BUFFALO, N.Y. — Erie County Health officials are urging college students from various colleges in the county to get tested for COVID-19 if they recently attended house parties in the past week.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says the majority of the college students who have tested positive for COVID-19 recently attended house parties. He says many were showing symptoms when they were tested.
The county health department is working with colleges for testing.
Poloncarz said Erie County is partnering with Homeland Security, the Erie County Sheriff's Office, the Buffalo Police Department and others to shut down any house party attended by 50 or more people.
"If we get reports of these large off-campus parties and find out they are violating the rules, we are going to show up there and you could be cited," Poloncarz said.
Nearly 25 percent of the new COVID-19 cases range in the age of 20-29 years.
Erie County is part of the Western New York region, which has seen a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases.
The percent of COVID-19 positive tests in the Western New York region on September 1, 2020 was 1.7 percent. Out of 6,276 tests completed, 109 were positive.
The seven day rolling average for the percent of positive tests is 1.6 percent, so Tuesday's results were slightly above average. The statewide average is 0.8 percent for daily positive.
Western New York has the highest average in the state. Mid-Hudson has a percent positive rate of 1 percent. All other regions are averaging below 1 percent for positive tests.
Daily hospitalizations in the region on September 1 were 32. Down slightly from the day before. It is the fifth consecutive day above 30.
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.