ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. — The Erie County Department of Health says nine new cases of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus, have been confirmed in Erie County. The department of health says these test results were received at the close of business on Tuesday.
There are currently 20 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Erie County. The health department says the most recent cases involve two people who reside in the Town of Hamburg (one in the Village of Blasdell,) four are in the Town of Amherst (three are in the Village of Williamsville,) one in Clarence, one in the Village of East Aurora, and one in Holland.
The gender and ages of the individuals include:
- Female, 60s
- Female, 20s
- Male, 60s
- Female, 30s
- Female, 70s
- Male, 50s
- Female, 40s
- Male, 60s
- Female, late teens
All of these individuals have been notified and have been placed in mandatory isolation, according to the health department. The health department is currently identifying close contacts of these individuals and is placing them in mandatory quarantine to monitor them for symptoms related to COVID-19.
We're expecting to learn more about the newest confirmed cases at a news conference Wednesday morning.
Earlier on Tuesday, the county released information on the first seven confirmed cases in Erie County. Health Commissioner Dr. Gail Burstein gave locations of where many of the confirmed cases might have traveled within Western New York. She is asking all Erie County residents to self-monitor as they may have unknowingly come in contact with someone who had the virus or in public places.
March 4: United Airline Flight 6028 from Austin to Washington, D.C.
March 4: United Airline Flight 4810 from Washington, D.C. to Buffalo
March 9: Amtrak Train #49 from New York City to Buffalo (arrived around midnight)
March 10: Walden Galleria (no timeframe given)
March 10: between 10-11:30 a.m a patient was at Barnes and Noble on Niagara Falls Boulevard.
March 10: between 7-8 p.m. a patient was at the Harlem Rd Community Center in Amherst.
March 11: between 10:30-11:30 a.m. a patient went to the Williamsville Library.
March 11: between 7-8 p.m a patient went to the Lexington Co-Op Market in the Elmwood village.
March 11: Wegmans on Alberta Drive in Amherst around 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
March 12: Aldi Supermarket on Transit in Depew around 6:30 p.m.
March 13: Rite Aid in Orchard Park on North Buffalo Road around 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
March 13: a patient flew on Southwest Flight 2442 from Ft. Lauderdale to Buffalo.
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center released a statement Tuesday night saying that two patients who recently received inpatient care at the hospital have both tested positive for COVID-19. Roswell says both patients acquired the virus through community spread.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz also announced Tuesday that the health department received another 200 testing swab kits from the state. During a press conference earlier in the day Poloncarz expressed his concern that the county health department was running low on supplies.
Coronavirus symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.
But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Human coronaviruses are usually spread through...
- The air by coughing or sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
Help stop the spread of coronavirus
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Eat and sleep separately from your family members
- Use different utensils and dishes
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, hot your hand.
- If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
Lower your risk
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.
