UPDATED LATE AFTERNOON
Health AlertCOVID-19 Response UpdateFor IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Today, we received notification of two additional Genesee County residents and 1 Orleans County resident that have tested positive for COVID-19”, Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments confirmed Thursday afternoon.
The counties now have 4 people positive for COVID-19 in Genesee and 4 in Orleans County.Each county has 61 negative COVID-19 test results.
The first individual is over the age of 65 and resides in the centralpart of Genesee County. The second individual is under the age of 65 and resides in the central partof Genesee County.
In Orleans County, the individuallives in the centralpart of the county and is under 65 years of age. The two new Genesee County individuals are currently in the hospital under mandatory isolation and the Orleans resident is in mandatory isolation at home in an adjacent county.
As with previous positive results, the public health nurses and epidemiology team are working tirelessly to conduct contact tracing.
This means that public health employees are communicating with the positive cases to identify close contacts they may have had while symptomatic.
Close contact is still defined as being within 6 feet of the positive case. “As of this time, individuals who have had close contact with the positive cases have been notified by the County Health Department and have been placed under mandatory quarantine” continued Pettit.“As a reminder, we are asking our community members to practice social distancing and stay home whenever possible to control the spread of this virus.” Both County Health Departments will provide daily updates on the County’s dedicated COVID-19 webpages, Genesee and for Orleans. If you have a fever, cough and/or trouble breathing, please call your health care provider for an assessment of your symptoms. For general questions in regard to COVID-19, please contact the NYS COVID-19 Hotline at: 1-888-364-3065 or click hereto ask a question electronically.
SITUATIONAL UPDATE
New Cases
· As of 2:00 p.m. today: 3.26.2020
o Genesee County received 2 new positive cases of COVID-19
o Orleans County received 1 new positive case.
· For Genesee: 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. 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
COVID-19 RELIABLE SOURCES
· New York State Department of Health –https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
· CDC –https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
· Genesee County Health Department – https://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health/coronavirus_2019/index.php
· Orleans County Health Department – http://orleansny.com/departments/health/public-health/emerging-infectious-diseases/coronavirus
· 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
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