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Hochul: "We're heading in a bad direction."

Posted at 8:08 AM, Nov 12, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-12 08:11:50-05

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — In an interview with 7 Eyewitness News anchor Ed Drantch, New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul says Western New York is heading in a, "bad direction" when it comes to the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases.

Right now the COVID-19 infection rate in the 'Yellow Zone' in Erie County is 8.1 percent, while the entire Western New York region's COVID-19 infection rate sits at 4.4 percent.

"If we don't stop this spiraling out of control, we'll have to have more shut downs," Lt. Gov. Hochul told Ed Drantch.

The lieutenant governor referenced that gyms must close at 10 p.m. bars and restaurants must close at 10 p.m. to dine-in customers, but can continue to offer curbside pickup after 10 p.m. statewide beginning Friday.

"We're asking New Yorkers to be very vigilant heading into the holiday season," Hochul added. "We don't want to back to where we were in March and April. We cannot afford to have that happen to our economy again."

When asked about whether these regulations are actually helping or putting more restrictions on New Yorkers, Hochul referenced higher infection rates from states surrounding New York.

"I don't want to head out of the yellow zone and into the orange zone or the red zone" Hochul said. "That's what's going to happen if people don't change their behavior. It's hard to be so stern about this but we have to be."

When asked about a possible shut down Hochul could not comment on whether or not Western New York is headed towards a shut down.

You can watch the full interview below.