BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's striking. The difference between coronavirus cases in New York State compared to other parts of the country. Texas, Florida and Arizona are seeing in spikes in cases, while cases in New York are flattening.
"Clearly, the policies adopted in terms of social distancing and wearing masks are benefiting this community," said Dr. Brahm H. Segal, chief of Infectious Diseases at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Western New York hospitalizations for coronavirus have dropped below 100, lower than any point since Covid patients were being tracked. Discharges continue to exceed admissions. The death toll in Erie County stands at 587.
"If you look at data through most of April and May on any given day, the number of hospitalized patients in our region was in the 200 - 250 range. So, not only have we flattened the curve, the curve has decreased over time. Geographically, about half of the country is not experiencing decreases, and in some areas there are substantial increases, mostly in southern and western states."
It's hard to identify one component that is responsible for New York's decrease. Dr. Segal says the answer is a combination of factors. Face masks and social distancing.
With New York slowly reopening and with large protests for the last week and a half, does it surprise Segal that the numbers are continuing to decrease? "Yes," he said. "Especially when you look at the dramatic increase in Covid cases elsewhere."
Antibody testing shows the level of community immunity is less than 10%. "We are not a protected community. The risk has not gone away. We do not have herd protection and if we lose our guard we are clearly at risk for a resurgence of Covid." Segal says virus spikes could go on for months, if not longer, until there's a vaccine.
Last month Brazil was not a major hot spot, now it's a huge area of covid spread. It's spreading in the middle east and India, South America and Mexico and with global travel resuming, Segal imagines a reintroduction of Covid.