BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – New hospitalizations for coronavirus have reached a one-day high, according to the latest information supplied by Erie County.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said there were 247 people admitted to the hospital because of coronavirus on Sunday. The county only receives data that was compiled two days prior.
"April 19 also saw nearly 4 times as many patients admitted for COVID-19 to Erie County hospitals than discharged: 34 to 9," Poloncarz wrote on Twitter. "The last four days combined saw 130 overall admissions versus 78 discharges. The trend line is going in the wrong direction."
There are 2,284 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Erie County as of the publishing of this story. The City of Buffalo has nearly 900 cases while Williamsville, Amherst, and Cheektowaga, all have more than 200 cases. Erie County no longer tracks recoveries and active cases because that information relied on self-reporting.
In Erie County, 177 people have died.
Latest Covid-19 hospital admissions chart for Erie County hospitals through April 19. The highest number of Covid-19 patients admitted was on April 19 (247). There was a slight reduction in ICU beds (114), though an increase in ICU airway assists to 95. Deaths was 8. 1/2... pic.twitter.com/wjOuzwgbQ6
— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) April 21, 2020"Western New York, I believe, we're on the plateau," Cuomo said in his daily coronavirus update on Tuesday in Buffalo.
Erie County is expanding coronavirus testing to anyone who is symptomatic. Anyone who wants to be tested must call the Erie County Department of Health at 858-2929.
In comparison with similarly-sized counties in Allegheny, Pennsylvania and Cuyahoga, Ohio, Erie County has more cases of coronavirus and more deaths. Those counties feature Pittsburgh and Cleveland, respectively.
"We can't do a comparison to NYC, but we are doing worse than our regional peer group," Poloncarz wrote.
Poloncarz did not give a coronavirus update on Tuesday. He said last week that his televised updates will now be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
