GENESEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
3837 West Main St. Rd., Batavia, NY 14020-9406
Paul A. Pettit, MSL
Public Health Director
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT:
PHONE:
DATE:
The Genesee County
Health Department (GCHD)
uses 4 types of documents
to provide important
information to medical and
public health professionals,
and to other interested
persons.
Health Alerts convey
information of the highest
level of importance which
warrants immediate action
or attention from New York
health providers,
emergency responders,
public health agencies,
and/or the public.
Health Advisories provide
important information for a
specific incident or situation,
including that impacting
neighboring states; may not
require immediate action.
Health Guidances contain
comprehensive information
pertaining to a particular
disease or condition, and
include recommendations,
guidelines, etc. endorsed by
GCHD.
Health Updates provide
new or updated information
on an incident or situation;
can also provide information
to update a previously sent
Health Alert, Health
Advisory, or Health
Guidance; unlikely to
require immediate action.
Phone (585) 344-2580 ext. 5555
Fax (585) 344-4713
www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health Brenden A. Bedard, MPH
Deputy Public Health Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nola Goodrich-Kresse, MS, MCHES
P u b l i c H e a l th E du c a t o r / Pu b l i c In f o r m at i o n O f f i c e r
Paul Pettit, MSL
Public Health Director
(585) 589-3162
03/14/20
Health Alert
COVID-19 Response Update
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Over the past week, COVID-19 has evolved rapidly. While Genesee
County has no confirmed cases, there are confirmed cases in neighboring
counties and increased local testing. I believe it is inevitable we will see
cases here in Genesee County,” stated Rochelle Stein, Chair of the Genesee
County Legislature. “With this in mind and after discussion with Paul Pettit,
Director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, I am
declaring a state of emergency for Genesee County. This declaration allows
us to procure goods and services as well as required and available
assistance to municipalities and school districts. I am recommending that all
schools in Genesee County close to students effective immediately for an
undetermined amount of time.”
“We want to remind people the risk in our community still remains relatively
low and these decisions are based on the need to slow transmission in our
communities,” stated Pettit. “Through ongoing discussions with all 10 school
districts and county administration, this unified decision is based on the
increased activity in our county and has led to these preventive measures.”
A statement from Kevin MacDonald, District Superintendent of the Genesee
Valley Educational Partnership, “in collaboration with the New York State and
local Departments of Health, the component districts of the Genesee Valley
Educational Partnership will be closed to students effective Monday, March
16, 2020 until further notice. Component districts will be sharing messages to
their respective communities regarding details of their closures. We ask all
our community members to take care of each other as we navigate this
public health matter.”
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