BUFFALO, N.Y. — There are now 166 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Erie County, according to the county's coronavirus map.
As of 12:30pm Thursday, Five patients have recovered from the virus and two people have died.
Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein is expected to address the public at 3pm on health department's Facebook page.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, during an afternoon news conference on Wednesday, expressed concern about prisons and nursing homes when it came to countering the spread of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
He added that 600 swab kits had been delivered in the past day, and that the county had 350 reagents on hand.
A day after officials say an Erie County woman died of COVID-19, officials reported that five people have recovered. However, the Erie County Department of Health later confirmed a second individual has died from the novel coronavirus.
The health department says a male in his 70s has died in the past 48 hours. The Erie County Department of Health says no other details about this individual will be released.
Poloncarz continued to emphasize strict social distancing practices and condemned a party that he said happened recently.
According to the county's coronavirus map, there have been 166 positive cases, which includes two deaths and five people who have recovered.
Here are the confirmed cases of COVID-19 broken down by communities:
- 54 in Buffalo
- 45 cases in Amherst/Williamsville
- 9 in Clarence
- 8 in Hamburg/Blasdell
- 7 in West Seneca
- 7 in Tonawanda/Kenmore
- 6 in Cheektowaga/Sloan/Depew
- 5 in Orchard Park/Village
- 4 in Lancaster/Village
- 4 in Grand Island
- 3 in North Collins/Village
- 3 in Evans/Angola
- 2 in City of Tonawanda
- 2 in Alden/Village
- 2 in Elma
- 2 in Aurora/East Aurora
- 1 in Lackawanna
- 1 in Concord/Springville
- 1 in Holland
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.