BUFFALO, N.Y. — Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 continue to fall in the Western New York region, according to new data released by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. That is good news after the possibility of a spike in cases following the Memorial Day weekend.
According to the most recent data, there were 103 people in Erie County currently in the hospital as of June 6 because of COVID-19, an eight patient decrease from the previous day. That is the lowest number of hospitalizations since the end of March. The number of people in the ICU and those on an airway assist remained the same, at 32 and 17, respectively.
Overall in the region, there are 118 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 39 people in the ICU as of June 6.
Due to a drop in demand, Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein announced new hours for the county's COVID-19 hotline. It will now operate Monday-Saturday from 9 AM-5 PM. Since the crisis began, the service has answered over 47,000 calls from residents with questions and concerns about the virus.
Dr. Burstein also announced a new testing site for the city of Buffalo. Kensington High School will have both drive-thru and walk-in testing this Thursday, June 11 from 10 AM-2 PM. An appointment is appreciated and can be made at 858-2929, but no prescription is needed and there is no cost for the testing.
The new data released Monday also shows that on average, hospital discharges have exceeded admissions. Declines in hospitalizations are being seen across the board in all age categories.
Poloncarz also announced that the death rate among African-Americans has gone down in Erie County, nearing levels proportionate to the population of the county.
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