BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Western New York has taken another step closer to reopening.
According to Governor Andrew Cuomo on Sunday, the region is close to phase one of the reopening process.
** NEW: Per @NYGovCuomo, Western New York is now at 6/7 metrics to start Phase One of reopening. We are making progress.
— Kathy Hochul (@LtGovHochulNY) May 17, 2020
The Western New York region is meeting meeting six out of seven metrics. The governor says more tracers are needed and the state is working with local administrators.
Hospitalizations in Erie County have decreased recently, which has led the region to meet those metrics as of Sunday.
According to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, nearly 300 employees will be trained as contact tracers.
I'm very happy to learn after the recent drop in hospitalized cases WNY has met all hospitalization metrics for reopening. @NYGovCuomo spoke to me this morning regarding contact tracer status. We have provided to NYS the names of 291 employees to be trained as contact tracers.1/2
— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) May 17, 2020
Per the 30 contact tracers for every 100,000 residents we would need 276 contact tracers for Erie County. So our 291 identified employees is greater than our allotment, but if we have to do more to meet all of WNY's counties requirements we will. I guarantee it. 2/2
— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) May 17, 2020
Watch Sunday's full briefing below:
