Stories from

Press release:

• Capital Region joins Western New York, Central New York, North Country, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley Regions, which have met the seven metrics required to begin reopening.
• Nassau County is now eligible to resume elective surgeries and ambulatory care.
• Announces collaboration with GNYHA & HANYS to implement a two-week hospital visitation pilot program in 16 hospitals across the state to allow increased visitations for family members.
• State will allow Memorial Day ceremonies with 10 people or less.
• Calls on FDA to make sure that pharmaceutical corporations that produce a COVID-19 vaccine release the rights to provide for immediate widespread distribution.
• Confirms 1,474 additional coronavirus cases in New York State -- bringing statewide total to 352,845; new cases in 42 counties.

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the Capital Region has met all seven metrics required to begin phase one of the state's regional phased reopening plan starting tomorrow, joining the Western New York, Central New York, North Country, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley Regions.

The Capital Region has now identified enough contact tracers to meet the state's guidelines, and the tracers are being trained today in preparation for Western New York entering phase one, which includes construction; manufacturing and wholesale supply chain; retail for curbside pick up and drop off, or in-store pick up; and agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Business guidance for phase one of the state's reopening plan is available here. A guide to the state's "NY Forward Reopening" Plan is available here. The state's regional monitoring dashboard is available here.

Governor Cuomo also announced that Nassau County is now eligible to resume elective surgeries and ambulatory care. The Governor previously announced that the state will allow elective outpatient treatments to resume in counties and hospitals without significant risk of COVID-19 surge in the near term, and a total of 50 counties can now resume elective surgeries.

The Governor also announced a collaboration with the Greater New York Hospital Association and the Healthcare Association of New York State to implement a two-week hospital visitation pilot program in 16 hospitals across the state to allow increased visitations for family members and loved ones. As part of the pilot program, visits will be time limited and visitors will be provided with and must wear PPE and are subject to symptom and temperature checks.

The Governor also announced the state will allow Memorial Day ceremonies of 10 people or less statewide, with final decisions about ceremonies being left to local governments. The Governor also encouraged vehicle parades in honor of veterans for Memorial Day.

The Governor also called on the FDA to take steps now to make sure that pharmaceutical corporations that produce a COVID-19 vaccine release the rights to the vaccine to provide for immediate widespread distribution and help ensure the vaccine is available to all individuals.

"As more regions and businesses across the state become eligible to begin reopening, New Yorkers are getting excited, but we must not forget the hard work we've done and the pain we've experienced for the last two months," Governor Cuomo said. "Everything that we did -- the closings, social distancing and other measures -- were tough but necessary, and because of it we saved lives and we flattened the curve.

"If you look at the curve in New York compared to the rest of the nation, we're going down while the curve is still going up in many other regions. We must continue to do everything we've been doing even as we begin to reopen and remember the lessons we've learned through all of this."

With all of the traditional ways seniors celebrate and commemorate their final year of high school canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of parents in and community members in Alexander came together to provide gift baskets to the Class of 2020.

Press release from AAA:

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $1.88, up 3 cents since last week. One year ago, the price was $2.85. The New York State average is $2.16 – up 1 cent from last week.

A year ago, the NYS average was $2.96. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $2.20 (down 1 cent since last week)
• Buffalo -- $2.19 (down 2 cents since last week)
• Ithaca -- $2.13 (no change since last week)
• Rochester -- $2.19 (no change since last week)
• Rome -- $2.12 (up 1 cent since last week)
• Syracuse -- $2.06 (no change since last week)
• Watertown -- $2.14 (up 1 cents since last week)

Gas prices are fluctuating around the country (with the highest prices in the Northeast and on the West Coast) as demand increases amid reopening phases and stocks begin to decrease. Local prices are also mixed this morning. Typically, this week brings some of the highest prices of the year as Memorial Day weekend approaches.

However, this year is anything but typical. One thing is certain, as regions across New York begin to reopen and destinations like campgrounds open for holiday recreation, the need for gasoline will increase. Motorists returning to work will also drive up demand. Expect prices to increase as more motorists hit the roads.

GasBuddy:

"The recovery in gasoline prices has continued across much of the country thanks to recovery in fuel demand as states reopen and motorists get out of the house as temperatures are more conducive to outdoor activity," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

"Oil prices continue to follow the gasoline-led recovery, with challenges still seen for portions of the refined oil barrel, including diesel and jet fuel.

"It's been a dramatic turn of events -- a month ago, gasoline was the least wanted portion of the barrel, and refiners acted quickly to respond to gasoline demand that dropped in half, but now as cabin fever hits Americans, gasoline demand has rebounded notably, which has caused oil prices to follow.

Expect the uptick to continue as we approach Memorial Day, but prices will still set multiyear lows for the holiday and may for a good portion of the summer as well, so there should remain optimism with motorists -- summer gas prices will remain quite low compared to previous years."

Press release:

Divorce lawyer Beth Parlato, who on Friday was forced to pull an attack ad from the air after a published report concluded that Parlato faced the possibility of “a hefty fine and/or up to six months in jail” followed up the illegal ad with a mailing this weekend that included a fake endorsement.

Parlato’s weekend mailing includes the words “Endorsed Pro-Life Candidate” encircled by laurel wreath clip art and under a checkmark, but no actual endorsing organization is listed.

In fact, last week Chris Jacobs was endorsed by the National Right to Life, the nation's oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. (Jacobs for Congress, 5/11/20)

“Beth Parlato must think Republicans in New York’s 27th District are dumb,” Jacobs spokesman Christian Chase said. “Ads pulled from the air, ads with fake actors, and now a fake endorsement -- is anything about Beth Parlato’s campaign true?”

Parlato’s fake endorsement comes just days after pulling her illegal ad from the air, and the same week all eight Republicans chairs in the 27th District demanded Parlato “suspend (her) negative campaign and promote your own candidacy rather than viciously attacking others." (Buffalo News, 5/13/20) 

One county chair described Parlato’s negative campaign as “the continuation of a destructive behavior pattern for her own self-promotion,” and said it seems “like she's working with Nate McMurray." (Buffalo News, 5/13/20)

“Beth Parlato’s nasty, negative attacks and fake endorsements are moves straight out of the desperate candidate playbook,” Chase said. “Beth Parlato is doing everything she can to hand this seat to far-left liberal Nate McMurray and Republican voters won’t tolerate it.”

Response press release:

Beth Parlato, endorsed Conservative Republican for Congress in NY-27 released this statement:

“Chris Jacobs continues to show his weak candidacy for Congress. They have to lie to create anything to try and attack me. The weak, fake attacks are being sent to the media to hide the fact that Jacobs is scared to debate me on his liberal voting record. 

There is no illegal ad or fake endorsements. The truth is, I have been endorsed by The Conservative Party of New York State; Pro-Life Concerned Women for America, the largest public policy women’s organization in our nation; Pro-Life Moms for America, and many others. In fact, Chris Jacobs failed to receive the Conservative Party endorsement due to his pro-abortion stance.

Our campaign continues to run with integrity. We will not follow in Chris Jacob’s footsteps and put forth nasty, negative attacks, and outright lies. We will continue highlighting his liberal voting record where he voted to send our taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood and for Medicaid-funded abortions.”

Press release:

Chris Jacobs released the following statement in response to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s (R-NY) call for a federal investigation into Governor Cuomo’s handling of COVID-19 in New York nursing homes (Fox News, 5/16/20)

“I applaud Rep. Stefanik’s leadership on this issue and I fully agree that a comprehensive and robust federal investigation must be conducted into Governor Cuomo and his failed policy, which directed recovering COVID-19 patients back into nursing homes. His directive put countless lives at risk and potentially lead to a higher death toll than we would have ever experienced otherwise.

"While no investigation could ever take away the heartbreaking pain and grief thousands of families across our state are experiencing, they deserve to know what happened, and if there has been wrong-doing or negligence, they deserve justice.

"When I join the New York Congressional delegation in June, I pledge to join Rep. Stefanik and my other colleagues in ensuring a thorough federal investigation is launched and those responsible are held accountable – we owe it to all the members of our New York family we have tragically lost.”

A male in his 20s, driving a four-door sedan, died in Bergen this evening after his westbound car crossed into the oncoming lane then traveled off the south shoulder before striking some small trees, hitting an embankment and flipping over into a utility pole.

A crash scene investigator said there was no sign of skid marks on the roadway. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Two other people were injured in the accident. Both were transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, one by Mercy Flight.

The accident scene was on Townline Road, less than a mile from the location of another fatal accident a few hours earlier. In that accident, a female in her late 20s who was jogging on Townline Road, was struck by a westbound car that crossed the center line and the fog line striking the runner.

No names have yet been released in either accident.

Volunteers with Bergen Fire Department responded to both fatal accident scenes.

UPDATE: The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Elijah R. Coombs, 25, of Oakfield. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Jamie R. Bachorski, 26, of Oakfield, was flown to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight with serious injuries. Samantha J. Wade, 21, of Byron, was transported to Strong by Mercy EMS with minor injuries. Coombs was driving a 2005 Chervolet Impala. The accident remains under investigation. Assisting at the scene where Bergen fire, Byron fire, Mercy EMS, and State Police.

(Initial Report)

Press release:

New Cases

• As of 2 p.m.
  • Genesee County received two new positive case of COVID-19, for a total of 172 positive cases.
    • One of the positive cases resides in Batavia and one of the positive cases resides in Bergen.
    • One of the individuals is in their 20s and one individual is in their 50s.
    • Two of the newly positive individuals were not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
    • Five of the previous positive cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.
    • One of the total active positive cases is hospitalized.
  • Orleans County received one new positive case of COVID-19, for a total of 167 positive cases.
    • The positive case resides in Carlton.
    • The individual is in their 70s.
    • The newly positive community case was not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
    • Two of the previous positive community cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.
    • Fifteen the total active positive cases are hospitalized. Please note those in the hospital may be from the community or a state-regulated facility.  We do not separate them out to protect their privacy.
    • We received word an individual residing in The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center has died. Our sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends of this individual during this very sad time.   

             Click here to view the Genesee and Orleans Counties' online map of confirmed cases.

A pedestrian has reportedly been hit by a car on Townline Road west of South Lake Road, Bergen.

Bergen fire and ambulance dispatched.  

Dispatchers checking the availability of Mercy Flight.

UPDATE 11:54 a.m.: The driver may also be injured. Second ambulance requested to the scene.

UPDATE 11:59 a.m.: Byron fire's rescue and ambulance requested to the scene.

UPDATE 12:01 p.m.: Fire police requested to shut down traffic at Route 19 and Buffalo Street.

UPDATE 1:05 p.m.: Trooper James O'Callahan, public information officer for the State Police, confirms that NYSP is investigating a fatal car/pedestrian accident in Bergen. No further information is being released at this time.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Bergen assignment back in service. The road is reopened.

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

A man has reportedly fallen off a two-story roof at a location on Horseshoe Lake Road in Stafford.

Stafford fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

Mercy Flight available if needed.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) (11:08 a.m.): A first responder on scene says the man fell about eight feet. He is conscious and alert and is answering some questions.

UPDATE 11:10 a.m.: Mercy Flight was cancelled.

As of 2 p.m. today, there were no new COVID-19-positive cases reported in Genesee County.

The health department released no further information.

Weekly Sunday message from Pastor Roula Alkhouri, Batavia First Presbyterian Church.

Dylan DeSmit performs for you at 8 p.m. (or thereabouts).

Press release:

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have received 14 more COVID-19 cases. Orleans has 12 new cases (bringing the total to 166) and Genesee has two (bringing the total to 171). 

Contact tracing has been initiated and all who have had direct contact with the individuals will be notified by Health Department staff. Nine of the Orleans County individuals are residents of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center and three are community members. Genesee County’s two individuals who tested positive are community members.

The health department was made aware that the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) did swab all residents and employees of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center. Any questions regarding specific issues should be addressed to The Villages or NYSDOH.

We have also received word of the death of an individual who had tested positive for COVID-19 and was a resident of The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center (now for a total of 21 nursing home deaths related to COVID-19). Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of this individual during this very sad and difficult time.

Press release:

“Channel 4 contacted me several weeks ago asking if I would accept their invitation to debate my primary challengers. Without hesitation, I responded yes, I would love to debate. I believe the voters in NY-27 deserve it. 

Yesterday, Channel 4 called to let me know that the debate has been canceled due to my opponent, Chris Jacobs, refusing to participate.

The career politician is refusing to debate me. Why? What is he hiding? Is he afraid that his liberal voting record will be exposed? 

If Jacobs is refusing to debate me, how can he debate anyone or stand up for anything in Congress? We cannot afford to have weak politicians. If he can’t even debate me, he certainly doesn’t have what it takes to stand up to AOC, Nancy Pelosi, or Chuck Schumer. 

We need someone in Congress with enough resolve to stand up for what’s right, a fighter, not afraid of a challenge. It’s time we have real representation. I am not going to back down from a fight. I am not going to back down from a debate. I will respond to questions because the voters deserve answers. They deserve to be informed.”

The Batavian received this response from the Jacobs campaign at 4:26 p.m.:

“We have agreed to participate in two formats with WIVB, one for the special and one for the primary. We had previously agreed to debate Nate McMurray and look forward to allowing voters to see the clear choice between Chris Jacobs -- a strong conservative leader, who has been endorsed by President Trump and will help the President secure our borders, get tough on China, and fight for Western New York -- and Nate McMurray who supports Bernie Sanders’ and AOC’s far-left socialist agenda.”

Tim McArdle, Le Roy High School principal, created a series of videos celebrating the Oatkan Knights spring sports teams, which had their spring seasons canceled by the pandemic. For the full playlist, click here.

Three local companies that normally compete with each other have come together to support the community and Batavia High School Students by creating and printing a series of T-shirts that feature the Blue Devils logo.

The shirts are being produced and sold in cooperation with BHS by Extreme Streetwear, John’s Studio and T-Shirts Etc.

Each shop created its own design. The options included short sleeve T-shirts, long sleeve T-shirts, crew neck sweatshirts, and hooded sweatshirts.

The shirts can be purchased online at an online team store.

The store will be open until May 31. Once closed, each shop will have one week to produce their apparel. There will be shipping available via UPS as well as local pickup option at BHS on June 6.

The store owners, in a statement, said they came together to highlight a local option for branded and commemorative apparel and encourage people to shop local. 

Especially in these times, we all feel that shopping local is essential. COVID-19 brought with it so many uncertainties, trials, and hardships, but what has remained consistent is the loyalty and strength in our local business community.

Briefing.

Gov. Cuomo announced that harness racing at Batavia Downs can resume without fans on June 1.

Press release:

• Westchester and Suffolk counties are now eligible to resume elective surgeries and ambulatory care.
• Calls on U.S. Senate to pass Coronavirus Relief Bill
• Confirms 2,419 additional coronavirus cases in New York State -- bringing statewide total to 348,232; new cases in 52 counties.

Governor Cuomo: "What can you do, or what economic activity is willing to reopen without a crowd, right? They're talking about this in terms of sports. You're going to have baseball without a crowd but it can still be televised -- great. If you can have economic activity without a crowd, that's great. We can do that in this state with horseracing tracks, and we're going to do that. There will be guidelines for the actual participants, but no crowds, no fans. But for the industry itself, for the televised viewers, that can still work. That is also true with Watkins Glen, that can operate and there's a big viewership for Watkins Glen."

Cuomo: "Let's put the politics aside. If there's ever a moment in this government, in this country, where it's not about politics, this is the moment. For Senators to be talking about 'I'm not going to bail out blue states because the blue states have more coronavirus cases', shame on you. Shame on you to look at the death toll in this nation and say 'I want to count how many people passed away by their political party and I'm more interested in states where Republicans live than where Democrats live'. We're not Democrats and Republicans, we are Americans. That's what comes first and in a time of crisis we've always been Americans."

Earlier today, Cuomo announced horseracing tracks across the state and Watkins Glen International Racetrack will be allowed to open without fans as of June 1st. The state will issue guidance on how they can open safely reopen in the coming week.

As Genesee County moves into its first week of a Phase One reopening from a pandemic lockdown, Public Health Director Paul Pettit said it's reasonable to expect to see more positive COVID-19 cases reported, both because of an increase in testing, and because people will be in contact with each other.

But positive cases are not the key metric to monitor, Pettit said. What he and government officials will watch is the availability of hospital beds. Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to maintain a 30-percent capacity available at hospitals.

With hospitals now permitted to perform elective procedures, there are fewer beds available than when those procedures were prohibited, Pettit indicated.

"A lot of the indicators aren't really directly honing in on a specific number of cases or a number of positives," Pettit said. "They're really honing on our regional capacity to deal with them. A lot of it's focused on hospitalization, ICU beds, number of available beds. Those types of criteria are a more important indicator of how we can handle and respond to the most vulnerable populations because again, our immune-compromised, those with underlying health issues, need hospital beds, need higher levels of care. That's going to be our issue."

Continued acceptable hospital capacity in the Finger Lakes Region will be a key indicator as New York becomes unpaused for each phase of the reopening.

To keep that number low, Pettit said, people need to continue to take all necessary precautions against spreading the disease.

"It is expected we're going to see an increased number of cases, but we need to do our best to continue to try to keep them low," Pettit said. "Make sure we're practicing our social distancing, and hopefully not have spike rates in severe cases that are going to impact our health system."

Unpausing New York is expected to happen in four phases by region:

Phase One:

• Construction
• Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
• Retail -- (Limited to curbside or in-store pickup or drop off)
• Manufacturing
• Wholesale Trade

Phase Two: 

• Professional Services
• Retail
• Administrative Support
• Real Estate / Rental & Leasing

Phase Three: 

• Restaurants / Food Services

Phase Four: 

• Arts / Entertainment / Recreation
• Education

The Finger Lakes Region is one of the first regions in the state to enter Phase One, and while each phase is generally expected to take four weeks, there is already talk of Finger Lakes entering Phase Two on May 29, Pettit indicated.

While experts debate just how many COVID-19 tests need to be administered on a daily basis to help control the spread of the disease in an open economy, there is consensus that a lot of testing is needed.

Petit expressed concern that there are not enough tests available in Genesee County to meet our needs. That means only people who meet the criteria for testing, such as close-contact with a positive case or a vulnerable person who is symptomatic, can get tests locally. However, he noted, there is an ample supply of tests available in Monroe County and local residents who want a test without meeting that criteria can drive to testing locations in the Rochester area.

The health director does have more confidence in the local capacity to handle contact tracing when a positive case is identified, which is another key strategy in helping to control outbreaks. Pettit said if there is a local spike in cases, New York has additional contract tracing resources local health officials can summon.

He also noted, for anybody looking for a job, that the state is looking to hire more contract tracers.

For those expecting a lull in the disease spread during the summer, before a resurgence in the fall, Pettit suggested we not count on much of a lull but expect a second wave in the fall or winter.

"When you look at the data in the Southern Hemisphere, which have been inverted with their summer, they still had a lot of cases," Pettit said. "They still had a lot of transmissions. So it's really hard to say how that's going to play out for us locally here in the summer, when that the warmer weather comes along. That's why we're really stressing the importance of making sure we stick with the guidelines. We don't want to see those spikes."

The seasonality of COVID-19, or lack of it, is just one of the things that are still unknown about the novel coronavirus.

"There's a lot to be learned about this virus, (there) is a lot that we're trying to understand as we move forward in time," Pettit said. "We obviously can only implement and act the way we're able to based on the knowledge that we have. So the best thing we can do is encourage folks to continue to practice social distancing and do their best to protect others by protecting themselves."

Press release:

• As of 2 p.m.
  • Genesee County received four new positive case of COVID-19, for a total of 169 positive cases.
    • One of the positive cases resides in Le Roy and three of the positive cases reside in Batavia.
    • One of the individuals is in their 20s and three are in their 30s.
    • Two of the newly positive individuals were not on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
    • Three of the previous positive cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.
    • One of the total active positive cases is hospitalized.
    • The Genesee County Health Department received notification that one of the patients from the Batavia VA Medical Center has been identified as an Erie County resident. Therefore, the total positive case number will be one less and has been adjusted in our data.
  • Orleans County received eight new positive cases of COVID-19, for a total of 154 positive cases.
    • One of the positive cases resides in Yates and two of the new positive cases reside in Ridgeway, one of the new positive cases resides in Shelby, two of the new positive cases reside in Albion, and one of the new positive cases resides in Murray.
    • One of the positive cases reside at The Villages of Orleans Health & Rehabilitation Center.
    • Three of the individuals are in their 20s, two of the individuals are in their 30’s, two of the individuals are in their 50s and one of the individuals is in their 80s.
    • None of the newly positive community cases were on quarantine prior to becoming symptomatic.
    • One of the previous positive community cases have recovered and have been released from mandatory isolation.
    • Thirteen of the total active positive cases are hospitalized. Please note those in the hospital may be from the community or a state-regulated facility. We do not separate them out to protect their privacy.