Aug 6, 2021
(ROCHESTER, NY, August 6, 2021) – Trillium Health has updated its COVID-19 protocols by requiring universal masking and vaccinations or weekly COVID testing for all of its 250 employees and volunteers. According to the CDC, Monroe County is now a “substantial transmission area” for the COVID-19 virus.
“As a healthcare provider caring for the most vulnerable community members, many with underlying chronic health conditions and impacted by the social determinants of health, it is our duty to take every precaution to ensure that our patients remain safe and healthy,” said Dr. William Valenti, Co-Founder of Trillium Health and a specialist in Infectious Diseases. “The delta variant is more contagious and potentially more virulent than any previous virus strain. Trillium Health is going to create the safest environment possible for its staff, patients, clients, and visitors.”
On Monday, the Monroe County Department of Public Health announced that the two major healthcare systems in Rochester – Rochester Regional Health and the University of Rochester Medical Center – would require their employees to be vaccinated. Trillium Health’s protocols are in line with the efforts of other local healthcare providers to protect the community and reduce the spread of the virus.
“It's very important that Trillium Health helps lead the way with other health organizations - locally, nationally and globally,” said Dr. Valenti. “The science has shown that COVID vaccines are safe and effective.”
Trillium Health encourages the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccines are available at the Trillium Health Pharmacy and at pop-up clinics around Rochester. The vaccines are free. Learn more at https://www.trilliumhealth.org/COVID.
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About Trillium Health
Trillium Health is a Community Health Center that provides extraordinary care for all, including LGBTQ+ health, ensuring equitable, judgement-free, and affordable care. We believe that everyone who walks through our doors deserves high quality, affordable healthcare, regardless of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or ethnicity. For more information, please visit www.trilliumhealth.org.
About Dr. William Valenti
Dr. Valenti is a graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin and co-founded Community Health Network (now Trillium Health) in 1989. He is Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and he completed his Infectious Diseases training at the University of Rochester. Dr. Valenti is a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He has been active in HIV-related activities since the early 1980s and is chair of the Infectious Diseases Committee of the Medical Society of the State of New York and a member of New York State's Task Force to End the HIV Epidemic. Dr. Valenti has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and scientific abstracts on HIV medical care, infectious diseases and health care epidemiology and infection control.