped at this chance to use their creative talents.

“When Mr. Russo asked Blake and me to work on this project and enter the contest, that made us feel great that he had confidence in us and in our work,” Megan said.

Artistic abilities run in both Megan and Blake’s families. Blake’s mother is a photographer. He enrolled in the Graphic Arts Program because he wanted to learn more about how to use Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Creative Suite graphic design software used by photographers and graphic artists. Megan’s father owns a sign and promotional items company. Megan explained that her father uses graphic design software in his work and that she hopes to someday use the skills learned in the Graphics Arts Program to help in the family business.

This creative duo worked together for one week to design the GAPA logo and they came up with three different designs. The inspiration for the final design that was selected is a person with open arms; an idea that both students thought represented human resources.

“I think the graphic represents a welcoming concept,” Blake said. “We choose the pink and purple colors because the colors compliment each other but also contrast.”

Russo explained how this project all came to be.

“Norb Fuest contacted me to see if my students could design a logo for GAPA. My students worked in groups and we sent concepts to GAPA for their consideration. GAPA voted and chose Blake and Megan’s design,” Russo said.

Norb Fuest is the Treasurer for GAPA. He explained how this logo contest came to be. “This year notes the 50th anniversary of our organization. We thought this would be great time for us to develop a new logo and the idea was posed to ask these Graphic Arts student to submit their concepts,” Fuest said. “There were many quality logos that the students submitted and it was a difficult decision to narrow it down to one design.”

Megan and Blake’s design will be used in all GAPA materials. Fuest and Russo, as well as, two other GAPA members, Steve Mahoney and Brenda Lee Heineman, recently recognized Megan and Blake and presented them with a $250 honorarium for their efforts.

Press Release:

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wyoming County wants farmers and agribusiness owners to have access to the most recent information available regarding the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19. The quickest way to get information about rules and policies being implemented to prevent the spread of the virus and recommendations for protecting your family, workforce and business is to access information on the internet as it becomes available. Below, please find a collection of trusted resources that are being updated regularly to help you make decisions and manage your farm or business effectively during the uncertain and rapidly changing times.

Our Agriculture Educator and Specialist Team are available to assist your farm business remotely. We continue to respond to questions from farmers and agribusinesses during these uncertain times. Please call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wyoming County at 585-786-2251 and leave us a voice message or check our website: http://wyoming.cce.cornell.edu/ for our e-mail contact and drop us a note and we will reach out to respond to your question.

View the following Cornell CALS and CCE Resource Pages, which are updated regularly:
New York Disaster Education Network for general questions and links: https://eden.cce.cornell.edu/
Institute for Food Safety At Cornell University for Food Production, Processing & Safety Questions: https://instituteforfoodsafety.cornell.edu/coronavirus-covid-19/food-industry-resources/
Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development for Employment & Agricultural Workforce Questions: http://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/
Cornell Small Farms Program for Resiliency Resources: https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/resources/farm-resilience/
New York FarmNet for Financial & Mental Health Resources for Farmers: https://www.nyfarmnet.org/

View resources from US and NY government agencies:
USDA: https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus
FDA: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/food-safety-and-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets: https://agriculture.ny.gov/coronavirus
New York Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19: https://www.governor.ny.gov/programs/paid-sick-leave-covid-19-impacted-new-yorkers

Additional resource to view for agricultural policy updates:
New York Farm Bureau: https://www.nyfb.org/news/covid-19-news
Multistate COVID-19 Policy Tracker: https://www.multistate.us/pages/covid-19-policy-tracker
State by State Tracker of COVID-19 Policies: https://associationdatabase.com/aws/OABA/pt/sd/news_article/286738/_PARENT/layout_details/false#state-regs

Press Release:

Warsaw, New York, March 23, 2020 – This morning, one of the two COVID-19 positive residents at the Wyoming County Community Health System (WCCHS) skilled nursing facility has died. The patient had been cared for in isolation since being tested.

From Joseph McTernan, CEO of WCCHS, “Our deepest condolences go out to the family of the resident. As we grieve, the safety of our residents, patients, staff and the community remains our focus.”

The following safety precautions have been put in place at the skilled nursing facility:

• All staff are screened including temperature prior to entering the facility
• Visitor restrictions remain in place
• All staff members continue to take aggressive infection control measures and are using personal protective equipment

New York State Department of Health epidemiology staff and Wyoming County Health Department staff continue to work with the WCCHS skilled nursing facility, providing guidance and instruction. The source of the infections has not been determined.

The following staff members of the WCCHS skilled nursing facility will answer any questions family members may have:

• Dawn James, Administrator (585) 786–8940, Ext. 4701
• Denise Prusak, Director of Nursing (585) 786–8940, Ext. 4703

From Dr. Gregory Collins, DO, MPH, Commissioner of the Wyoming County Health Department, “All Wyoming County residents should take steps to care for yourselves, your families, friends and neighbors. These are unprecedented times for public health and we need to keep each other safe.”

The first coronavirus death has been confirmed in Wyoming County.
Health officials say the individual was one of two resident who were being treated in isolation at the Wyoming County Community Hospital’s Skilled Nursing Facility in Warsaw after testing positive for COVID-19.
The name and age of the person haven’t been released.
Officials say they’re working close with the Wyoming County Department of Health to ensure the safety of residents and staff at the facility.
All staff are screened, including for their temperature, prior to entering the facility while visitor restrictions remain in place.
The source of the infections has not yet been determined.

A second Monroe County resident has died as a result of the coronavirus.
The County Public Health Commissioner says the person won’t be identified due to privacy laws.
There are now over 80 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Monroe County. Twelve of those individuals are in the hospital and nearly 400 people are in mandatory quarantine.

Governor Cuomo is ordering hospitals across the state to increase their capacity of beds as the coronavirus crisis grows.
The number of confirmed cases in New York has now passed 20-thousand, which remains the highest total in the country.
Officials say more beds are necessary so the health care system isn’t overwhelmed as the number of people needing treatment grows.
Governor Cuomo says he’s also working on a plan to restart the state’s economy.

City Police bust a Medina man for stealing and possessing drug paraphernalia.
31 year old Douglas Taylor of Church Street Medina was arrested by Batavia PD Friday morning following an incident on East Main Street.
Taylor was ultimately charged with Petit Larceny and Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument and was released with appearance tickets for May 19th in City Court.

Batavia Police report the arrest of 18 year old Josie Panepinto of Ellicott Ave Batavia after investigation into a Maple Street incident in the City last Thursday.
Panepinto allegedly damaged another person’s property during a domestic incident and was charged with Criminal Mischief.
She is expected to reappear in Batavia City Court on May 19th.

City woman faces the music for blaring tunes to loud.
City Police took 36 year old Amanda McDonald of Ellsworth Ave into custody earlier this month on a count of Unreasonable Noise.
Police were called to the upper apartment over a complaint that McDonald had allegedly played excessively loud music at her residence which could be heard several houses away. She is expected in City Court on Mar. 31.

News Release Genesee Orleans County Health Departments

Health Department will issue daily briefings via News Release at 4PM daily unless there is Breaking News on the COVID-19 outbreak.

As of 2:00 p.m. today the lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 have not changed in Genesee and Orleans Counties. We have the initial 1 confirmed case of COVID-19 identified in Genesee County and 1 confirmed case of COVID- 19 for Orleans County. Since the onset of testing, Genesee County has received 36 negative test results and Orleans, 34 negative test results for COVID-19.

Local contact tracing continues within our departments. The cases and stories are being built and documented. Regarding the special circumstances of the Orleans positive. Identified contacts have been notified and quarantined and swabbed as indicated. This patient became symptomatic out of state and is now in mandatory isolation at their residence in Orleans County. The patient was released from isolation from the state they were in, in line with that state’s clearance criteria. NYS clearance criteria are currently more restrictive and require negative COVID-19 results prior to being released. Swabbing through the Health Departments is warranted as part of our quarantine /isolation protocol for those who become symptomatic. We are not providing community testing at this time.

Genesee County: 7 people are under precautionary quarantine, 20 people are under mandatory quarantine, and 1 person (positive case) is under mandatory isolation.

Orleans County: 4 people are under precautionary quarantine, 10 people are under mandatory quarantine, and 1 person is under mandatory isolation (this is not a new positive case). As shared last week, the department continues to explore contacts related to the case and places any further contacts on mandatory quarantine as needed

Reminder: As discussed last week. We are placing folks on quarantine and isolation from the health department but individuals will also be asked by their provider to self- isolate if they have been swabbed until the results come back. This is very important. Number one the person is symptomatic, that’s why they’re being swabbed and secondly, we don’t want the person exposing others to illness (COVID-19 or otherwise). Please remain home if ill.

Young people may think this won’t affect them…they can get COVID-19, they can spread it to vulnerable populations and although not as likely, they can be hospitalized and possibly die from this disease, just as they can get the flu and have complications. Young people may also have underlying health issues they may not be aware of or if they smoke / vape, etc. they are putting themselves at higher risk of severe illness. This is why all people participate in social distancing even if they are not immune-compromised some people are going to react to this illness differently…it is not just the older folks, they do have the greater risk of dying or going to the hospital but people of any age can have severe illness. It is still important for all to help flatten the curve.

Swabbing / Partner Information

Remember that if you are sick to call your primary care provider. If you must go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care – call ahead so they can prepare for your arrival.

COVID-19 swabbing/testing at the Health Departments and community is limited. If you feel you may have COVID-19, call your primary care provider or healthcare facility ahead of time. DO NOT GO DIRECTLY THERE, CALL AHEAD TO GET GUIDANCE. We will be screening and focusing on our at-risk populations – elderly and immune-compromised and those with underlying health issues. Primary care providers and some health systems are offering testing in both Monroe and Erie Counties. We’re still waiting on more public/private labs to sign-on soon along with swabbing kits.

Lab testing has been bogged down and sample results are coming back slowly. Again this is a source of frustration for the public and us. We continue to push these unacceptable issues back up to the state.

Due to the current limit of swabbing kits, guidelines are in place for primary care providers to order COVID-19 swabbing. We will notify how and who can be tested at testing sites once we have the capability to set them up.

We are working closely with the Healthcare Systems to determine capacity, healthcare systems are currently working on their plans to increase bed capacity to provide higher-level medical care as needed. We will update and provide additional information on these activities as they become available.

We are asking folks to follow the orders that are put out there. If you believe an employer is violating either existing labor laws or recently issued @NYGocCuomo executive orders, please contact the @NewYorkStateAG’s office at (212) 416-8700 or Labor.Bureau@ag.ny.gov. (On the Web)

Schools: Parents are encouraged to communicate with their child’s school to learn about how food or other services will be provided during this time. If it is a school-related issue, please contact the school, not the health departments.

Be alert to scams…there are no FDA-approved at-home test kits for COVID-19.

Please refer to the county web sites for current daily updates and guidance documents. Orleans County’s web site is still down, so we ask to visit the Genesee County website or follow GOHealthNY (user names) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We are also providing updates on the Genesee Ready and Orleans Aware apps.

Both County Buildings are closed to the public. Please call ahead to handle your business over the phone or by appointment.

Flu – for the week ending March 14: Orleans, 8 flu that week and 257 for the season; Genesee, 22 cases of flu and 588 for the season!

Mental Health in both counties are available in various capacities and the Care + Crisis

The helpline is available 24/7 at 585-283-5200 or text 741741 for anxiety and stress.

We are receiving back negative COVID-19 test results from the lab, but we are still having flu – more flu and other respiratory illness as we look at the data. Keep this in mind. Everyone should be social distancing and staying home.

Continue Social Distancing and daily hygiene practices:

Hand Hygiene. Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds OR use of hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Stay 6 feet away from others
Disinfect high-touch surfaces
Avoid touching your face
Avoid contact with people who are sick
Stay home when sick
Avoid crowded places
Canceling events/closure of public spaces
Encourage people to take care of themselves to take care of their immune systems.
Eat healthy – fruits & vegetables, whole grains, low fat meats, etc. o Get plenty of rest
Drink plenty of water
Stop smoking or abusing drugs and alcohol, seek appropriate help o Limit media time to help decrease stress
Keep in contact with older family members by phone, Face Time, cards and letters if you can’t visit in person
Take time for walks, play outside, do puzzles, help keep you children engaged with their studies
Start or continue a hobby
Vulnerable / Priority Populations:

Older adults (65 years of age and older) and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19.
Underlying medical conditions may include but are not limited to:  Chronic lung disease or asthma
Diabetes
Weakened immune system
Chemotherapy or radiation for cancer
People who are pregnant
If you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, you should:

Stay home as much as possible. (Rely on help to get groceries/necessities such as prescriptions so you do not have to go out in public) Talk with your healthcare provider about providing 90-day prescription orders and ask your pharmacist if you can re-fill early to limit trips out in public.
Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others
Keep away from others who are sick
Wash your hands often
Avoid non-essential travel
Watch for symptoms and emergency signs. If you get sick, stay home and call
your doctor.
According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released March 18, the majority of fatalities were persons aged 85 and older (10%-27%); persons aged 65-84 3%-11%; 1%-3% among persons aged 55-64% and less than 1% for persons aged 20-54, and no fatalities among persons 19 or younger. Different people react differently to illness with and without underlying health issues and age factored in.

We can’t stress it enough

CDC does not recommend that people who are well wearing a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses. A facemask should only be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected.
Older patients and individuals who have severe underlying medical conditions or are immuno-compromised should contact their healthcare provider early, even if their illness is mild. Symptoms for COVID19 are shortness of breath, dry cough, and fever.

New York State Cases / Restrictions / Guidance

As of March 23, 2020, there are 2,950 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 15,168 in NYS.
At this time, roughly 18 percent of the people with COVID-19 in New York are hospitalized.
Monroe County: 57 confirmed cases in Monroe County.
Erie County: 54 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Erie County.
Wyoming County: 2 Confirmed COVID-19 cases
Niagara County: 6 Confirmed COVID-19 cases
Effective Saturday, March, 21st beginning at 8 p.m., all personal care services such as hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, and tattoo parlors in NYS will be mandated to close. These professions cannot conduct business while maintaining social distancing.
On Friday, March 20, 2020, Cuomo announced that he will sign an executive order mandating that 100% of the workforce must stay home (excluding essential services). This order excludes healthcare, pharmacies, grocery stores, etc.
Civil fines and mandatory closures for businesses that are not in compliance will be issued.
DOH Test Kits are NOT available. More information will be forthcoming when we receive notice.
PPE is in extremely short supply with no guidance as to when more will be supplied.
Gatherings with 50 people or more are not permitted for the next 8 weeks.

Dear Friends,

This is an unsettling time for our country and our community, as we are in a public health emergency due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Your elected leaders, public health and emergency management officials are working around the clock to slow the spread of the virus and provide care to those who need it. It is important to remember that we need to be prepared, not scared. Heed the advice of public health experts who agree that the most effective way to “flatten the curve,” or slow the spread of the virus, is to practice social distancing. Below is some helpful information regarding COVID-19:

How can you be infected?
• Coronavirus can spread from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Because these droplets can travel up to six feet, public health experts advise maintaining six feet of distance from others.
• The virus can also remain on a surface or object and enter the body through the mouth, nose, or eyes. This is why it is important to wash your hands before touching your face.
How long does it take to show symptoms after being infected?
• It takes 2 to 14 days to develop symptoms after exposure to the virus. The average is about 5 days.
What are the symptoms?
• Fever
• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath
When should you seek testing?
• If you are exhibiting symptoms
• If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus
• If you have recently traveled to one of the high-risk countries

Except in the case of an emergency, please call your healthcare provider before seeking treatment in person.

While it is normal to feel anxious, there are ways to take control of the situation and be prepared. We urge you to take the following precautions to keep yourself and our community safe.
• Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Avoid physical contact like handshakes and hugs
• Stay home if you feel sick
• Avoid large crowds
• Abstain from unnecessary travel

What is the difference between “Safer at Home” and “Social Distancing”?
Safer at home is a stricter form of social distancing. There are some differences. Safer at home means:
• Stay home (stay unexposed and do not expose others)
• Only go out for essential services
• Stay six feet or more away from others
• Don’t gather in groups

It is important during this national emergency that we unite as a community, follow the advice of experts, and take responsibility for our actions to #SlowTheSpread of coronavirus. For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ny.gov or call the NYS Novel Coronavirus Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.

Sincerely,

Rochelle M. Stein, Chair
Genesee County Legislature

On Behalf of the Genesee County Legislature
Marianne Clattenburg, Vice Chair, City of Batavia, Wards 2 & 3
Andrew Young, 2nd Vice Chair, Towns of Batavia & Stafford
John Hilchey, Towns of Alabama & Oakfield
Christian Yunker, Towns of Elba, Bergen, Byron
Gordon Dibble, Towns of Darien, Pembroke
Gregg Torrey, Towns of Alexander, Bethany, Pavilion
John Deleo, City of Batavia, Wards 1 & 6
Gary T. Maha, City of Batavia, Wards 4 & 5

Press Release:

During this COVID-19 pandemic, we remain focused on the health of our community and continuing to deliver safe and accessible care for individuals who need it. Effective Monday, March 23 we are temporarily redirecting all lab draw services to the Rochester Regional Health Laboratory located at:

Rochester Regional Health Laboratory
City Center
106 Main Street, Suite 47B
Batavia, NY 14020

Our Batavia (16 Bank Street), LeRoy (3 Tountas Avenue), and Pembroke (860 Main Street) laboratory service centers are closed until further notice. We appreciate your understanding.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Cuomo has signed an executive order called “New York State on PAUSE,” that is now in effect statewide aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.
A majority of businesses are required to keep their entire workforce home under the order and places that remain open must ensure customers are several feet apart.
Businesses caught defying the order can face a fine and mandatory closure.
Gatherings like parties or other social events are also canceled while sick people are being urged only to leave their homes if absolutely necessary.

As New York State deals with over 15-thousand confirmed coronavirus cases the federal government is sending in some help.
Yesterday, President Trump approved a request to declare New York a major disaster area, making it easier for the state to receive more help with recovery efforts.
Trump said much needed medical supplies are heading to New York.
The Empire State has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country currently and has been dubbed the epicenter of the pandemic.

There is still only one person in mandatory isolation with a positive case of COVID-19 in Genesee County according to the latest from the Genesee & Orleans County Health Department.
19 people are under mandatory quarantine and 8 are under precautionary quarantine.
There remains only one person with a positive case from Orleans County as well, however they remain in mandatory isolation out of state.
9 people are under mandatory quarantine with 4 under precautionary quarantine also in Orleans County.

The Wyoming County Community Health System received notice this morning that two residents of the Skilled Nursing Facility have tested positive for COVID-19 according to the New York State Department of Health.
Since being tested, the residents have been treated in isolation and contact tracing is in process for residents and staff.
Screenings are now being conducted for all skilled nursing facility staff reporting for work prior to entering the facility.
All staff are taking aggressive infection control measures and are using personal protective equipment.

WBTA will again be dedicating the entire hour of “Main & Center” for a second installment of “COVID-19, a Local View”.
Dan Ireland, President of UMMC and representatives from the County’s Emergency Management Office will be in studio to answer phoned-in questions from the listeners.
The program begins at 9 this morning after the national news report.

Press Release:

Genesee Country Village & Museum is cancelling both weekends of our Maple Sugar Festival and Pancake Breakfast (March 21-22 and March 28-29) and the Maple Soiree (April 4) in response to the ever-changing impact of COVID-19.

The Museum is continuing to closely monitor evolving guidance and conditions. Other programs beyond these two have not been cancelled at this time, although we continue to assess that daily since the safety of our visitors, staff, and vendors is paramount.

For those who have purchased tickets for the Festival, Breakfast, or Soiree, you have three options for the amount that you paid:

• Receive a credit that can be used towards any 2020 Museum program, general admission, or membership
• Make a tax-deductible donation to the Museum
• Receive a refund

While we understand that some may want a refund for their tickets, we hope that you will consider one of the first two options. GCV&M is a non-profit organization and issuing extensive refunds will increase the extraordinary financial pressure that we are under and impact our ability to support our staff and future programs. Please contact the Program Registrar at ProgramRegistrar@gcv.org or 585-294-8218 for more information.

We have collaborated with colleagues at other Rochester-area cultural institutions and are all taking similar measures to support our members, volunteers, staff, visitors, and greater community.

GCV&M is not open to the public on a daily basis in March or April and updates regarding any other Museum events and programs will be posted to a dedicated web page: https://www.gcv.org/visit/covid-19-information/

Thank you for your continued support of GCV&M. Should you have any questions or comments, please contact us at ProgramRegistrar@gcv.org or 585-294-8218. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.

Becky Wehle
President & CEO

Press Release:

BATAVIA – This is a challenging time for everyone. In light of the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation and to ensure the health and safety of our volunteers, staff and participants, all Genesee County Master Gardener programs and speaking engagements have been cancelled through April. If you have registered and paid for any of our programs you will get a refund. We will resume our regular programming as soon as we can.

Given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and to do our part to help limit the spread, the Master Gardener Helpline will not be available to walk-ins through May 1. Master Gardener volunteers will not be in the office during this time. We hope to reopen to the public on Monday, May 4.

With gardening season at our doorstep, we want to be available to help you. If you have gardening questions you may continue to contact us through our email at geneseemg@hotmail.com. Photos may be sent for plant and insect identification. If you are on Facebook you can also leave a question on the CCE Genesee Facebook page.

Stay up to date with our Master Gardener program by visiting our website at genesee.cce.cornell.edu.

Please take all precautions to stay safe and healthy.

Thank you for your continued support and we hope to see you in the near future.

One more person has been placed under mandatory quarantine in Genesee County bringing the total to 16 people.
According to Genesee & Orleans County Health Department Director Paul Petit who spoke at the public health briefing Friday evening there is still only one confirmed case in Genesee County and they remain in isolation.
Nearly 40% of those in mandatory quarantine in both Genesee and Orleans counties, are symptomatic however the health department is still awaiting results for those patients.
Private providers are continuing to perform COVID-19 tests on patients who are symptomatic but it can take up to five days to get results back and they are under doctor’s orders to self-quarantine.
There is still a shortage of test kits locally and the flu is still prevalent in the region.
According to the Health Department it’s more likely if you’re symptomatic now, you don’t have COVID-19 but you have the flu.
The same protocol of social isolation applies as much for people with the flu to help prevent spread.
Also during the briefing UMMC President Dan Ireland said as a precautionary measure the hospital will start erecting tents however there are still plenty of beds available in the hospital.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced he is signing the “New York State on PAUSE” executive order, a 10-point policy to assure uniform safety for everyone.
It includes a new directive that all non-essential businesses statewide must close in-office personnel functions effective at 8PM on Sunday, March 22, and temporarily bans all non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason.
Governor Cuomo also announced “Matilda’s Law” – named for the Governor’s mother – to protect New York’s most vulnerable populations, including individuals age 70 and older, those with compromised immune systems and those with underlying illnesses.
The measure requires this group of New Yorkers to stay home and limit home visitation to immediate family members or close friends in need of emergency assistance.
The Governor also announced a 90-day moratorium on any residential or commercial evictions.

Two dogs perish is a State Street fire in Batavia.
City Fire crews were dispatched to a reported residential fire at 236 State Street at around quarter after 12 Friday afternoon.
The first firefighters on scene reported a working kitchen fire in the rear of the home and responding crews were able to contain the kitchen area within about 15 minutes.
There was extensive heat and smoke damage throughout the residence due to the intensity of the fire and two dogs perished inside of the home.
Investigation is on-going to determine the cause of the blaze however the fire does not appear to be incendiary in nature.

The Thruway Authority has announced emergency toll procedures will be in place effective Sunday, March 22 at approximately 8 p.m., at cash toll lanes on the Thruway’s ticketed-system.
This plan will convert the collection of cash tolls to toll billing by the license plate during the Novel Coronavirus response in New York State.
The procedures will be in place until further notice.
When non-E-ZPass customers enter the Thruway in a cash lane, they will continue through the lane without collecting a ticket, then when exiting the Thruway, they will inform the toll collector which exit they entered the Thruway and provide them their license plate information, without paying cash.
Motorists will then be sent a bill in the mail in approximately 30 days and can pay with a credit card through the Thruway Authority’s website.

News Release

The City of Batavia Fire Department responded to separate reported fires today.

This first was dispatched at 10:08 am for reported smoke coming from a window at Batavia Gardens, 679 East Main Street.
Upon arrival responding crews found a grease fire located on a stove that was contained to a pan.
The damaged was confined to the stove top and the residence was ventilated to remove the smoke condition.
Occupants of the residence were evaluated at the scene by Mercy EMS personnel and a member of the Byron fire Department who was working at the location.

At 12:17 pm City Fire Department was then dispatched to a reported residential fire at located at 236 State Street. First arriving fire units were on-scene at 12:21 pm and upon arrival, firefighters working kitchen fire in the rear portion of the home. Responding crews made entrance into the residence from a side door and attacked the fire. Firefighters were able to confine and contain the kitchen area and the situation was called under control by command at 12:34 pm and all units were back in service at 2:33 pm.
While the fire was contained to the kitchen area of the home, there was extensive heat and smoke damage throughout the residence due to the intensity of the fire and two dogs perished inside of the home.

At this time the City of Batavia’s Fire Investigation team is investigating the fire to determine the origin and cause. Presently, the fire does not appear to be incendiary in nature. Once a determination has been made, we will be providing an additional media release with further information.
City Fire was assisted at the scene by the City of Batavia Police and Code Departments with additional support provided by Genesee County Emergency Dispatch and Office of Emergency Services.

Additionally, The Town of Batavia Fire Department assisted City Fire with responding to the New York State School for the Blind for a fire alarm activation during the State Street incident.

News Release

The Thruway Authority today announced emergency toll procedures will be in place effective Sunday, March 22 at approximately 8 p.m., at cash toll lanes on the Thruway’s ticketed-system. This plan will convert the collection of cash tolls to toll billing by the license plate during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) response in New York State. The procedures will be in place until further notice.

“We are implementing these emergency toll procedures for the health and safety of our employees and motorists,” Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll said. “We need the next 48 hours to take necessary operational steps to implement the procedures effectively and seamlessly. In the meantime, we continue to enhance safety measures to protect toll collectors and motorists. We thank the toll collection staff and all of our workforce for their dedication during this public health crisis.”

Effective Sunday, March 22 at approximately 8 p.m., when non-E-ZPass customers enter the Thruway in a cash lane, they will continue through the lane without collecting a ticket. When the customer exits the Thruway, they will inform the toll collector which exit they entered the Thruway and provide the toll collector their license plate information, without paying cash to the toll collector. Customers without an E-ZPass should not enter an E-ZPass lane, as they will receive an E-ZPass violation.

Motorists will then be sent a bill in the mail in approximately 30 days. Toll bills will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle at the address on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Once they receive a bill in the mail, customers can pay with a credit card through the Thruway Authority’s website.

E-ZPass customers should travel through E-ZPass lanes and be billed as they normally would. E-ZPass customers who travel through a cash lane will be given a green light to pass through by the toll collector.
Motorists who wish to save time and bypass the emergency toll procedures can sign up for E-ZPass online.

Press Release:

Out of an abundance of caution, the New York State Maple Producers Association has decided to cancel the 2020 NYS Maple Weekend. This 25th anniversary festival was scheduled for March 21-22 and March 28-29 at 187 different locations across NYS. Individual sugarhouses will continue to produce, stock and market their excellent crop of Maple Products. Please contact them directly to order your favorite maple products. NYS Maple Producers Association is already preparing for an alternative series of open houses later in the year to showcase both producer and product. Consult MapleWeekend.com for future events. If you have questions, contact us at mapleweekend@nysmaple.com

Press Release:

We at the Holland Land Office Museum have been watching the current circumstances regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. Though we had originally planned to stay open, with the recent updates to the situation within our local community, the Board of Directors and I have decided to close the museum to the public for the recommended two week period until April 1st. This closure is in addition to canceling and rescheduling the remainder of events scheduled for the remainder of March. We will be continually evaluating the situation as April approaches and will keep everyone updated if we decide to cancel or reschedule further events. Any updates to our situation will be communicated through our website, Facebook page, and email. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the museum by phone at 585-343-4727 or by email at hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support and understanding of this decision. We hope for everyone to stay safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Ryan Duffy
Executive Director

Press Release:

Greg Rogers, Village of LeRoy Mayor declared a State of Emergency at on March 19, 2020 and issued an Emergency Order effective March 19, 2020 beginning at 1:00 pm.

Village of LeRoy Office and DPW Garage are closed to the public effective March 19, 2020 for five (5) days unless rescinded earlier or renewed in five (5) day increments.

The Village will conduct business with the public remotely through the use of phones, computers, mail, or other means.

Village Clerk-Treasurer sjeary@villageofleroy.org
Sewer bills will be received by mail, and may be dropped off in the drop box located on the west side of Village Hall. They will be processed during regular business hours. You may email the Clerk-Treasurer to inquire about other services.
Phone number (585)768-2527, extension 2216

More people are now under mandatory quarantine with still only one confirmed case of COVID 19 virus in Genesee County.
The latest numbers for both Genesee and Orleans counties were released by the Genesee-Orleans Health Department late yesterday afternoon.
Paul Pettit is director of the two county Health Department…

According to Petitt a number of the 15 people under mandatory quarantine in Genesee County are showing symptoms and have been tested, however the test results have not yet returned from the lab.
Orleans County now has one confirmed case of COVID 19.
The patient is a county resident who had no symptoms while at home but then traveled out of state, became ill, and has now been placed in mandatory isolation and is not allowed to return home.

More Monroe County residents are being treated for the coronavirus.
Officials say there are now 30 positive cases and the individuals range in age from people in their 20s to older folks in their 80s.
Eight of the cases have required hospitalization and one person died earlier this week.
Anyone with questions is urged to call the Monroe County Health Department’s Coronavirus Hotline at 585-753-5555.

The Village of LeRoy declares a State of Emergency.
Greg Rogers, Village of LeRoy Mayor declared a State of Emergency and issued an Emergency Order effective yesterday afternoon closing Village offices and the DPW Garage for 5 days.
The Mayor can continue the emergency order in additional 5 day increments while the Village will continue to conduct business with the public remotely via phones, computers, mail, or other means.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases is continuing to increase dramatically in New York State.
Health officials say over four-thousand people have been infected while the death toll is also rising.
Governor Cuomo continues to say New Yorkers shouldn’t panic since the growing numbers are mostly connected to more people being tested.
To try and slow the spread of the virus, he’s also requiring non-essential businesses to only have 25-percent of their employees report to work.

A High Wind Warning for area’s including Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming counties is going in effect from 10 a.m. this morning until 5 p.m. this afternoon.
The National Weather Service is predicting Southwest winds from 25 to 35 mph with gusts of up to 60.
Forecasters expect damaging winds will blow down some trees and power lines and may lead to scattered power outages.
They also warn that travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

Some New York State homeowners being hit hard by the coronavirus crisis are about to get a bit of relief.
Governor Cuomo says they’ll get a 90-day break from paying their mortgages.
Just who qualifies will depend on an individual’s financial situation.
Homeowners will still have to make the payments eventually, since they’ll be added to the end of their current mortgage.

There remains just one confirmed case of COVID 19 virus in Genesee County, although more people are under mandatory quarantine.
The Genesee-Orleans Health Department released the latest numbers for both counties late this afternoon.
The director of the Health Departments is Paul Pettit

Petitt said that of the 15 people under mandatory quarantine in Genesee County. Some of these people have symptoms and have been tested. The test results are not yet available.
Orleans County has recorded its first confirmed case of COVID 19.
The patient is a county resident but had no symptoms while at home. The patient then traveled out of state, became ill, and has now been placed in mandatory isolation and not allowed to return home.

News Release

The 18TH Annual Celebrate Agriculture Dinner originally scheduled for April 18 has been postponed indefinitely.
The dinner is a joint effort of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, the Genesee County Farm Bureau, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County and Genesee County Soil and Water.
It is hoped that the dinner, which is held at the Alexander Fire Hall and annually draws over 300 people, can be rescheduled at a later date.

Press Release:

Operations suspended to help prevent spread of novel coronavirus

WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection will temporarily suspend operations at Trusted Traveler Program enrollment centers nationwide from March 19 until at least May 1, 2020. CBP is taking this precautionary measure to minimize the exposure of CBP personnel and the public to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

This temporary closure includes all public access Global Entry enrollment centers, NEXUS enrollment centers, SENTRI enrollment centers and FAST enrollment locations. Global Entry mobile enrollment events are also paused until further notice.

Conditionally-approved applicants who seek an enrollment center interview will need to reschedule after May 1. These applicants are encouraged to monitor their e-mail and Trusted Traveler Program accounts for further information. CBP will continue to monitor the situation in order to resume enrollment centers interviews as soon as possible.

CBP’s Enrollment on Arrival program will remain operational. Conditionally-approved Global Entry applicants will be able to complete the enrollment process when arriving on an international flight at any of the 60 airports that offer this program.

CBP’s highest priority is to ensure the health, safety and security of our workforce and the American people. CBP agents, officers and mission support personnel will continue to support the whole-of-government response to the COVID-19 outbreak.