Richard Beatty recites "Highlands" by Bob Dylan.
Statement from UMMC:
Following the Governor’s elective outpatient treatment announcement, United Memorial Medical Center is carefully evaluating regional data and COVID-19 preparedness plans to ensure patients can have elective surgeries as soon as safely possible.
We will, in accordance with the State Department of Health guidelines, make every effort to resume elective surgeries for patients meeting criteria as the COVID-19 curve flattens in our community.
Press release:
- Announces state will take a regional approach to reopening.
- Governor will meet with President Trump at the White House today to discuss testing.
- Confirms 4,178 additional coronavirus cases in New York State -- bringing statewide total to 251,690; new cases in 41 counties.
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced elective outpatient treatments can resume in counties and hospitals without significant risk of COVID-19 surge in the near term.
Hospitals will be able to resume performing elective outpatient treatments on April 28 if the hospital capacity is over 25 percent for the county and if there have been fewer than 10 new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in the county over the past 10 days.
If a hospital is located in a county eligible to resume elective outpatient treatments, but that hospital has a capacity under 25 percent or has had more than 10 new hospitalizations in the past 10 days, that hospital is not eligible to resume elective surgeries.
If a county or hospital that has resumed elective surgery experiences a decrease in hospital capacity below the 25 percent threshold or an increase of 10 or more new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients, elective surgeries must cease.
Further, patients must test negative for COVID-19 prior to any elective outpatient treatment. The State Department of Health will issue guidance on resuming elective surgeries.
Restrictions on elective surgery will remain in place in Bronx, Queens, Rockland, Nassau, Clinton, Yates, Westchester, Albany, Richmond, Schuyler, Kings, Suffolk, New York, Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster, Erie, Orange and Rensselaer counties as the state continues to monitor the rate of new COVID-19 infections in the region.
Governor Cuomo also announced the state will take a regional approach to reopening and will make decisions on which counties and regions to open and when to open them based on the facts and data specific to that area.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will coordinate Western New York's public health and reopening strategy, and former Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy will volunteer as a special advisor to coordinate the Finger Lakes' public health and reopening strategy.
The Governor also announced he will be meeting with President Trump at the White House today to discuss testing.
"As New York continues to flatten the curve of new COVID-19 infections, we are now ready to lift the restrictions on elective surgeries in regions where hospital capacity and the rate of new infections do not present a significant risk of a surge in new positive cases," Governor Cuomo said.
"It is essential that we continue to support hospitals and health care workers in all regions to ensure they have both capacity and supplies to treat COVID patients because this virus is by no means defeated."
Statement from Ed Rath, candidate for the 61st State Senate District:
The New York State economy, and particularly the economy of Upstate, has taken a very big hit as a result of coronavirus. Small businesses, farmers, restaurant owners and many others are encountering some of the hardest times they’ve ever faced.
The infection rates and risk factors of each individual region greatly vary throughout the state.
With this in mind, I have called on the Governor to take a regional perspective to reopening and listen to our local medical professionals and those who know the community best.
I am glad that after his stop in Buffalo today, it appears that a regional reopening approach will be pursued.
In what may be the last snapshot of the employment picture in Genesee County before pandemic shutdowns hit local businesses, the local unemployment rate had already ticked up year-over-year for March from 4.7 percent to 5.2 percent.
The Department of Labor released statewide statistics today with a note indicating the household census of employment was taken at the beginning of March before most "nonessential" businesses were ordered to close or modify operations.
In that survey, 27,500 residents of Genesee County had jobs in a labor force of 29,000 people, with 1,500 residents seeking employment.
Through the rest of March, the Department of Labor reported a record number of jobless claims. It will be another month before we receive revised employment stats. Economists are estimating the national unemployment rate may now be as high as 32 percent.
In response to the high jobless claims, Congress passed legislation that: authorized $1,200 payments to most Americans; increased unemployment payments by $600 a week; and authorized $350 million in loans to small businesses that have suffered losses due to the pandemic primarily for payroll purposes.
The loans, if standards are met, could be converted into grants. The Senate is expected to vote today on a new stimulus package that would add nearly $500 million to the Payroll Protection Program.
There were three new positive tests for COVID-19 reported in Genesee County since yesterday and six people who previously tested positive have been moved out of mandatory isolation, making the current total of active cases 69 and the total recovered cases 59.
There have been 130 positive tests in Genesee County since the pandemic reached our community.
The Veterans Administration also reported today two additional positive cases among staff at the VA Hospital in Batavia but there have been no new positive patients since the first two were reported last week.
There is no change in the count of positive cases, 45, at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center since yesterday.
The Health Department reports administering 710 tests so far, with 580 coming back negative.
Health Department Daily COVID-19 Briefing:
New Cases
Click here to view the Genesee and Orleans County online map of confirmed cases.
Two people were injured in an accident at about 10:30 p.m., Monday, in the area of 5875 Ellicott Street Road, Bethany.
One of the people injured was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by Mercy Flight.
One person was transported to UMMC by ground ambulance.
The names of the drivers, according to an NYSP blotter entry, were Harold P. Gage, 77, of Le Roy, and William W. Berkemeier, 51, of Pavilion.
We don't know the name of the person transported by Mercy Flight. The State Police have not released further information about the accident.
Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.
Press release:
Today, New York U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her endorsement of Nate McMurray for the Special Election in NY-27.
"I'm proud to endorse Nate McMurray for New York's 27th Congressional District," Senator Gillibrand said. "Now more than ever, we need independent leaders in Washington who will fight for everyday Americans over corporate special interests. Nate's extensive domestic and international business experience and record of expanding economic opportunities to create jobs will be critical to rebuilding Upstate New York in the difficult months ahead."
“I’m incredibly honored to have Senator Gillibrand’s support for our campaign,” McMurray said. “She has paved the way in the fight for working families on everything from pay equity to advocating for critical support for rural communities in Western New York. I Iook forward to working with the Senator to improve the lives of all New Yorkers and all Americans once we win the Special Election on June 23rd.”
An injury accident is reported in the area of 5875 Ellicott Street Road, Bethany.
One person may be unconscious.
The road is blocked.
Bethany fire, Stafford fire, and Mercy EMS dispatched.
Of the 45 detainees in the Buffalo Federal Detention Center who have tested positive for COVID-19 so far, only three are symptomatic, according to a source familiar with the situation.
The source, who asked we not use his name because he's not an authorized spokesperson for ICE, said all 45 detainees who are positive were living in the same pod when three detainees -- two from New York City and one from the NYS prison system -- were transferred into the facility.
The facility staff, he said, suspected the new arrivals were positive for COVID-19.
Given the close proximity of living arrangements detainees are considered vulnerable; ICE was able to get all detainees in the affected pod tested.
A pod can hold as many as 72 detainees.
The original pod now has 29 people in it who tested positive, and 20 more are alone in another POD. There are four people included in the two pods whose tests were inconclusive so they're being kept in isolation for the 14-day quarantine period.
The spike in positives at the facility had more to do with the testing lab releasing a batch of results on the same day than a sudden outbreak of the disease.
Currently, there are 319 detainees in the facility. The peak capacity of the facility is 650 detainees.
Many members of the staff are not ICE employees but work for contractors. The source said only two staff members have tested positive and both are, last he heard, asymptomatic.
Only a limited number of new transfers are entering the facility.
According to the source, at the start of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the director of the facility, Thomas Feeley, ordered regular, thorough cleaning, including wiping down door handles with bleach every hour.
"Every time you turn around," the source said, "you smell bleach."
There is medical staff on duty inside the facility 24/7 and posters have been placed in the facility to inform detainees about COVID-19 and how to protect themselves.
So far, about 20 percent of the detainees have been tested, the source said.
At the start of the coronavirus outbreak, detainees who were over age 60, had underlying medical conditions that made them vulnerable, but were not convicted of a serious crime such as murder or rape, were released from custody, the source said.
"Nobody was released who was a threat to society," he said.
Macayla Burke reciting "Oh me! Oh life!" by Walt Whitman. Burke is a student at Batavia High School.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now reporting that a total of 45 detainees at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility have tested positive for COVID-19.
As recently as Saturday, there were only 13 reported cases.
While ICE has stated previous detainees who tested positive were isolated and contract tracing was undertaken and that all CDC guidelines have been followed, there has been no information released that might explain the sudden spike in cases.
The following information was released about the 32 people who most recently tested positive:
The next highest number of detainees who have tested positive in an ICE facility is 20 at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego County, and 20 at Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, La.
A tree fire is reported in Genesee County Park & Forest on the Forest Trail.
Bethany fire is responding.
UPDATE 5:53 p.m.: The location is off of Raymond Road.
Health Department Briefing:
Click here to view the Genesee and Orleans County online map of confirmed cases.
Press release:
- Launches new partnership with ready responders to expand healthcare services and testing to NYCHA residents;
- State will deliver more than 500,000 cloth masks and 10,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to public housing sommunities;
- Announces creation of Reimagine NY Task Force to improve systems in Downstate New York once the State is no longer on pause;
- Announces SUNY is distributing over 8,800 laptops and Chromebooks to students in need to complete their spring semester coursework;
- Confirms 4,726 additional cronavirus cases in New York State -- bringing statewide total to 247,512; new cases in 40 counties.
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today called on the federal government to provide hazard pay for essential public workers on the front lines, proposing a 50 percent bonus for these workers. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, 41 percent of frontline workers are people of color.
Of those frontline workers, 45 percent of public transit workers, 57 percent of building cleaning service workers and 40 percent of healthcare workers are people of color. People of color are also disproportionately represented in delivery and childcare services, and approximately one third of frontline workers are members of low-income households.
Governor Cuomo also announced the state is launching a new partnership with Ready Responders to bring health care services, including COVID-19 diagnostic testing, to residents of public housing in New York City.
The state will also partner with Representative Greg Meeks, Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Attorney General Letitia James, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. on this effort. An initial pilot program will begin this week at locations across New York City, including Highbridge Houses, Edenwald Houses, Washington Houses and Andrew Jackson Houses in the Bronx; Queensbridge Houses and Brevoort Houses in Queens; and Red Fern Houses and Hammel Houses in Brooklyn.
The Governor also announced the state will deliver 500,000 cloth masks and 10,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to public housing communities.
The Governor also announced the creation of the Reimagine NY Task Force to improve systems in Downstate New York once the state is no longer on pause. The Task Force will be led by the state and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and will be comprised of other local elected officials and housing and transportation experts.
The Governor also announced that SUNY is distributing more than 8,800 laptops and Chromebooks to students in need who are currently completing their spring semester coursework online amid the COVID-19 health crisis.
As SUNY and campuses began planning the shift to distance learning in March, SUNY System Administration surveyed all 64 campuses and colleges to gauge student technology needs, and is providing the laptops and Chromebooks based on those findings. SUNY will continue to monitor and fulfill technology needs while remote learning continues.
"Essential public workers are the ones on the front lines every day carrying us through this crisis, and we must ensure their efforts and sacrifice are appropriately recognized," Governor Cuomo said.
"This crisis is not over yet, and as long as these workers continue to work and expose themselves to the virus, they should be properly compensated. I am calling on the federal government to provide hazard pay to these frontline workers and give them a 50-percent bonus because they are the true heroes in this crisis."
Press release from AAA:
Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $1.81, down 5 cents since last week. One year ago, the price was $2.84. The New York State average is $2.22 – down 3 cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.88. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:
- Batavia -- $2.27 (down 4 cents since last week)
- Buffalo -- $2.27 (down 4 cents since last week)
- Ithaca -- $2.26 (down 1 cent since last week)
- Rochester -- $2.22 (down 2 cents since last week)
- Rome -- $2.21 (down 3 cents since last week)
- Syracuse -- $2.14 (down 5 cents since last week)
- Watertown -- $2.19 (down 5 cents since last week)
Growing domestic gas supply and lower demand, as Americans practice social distancing, and low crude prices due to COVID-19 continue to push pump prices down. With Americans following stay at home orders and refiners producing excess gasoline, growing gasoline inventories and low demand will continue to push pump prices lower.
Crude oil prices have fallen steadily as the global public health, financial and economic impact of COVID-19 has increased. As a result of COVID-19, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) monthly report for April 2020 revealed that global oil demand is projected to hit a 25-year low and fall by a record 9.3 million barrels per day this year.
According to IEA, global crude demand for April 2020 is expected to be 29 million barrels per day lower than April 2019 — a level unseen since 1995.
From GasBuddy:
"With another drop in the national average from a week ago, we've made it eight straight weeks of decline, and for the first time in GasBuddy's 20 year history, we have two cities that are averaging under $1 per gallon," said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "That's right -- not a single station under $1, but the entire city average. Truly unprecedented demand destruction has been dismantling expensive gas prices everywhere.
"With oil again at new multi-decade lows, we still have room for prices to fall nearly countrywide, though areas with lower prices will see little decline, take Wisconsin for example, while higher priced states like California have the most room to decline. With the wounds to the oil industry growing deeper, it's becoming more likely that even after most Americans return to work, there will be a hangover to the low prices that many motorists will eventually be able to take advantage of."
Interview with Batavia City Council President Eugene Jankowski
Press release:
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments have received one more COVID-19 cases. Orleans has one new case and Genesee has zero. Contact tracing has been initiated.
Contact tracing has been initiated and all who have had direct contact with the individuals will be notified by Health Department staff.
There is currently no further information to release on ages and location. Mapping to include the positive cases from the weekend will be updated on Monday afternoon.
There are 30 new positive tests for COVID-19 reported in Genesee County, with 29 of them among detainees at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility.
On Thursday, there were only 11 reported cases at the facility, with one added on Friday and one on reported by ICE this morning, but ICE has not yet released an update to include the apparent 27 additional cases (we are seeking an update from the ICE spokesman).
There have now been 122 positive tests reported in Genesee County since the start of the pandemic. The Health Department has not released an updated count for the number of current active cases and number of recovered patients.
As of this morning, ICE was reporting 20 detainees infected at the Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, La., now the next highest number of positive cases at more than two dozen facilities in the U.S. that house immigration detainees.
This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
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