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ICYMI: We ask that unemployment applicants continue to follow the alphabetical filing system below.

If you can’t get through to file by phone/web due to the volume overload, don’t worry. Your benefits will be retroactive to the first day you were out of work. pic.twitter.com/lhGyij6WOm

— NYS Dept of Labor (@NYSLabor) March 23, 2020

Press release from the combined Genesee/Orleans county health departments:

Genesee County -

• 1 person in mandatory isolation (positive case)
• 19 persons under mandatory quarantine
• 8 persons under precautionary quarantine

Orleans County -

• 1 person in mandatory isolation out of state (positive case)
• 9 persons under mandatory quarantine
• 4 persons under precautionary quarantine

Related press release:

• Announces FEMA Will Erect Federal Hospitals within Javits Center - Four 250-Bed Fully-Equipped and Fully-Staffed Facilities
• Announces State Has Leased 600-Bed Capacity Nursing Home Facility in Brooklyn to Convert into Temporary Hospital 
• Calls on Federal Government to Immediately Implement Defense Production Act — Nationalize Medical Supply Chain
• Calls on Federal Government to Prioritize Sending Stimulus Funding to Individuals, State and Local Governments and Businesses - Taxpayers Must Share in Success of Corporations
• Acquires 70,000 Doses of Hydroxychloroquine, 10,000 doses of Zithromax and 750,000 Doses of Chloroquine to Implement Drug Trials - Trials Will Start Tuesday
• Urges FDA to Immediately Approve Serological Testing for COVID-19 Antibodies
• Announces Department of Health Emergency Order for All Hospitals to Come Up with a Plan to Expand Capacity by a Minimum of 50 Percent with a Goal of 100 Percent
• Cancels All Elective, Non-Critical Surgeries - Effective Wednesday, March 25th
• Directs New York City to Come Up with a Plan for Review Within 24 Hours to Address Lack of Adherence to Social Distancing Protocols
• Confirms 4,812 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to 15,168; New Cases in 31 Counties

Governor Cuomo: "I'm requesting today from the federal government that the Army Corps immediately proceed to erect temporary hospitals. I went out yesterday - I surveyed the sites. There are several good options that give us regional coverage. An Army Corps temporary hospital at Stony Brook, which is on Long Island, Westbury, which is on Long Island, Westchester, where we have that terrible cluster, which is thank goodness reducing, and the Javits Center which is a very large convention center in New York, and New York City, which is where we have the highest number of cases. I met with the Army Corps. They've reviewed these sites. I approve it. I approve it on behalf of the State of New York, and now we just have to get it done and get it done quickly."

Cuomo: "The Defense Production Act, where the federal government has the legal authority to say to companies you must produce this now. It is invoking a federal law. It is mandatory that those private companies do something. But I think it is appropriate. If I had the power, I would do it in New York State because the situation is that critical. I think the federal government should order factories to manufacture masks, gowns, ventilators, the essential medical equipment that is going to make a difference between life and death."

Cuomo: "We need the product[s] now. We have cries from hospitals around the state. I have spoken to other governors across the country. They have the same situation. They need these materials now and only the federal government can make that happen. So I believe the federal government should immediately utilize the Defense Production Act. Implement it immediately, let's get those medical supplies running and let's get that moving as quickly as possible."

Cuomo: "America is America because we overcome adversity and challenges. That's how we were born. That's what we've done all our life. We overcome challenges and this is a period of challenge for this generation. And that's what has always made America great and that's what going to make this generation great. I believe that to the bottom of my soul. We will overcome this and America will be the greater for it. And my hope is that New York is going to lead the way forward."

Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo accepted the recommendation of the Army Corps of Engineers for four temporary hospital sites in New York State in an effort to address imminent capacity issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor visited the four sites - the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and locations at SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Old Westbury and the Westchester Convention Center — yesterday, and New York State is ready for the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction immediately. Hospitals at the SUNY campus sites will be constructed indoors with outdoor tent support and the dormitories on the campuses will be used for healthcare staff to stay while working at the sites.

City Church streamed its service this morning live on social media. Here is the recording of that service.

A two-vehicle accident is reported in Pavilion at Route 63 and Perry Road.

One vehicle rolled over. One person may require a Mercy Flight transport.

Pavilion fire is on scene.

Bill and Kay McDonald are in Florida streaming a concert for the folks back home (Genesee County).

We've had a couple of people reach out and ask how they might help in the current crisis. We reached out to UMMC and our contact there shared this document with us:

Gifts of Supplies

We are so appreciative of the support of our community and the desire to help our caregivers in their jobs. Businesses and individuals have offered to donate masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, and other personal protective equipment. Here are some guidelines as you consider a gift of supplies:

• Many types of equipment and medical items are in short supply, but due to regulatory requirements we are only allowed to accept items under certain circumstances. 
• Please do not buy items with the intent of donating them. Rochester Regional Health and other health systems are working closely with suppliers to ensure that critical supplies are available. When individuals buy these items, however well-intentioned, it further depletes the supply chain and can make it more difficult for healthcare providers to get what they need.

If you have an item you wish to donate, please contact the Rochester Regional Health Foundations at 585.922.4800 or RRHFoundation@rochesterregional.org. For the safety of our patients and caregivers, donations will be accepted by appointment only and distributed throughout the system where they are needed most. 

The Best Way to Help

The best way to help is to make a monetary gift, which will give our hospital leadership the flexibility to allocate help where it is needed most. Gifts of any amount will show Rochester Regional caregivers that the community is standing with them. The COVID-19 Support Fund was set up in response to requests from the community asking how to help our frontline care providers and the patients they serve. This emergency fund will provide critical support to Rochester Regional Health care teams as they navigate these unprecedented times.

Some of the many needs already identified are additional staff support, essential medical supplies, comfort for patients in isolation, and supplemental emergency structures. Your donation will enable our clinical staff to continue providing safe, high-quality care to patients.

Thanking our Frontline Heros

Our caregivers are at the beginning of this fight and they need our support to keep going. You can help raise their spirits by sending encouraging notes and positivity their way. Photographs of drawings and letters from children are incredibly uplifting and are especially welcome to bring bring a smile during their stressful days and night.

Please email RRHFoundation@rochesterregional.org with notes of encouragement and thanks, and we will distribute the messages across the system.

Among the 226 new state troopers who graduated in the 209th class Basic School of the New York State Police Academy was Evan Cole, a 2015 graduate of Elba High School.

He has been assigned to Troop D.

“After months of difficult classwork and training, the 209th Basic School graduates join the ranks of one of the finest police agencies in the world,” said New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett. “This graduation is the culmination of 26 weeks of hard work and perseverance. I congratulate all of our new Troopers and thank them for their continued dedication and determination.”

Photo submitted by Lynn Bezon.

In case you didn't have enough to deal with right now, winter isn't done with you yet.

Accuweather is predicting a winter snowstorm, with up to eight inches of snow, hitting our region sometime Monday morning.

Weather.gov reports:

Sunday evening: Snow showers likely before 2 a.m., then rain and snow showers. Low around 30. East wind 8 to 13 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Monday: Rain and snow showers before 9 a.m., then rain. High near 41. South wind 10 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

At about 3 p.m., we're talking with Jennifer Blackchief, VP Housing, St. Ann's Community in Le Roy.  We're going to talk about St. Ann's providing their employees with a generous bonus as well as what they're doing to keep their residents safe.

At about noon, we'll be talking with Tom Turnbull, president of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

Press release:

St. Ann’s Community has announced that it will give approximately $400,000 in bonuses to 875 employees this week in a major show of appreciation and support. The organization’s workers are helping to provide around-the-clock care to residents and patients – the most vulnerable and at-risk populations of the rapidly spreading coronavirus COVID-19 global pandemic.

“The extraordinary performance of our employees during these unprecedented times deserves appreciation and recognition,” said St. Ann’s Community President and CEO Michael McRae. “We can only hope that the bonuses, along with other measures, help acknowledge their service and sacrifice. We would not be able to provide care to those most in need without our dedicated and brave healthcare workers.” 

Appreciation bonuses will be paid on Friday, March 27, to all full-time and part-time workers. Full-time workers will receive $500 and part-time workers will receive $250. Senior managers are excluded from the bonus.

In addition to the bonuses, smaller measures are also being implemented to show support for staff members. St. Ann’s is providing complementary food to all workers while on duty, and has also relaxed the uniform and dress code for all employees.

“Our team members are balancing work with the support and care they need to provide to their own families, especially during this anxious and difficult time for all of us,” McRae said. “They are incredible, and we are completely in awe of their willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty.”

NOTE: St. Ann's operates in Le Roy what was formerly known as the Greens of Le Roy.

The Genesee County public health briefing for March 20, 2020.

Key points:

• There are now 16 people in Genesee County under mandatory quarantine (one more than yesterday). There is still only one confirmed case in Genesee County, a patient who remains in isolation.
• Of those in mandatory quarantine in both Genesee and Orleans counties, 39 percent are symptomatic. Being symptomatic is not necessarily a sign of COVID-19. It could be the flu or another respiratory illness. The health department is still awaiting results of swabs of those patients.
• Private providers continue to perform COVID-19 tests on patients who are symptomatic but it can take up to five days to get results back. While those patients have not received a written order from the public health director, Paul Pettit, to quarantine, they are under doctor's orders to quarantine and they should follow those directions. "This is very important because once you’ve been tested, we don’t want people walking around our communities who have been tested for COVID-19," Pettit said. "Regardless of whether it’s COVID-19 or influenza or something else, we want you home if you’re symptomatic."
• Pettit reiterated that anybody of any age can get COVID-19 and while the vast majority of people under age 54 who contract the disease have mild symptoms, it can still lead to hospitalization for people of any age, and even death. “We want to remind people that just because you feel invincible, you feel strong, you can’t get sick, you still can," Pettit said.
• There is still a shortage of test kits locally.
• The flu is still prevalent in the region. Genesee County currently has 32 confirmed cases (as of March 7) and 532 cases for the season. Odds are right now, if you're symptomatic, you don't have COVID-19, you have the flu. The same protocol of social isolation applies as much for people with the flu to help prevent spread. "It's not too late (in the season) to get vaccinated," Pettit said. And if you haven't, you should.
• Dan Ireland, CEO of UMMC, said as a precautionary measure the hospital will start erecting tents. The community shouldn't read too much into this. There are still plenty of beds available in the hospital.

EDITOR'S NOTE: With this update, moving this post back to the top of the home page.

Yesterday, Mike Pettinella reported on the high volume of requests for assistance the state's unemployment offices are receiving for benefits.

Today, spokeswoman Deanna Cohen provided an update:

Yesterday we received 532,000+ site visits from New Yorkers filing UI claims.

Today we received 475,000+ calls.

Our dedicated staff is doing the best they can and are committed to serving every single person, no matter how long it takes.

Paul Draper and I are talking about doing a special live edition of The Batavian Sessions featuring several local musicians. We haven't picked a date yet but tonight we recorded a test-run for your entertainment. Watch The Batavian for more information about the upcoming live, online concert, which will also be a fundraiser for a local charity.

We have an interview scheduled for 3 p.m. with Matt Gray, owner of Alex's Place and Eli Fish Brewing Co.

UPDATE: A couple of people wanted more information about the small business loans Matt and I discuss in the interview.  Here's a link to the Forbes article that is the source of the information.

We're talking with Genesee County Sheriff William Sheron.

We're going to talk with John McKenna, CEO, and president of Tompkins Bank of Castile about programs available to assist small businesses and homeowners.

A dog in a residence at 236 State St., Batavia, reportedly died in a fire that was reported at 12:20 p.m.

A second dog reportedly lived in that home but its status is unknown at this time, said Batavia Fire Chief Stefano Napolitano.

The chief credited his crew with a quick knockdown preventing what could have been a dangerous, wind-driven fire.

The fire appears to have started at the rear of the first floor.

Nobody was home at the time of the fire.

The cause is not known at this time.

Initial report:

A structure fire is reported at 236 State St., Batavia.

The initial call was for smoke coming from the residence.

The caller doesn't believe anybody is home.

City fire responding.