SITUATIONAL UPDATE: STAY HOME; WASH HANDS; SOCIAL DISTANCING; WEAR A FACE COVERING!
New Cases
· As of 2:00 p.m. May 4, 2020
o Genesee County received 1 new positive case of COVID-19 for a total of 154 positive cases
§ The positive case resides in Alabama.
§ The positive individual is in their 20’s.
§ The newly positive individual was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
§ 1 of the previous positive cases has recovered and has been released from mandatory isolation.
§ 6 of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.
o Orleans County received 2 new positive cases of COVID-19 for a total of 102 positive cases
§ The positive case (community) resides in Ridgeway.
§ There was 1 new positive individual for The Villages of Orleans Health & Rehabilitation Center.
§ The new positive cases have one individual in their 40’s and one individual in their 70’s.
§ The community individual had not been on mandatory quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
§ 5 of the previous positive cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.
§ 5 of the total active positive cases are hospitalized.
(The facility breakdown is only showing those facilities from where we received a positive swab for COVID-19. Facilities will be added when and if there is a positive case of COVID-19. If a regulated facility from either of our counties is not listed, there are no positive cases of COVID-19 as of the release of this briefing. The local health departments do not have oversight with many regulated facilities, which may include nursing homes, correctional facilities, hospitals, etc.)
· The Nursing Home hotline number is 833-249-8499 or click the link for the online form: https://ag.ny.gov/nursinghomes
Click below to view the Genesee and Orleans County online map of confirmed cases
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/5f8401b0516247b490934303e3975e49/
· Swabbing and antibody testing is becoming increasingly available in the WNY region. If you are experiencing symptoms, contact your primary care provider and they will determine if testing is right for you. If the counties receive an increase in swabbing supplies and the protocol for testing is changed, we will notify the public. The Health Departments are not providing public swabbing due to lack of supplies. For more information on testing click here.
· There is still no cure or vaccination available for COVID-19. Be alert to scams or home remedies. Contact your primary care provider if you have any symptoms and follow his/her instructions.
· Prepping for Re-opening Our Region:
As we get closer to the possibility of re-opening our region we encourage everyone to be prepared in our preparations with our goal to protect the health and safety of our residents. Conditions will be monitored to limit and lessen (mitigate) any rebounds or outbreaks by restarting a phase or returning to an earlier phase, depending on the severity, to protect the most vulnerable.
Re-opening will be data driven to determine the viability of the process. If there is a sharp increase of positive swabs and antibody results we need to determine if it is related to increased testing, lack of following guidance or a combination of the two.
o For all businesses: Develop a plan to limit the risk of infection of employees and the public. Monitor workforce for symptoms, do not allow symptomatic people to physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider. If possible continue to encourage telework whenever possible.
§ The Health Departments encourage stores and businesses to set guidelines that include not allowing patrons to enter if they are not wearing a face covering or are not wearing it correctly (covering the mouth & nose). For those who cannot wear masks for legitimate breathing issues, ask someone else to run errands for you or call ahead to see if you can have curbside delivery. Businesses, make sure you have proper signage noting your policy and that it is visible to your patrons.
§ Close common areas where personnel are likely to congregate and interact or enforce strict social distancing protocols.
§ Ensure 6 foot buffer zones when dealing with the public and between work stations. Prioritize online payments over cashiers when possible.
§ Provide handwashing / hand sanitizing stations for employees and the public.
§ Consider making properly worn face coverings (covering the mouth and nose) mandatory for staff and customers. For those unable to wear masks due to legitimate breathing issues, reassign them so they don’t interact with the public or have close contact with fellow workers.
§ Review your sick leave policy and enforce it so no one exhibiting symptoms is allowed to report for duty. If someone becomes ill at work, have disinfecting protocol in place to clean the area(s) the employee has been in.
o For everyone: Wearing Masks and Social Distancing is paramount to preventing flare-ups and mini-outbreaks. Everyone needs to be compliant. Correctly wearing cloth masks (covering the mouth and nose) is part of a multi-prong approach to stop/slow the spread of COVID-19.
We know wearing a face covering is inconvenient and uncomfortable, but it can limit transmission of respiratory germs. The mask traps the droplets before they spread into the environment.
Remember wearing a face covering helps to protect others from your potential germs. Since many have been asymptomatic, this will help limit the spread…”My mask protects you, and your mask protects me!’ Wearing face coverings is a way of strengthening social distancing.
o Minimize non-essential travel and adhere to CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel.
o Continue the following:
§ Continue frequent handwashing / hand sanitizing if soap and water are not available.
§ Continue frequent sanitizing / cleaning of shared surfaces.
§ Continue Social Distancing – staying 6 feet away from others (non-household members)
§ Continue Wearing face coverings
§ Stay HOME if you are sick!!!
Mental Health
· Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations and having to socially distance yourself from someone you love can be difficult. Below are resources that can help you connect to a professional that can help you through these challenging times:
o Care + Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 at 585-283-5200 or text ‘Talk’ to 741741
o New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling
· Domestic Violence:
For New Yorkers in need of help or assistance, they can text 844-997-2121 or can go to the new confidential online site to reach a professional at www.opdv.ny.gov The new text program and confidential online service will make it easier for victims who are isolated with their abusers to get help. Both the text and online service are staffed 24/7 by the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Staff who are experts in the area of domestic violence.
NEW YORK STATE RESTRICTIONS / GUIDANCE
· Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting for Re-opening America: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-04/documents/316485-c_reopeningamerica_guidance_4.19_6pm.pdf
· New Yorkers who have recovered from COVID-19 are encouraged to donate blood.
https://nybc.org/donate-blood/convalescent-plasma/convalescent-plasma-covid-19-donor-request-form/
Here’s information on how to donate or for the American Red Cross Donation Program, click
· Complaints regarding businesses are being referred to the State Department of Labor via online form https://labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/laborstandards/coronavirus-complaints.shtm or phone: 1-822-789-0470.
· New York State on PAUSE: To assist local authorities with enforcement of these orders, the Governor established the New York State PAUSE Enforcement Assistance Task Force where individuals can file complaints regarding the operation of non-essential businesses or gatherings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
https://mylicense.custhelp.com/app/ask to file a complaint online. You may also call 1-833-789-0470. Businesses that are not in compliance with the Governor’s executive order may be penalized.
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 – https://orleanscountyny.com/departments/publichealth/covid-19/
· NY State of Health – https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/
· 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
@GOHEALTHNY SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow us on social media to receive reliable information about COVID-19.
· YouTube
· Ready Genesee
· Orleans Aware