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COVID infection rate spikes to 1.9 percent in WNY region

Posted at 12:04 PM, Sep 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-24 12:04:59-04

ALBANY, N.Y. (WKBW) — The COVID-19 infection rate in the Western New York region jumped to 1.9 percent Wednesday, up from 1.0 percent the day before, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this morning.

The 1.9 percent positive rate is the highest in the state.

Statewide, two people died from the virus on Wednesday. A total of 15 people have died over the past six days, according to the state health department.

The governor also announced he will establish a state review committee made up of medical experts that will advise him on the safety of any vaccine approved at the federal level. That committee will also be responsible for prioritizing the distribution of a vaccine, which will require two doses to be effective.

Cuomo also urged parents to check the state's COVID-19 digital report card that tracks infection rates for every school in the state. All schools must return a daily health survey to the state health department. District infection numbers are updated every 24 hours, Cuomo said.