BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Erie County is heading in the wrong direction when it comes to hospitalization rates linked to COVID-19.
During an update Wednesday afternoon, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz called the latest numbers, "dismaying and distressing." As of May 11, 203 people had been admitted to area hospitals for COVID-19. That's compared to a hospitalization rate of 188 back on May 8 and a previous decline in hospital admissions. A drop in hospitalization rates is one of two metrics Erie County still needs to meet in order for the Western New York region to re-open. The Western New York region constitutes Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties.
Despite hospitalization numbers rising in Erie County, the region was a whole saw minial drop in cases. To check daily hospitalization rates by region, click here.
Newest figures show 4,579 total positive cases of COVID-19 in Erie County, with 27,864 tests administered. Sadly, 400 people have died from the disease.
The New York Pause order introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to expire on May 15, but as previously mentioned, Erie County will not be permitted to reopen on that date due to health criteria that still needs to be met.
To learn more about New York's reopening plan, click here.
