NIAGARA COUNTY, N.Y. (WBEN) - Seventeen people have died from coronavirus in Niagara County, according to the latest information provided by the government.
The latest person to die is a 58-year-old woman who had underlying health conditions.
The county reported 287 total coronavirus cases, with 143 recoveries. Eighteen people remain hospitalized with COVID-19.
While hospitalizations across New York State are trending downward, Niagara County Chairwoman Rebecca Wydysh echoed Governor Andrew Cuomo's comments Tuesday that Western New York is only now reaching a plateau.
"Even on a plateau, once you've hit that flat point, there's always the risk you can trend upwards again instead of going downward which is what we're looking for and hoping for," she said. "We need to avoid that."
Cuomo announced that elective surgeries are allowed again in some counties that are not seeing a substantial outbreak. However, Erie County, which has nearly 2,300 confirmed cases of coronavirus, is not allowed to have hospitals conduct elective surgeries. Wydysh said hospitals in Niagara County are allowed to conduct elective surgeries.
Eastern Niagara Hospital released the following statement
"In follow up to the governor's announcement that elective surgeries will be resumed in Niagara County, Eastern Niagara Hospital is working on a plan to safely facilitate these procedures at its ambulatory surgery center and another separate area of the hospital. We are pleased the governor is taking this regional approach and Eastern Niagara Hospital will be developing a comprehensive plan to care for patients, yet minimize risk to the greatest extent."
