BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Last week, almost 25% of positive COVID-19 cases in Erie County were in the 20-29 age group. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says that is a direct result of the return of college students and rise in house parties.
"The best way to describe it is, we have been anticipating this for a while now" Poloncarz said.
According to County Executive Poloncarz, a majority of the students tested were sick, lived off campus and had attended house parties. The County is now asking anyone who attended a house party in the last week to get tested.
The county will also be improving how they will be handling house parties. The Department of Health will be working with Homeland Security and the Buffalo Police Department to shut them down. It's crucial to do so to keep the county from going backwards.
"If we continue to grow with concern to caseloads, then we put ourselves at risk to seeing the shutdown of things that just reopened like gyms and bowling centers, let alone dining areas and bars," Poloncarz said.
More information on how to get a COVID-19 test can be found at the link here.
