For the first time since mid-March, Strong Memorial and the UR Medicine network have no COVID-19 patients on a ventilator.

Hospitalizations have been steadily falling across the Finger Lakes region — with the state showing 84 COVID patients total and eight in the ICU on Friday. Monroe County public health reported 10 residents in the ICU.

Strong has three. Rochester General has two, both on ventilators. The number of intensive care patients, particularly those on a ventilator, have been a measure of the outbreak’s severity and hospitals’ capacity to care for them.

In a message to staff, Dr. Michael Apostolakos, chief medical officer for Strong and Highland hospitals, noted the milestone first reached on Wednesday. He wrote that the severity of the illness appears to be less, adding that while it is unclear why that might be, “it certainly is welcome.”

There are, however, concerning trendlines, such as the steady rise in the three-day rolling average of infections among those under 40 as a percentage of total cases.

There continue to be roughly 30 new cases daily. On Friday, nearly two-thirds of the 31 new confirmed cases reported by the Monroe County health department were men and women between ages 20 and 40.

The 82 Monroe County residents hospitalized with COVID as of Friday was the lowest since May 9, records show. 

Strong has been at the center of the pandemic locally. 

But as of Friday, the hospital had 16 COVID-positive patients in all — with half of those ready for discharge, a hospital spokesman said. Across the UR Medicine system there were 31 COVID patients, with 19 ready for discharge. The latter mostly involve older patients waiting for the all-clear to return to long-term care facilities.

UR Medicine includes Highland and F.F. Thompson in Canandaigua, Ontario County, Noyes in Dansville, Livingston County, St. James in Hornell, Steuben County, and Jones Memorial in Wellsville, Allegany County. 

Rochester Regional Health system had four patients in the ICU as of Friday, a spokeswoman said, with a hospital network that includes Rochester General, Unity, United Memorial Medical in Batavia, Genesee County, Clifton Springs in Ontario County, and Newark-Wayne Community in Newark, Wayne County. 

Contact reporter Brian Sharp at [email protected] or at 585-258-2275. Follow him on Twitter @sharproc. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.

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