BUFFALO, N.Y. — The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Western New York region continues to drop, according to the latest data from New York State.
As of Sunday, the number of people hospitalized in the region decreased to 146, which equates to .01 percent of the region's population. This is the first time the number of hospitalizations dropped below 150 since November 13.
Meanwhile, the region's seven day average percentage of positive COVID-19 test results fluctuated over the past three days. On Friday the region's percent positive rate was 1.94 percent, which increased to 1.99 percent on Saturday, and decreased to 1.95 percent on Sunday.
Below you can view the current rolling average of percent positive rates for all eight counties in our area:
- Wyoming 4.4 percent
- Erie 2.6 percent
- Niagara 2.4 percent
- Genesee 2.4 percent
- Cattaraugus 2.2 percent
- Chautauqua 2 percent
- Orleans 1.9 percent
- Allegany 1 percent
Statewide, 146,456 tests were reported to the state on Sunday. Of those tests, 5,309 came back positive for a percent positive rate of 3.62 percent.
The state saw a slight increase in the total number of COVID-19 hospitalizations across New York on Sunday. The state reports that 4,830 people were hospitalized. Of those hospitalized, 1,005 were in the ICU and 669 of which required intubation.
Sixty-four more New Yorkers died Sunday from COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths to 39,093.
"The hospitalization and infection rates in New York are declining every day, and New York is now in the middle of a long-awaited reopening," said Governor Andrew Cuomo. "As we continue re-opening the valves on our economy and increasing the numbers of shots in arms, we have never been closer to winning this war, but we must remain vigilant. New Yorkers know the practices that will keep themselves and each other safe - washing hands, social distancing and masking up. The decline in numbers is in large part a result of our collective actions and together we will work toward seeing the light at the end of the tunnel."