BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – Lawmakers in Erie County unanimously approved $5 million to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
The funds will allow the Erie County Department of Health to purchase equipment such as forehead thermometers and other materials to monitor the hundreds of people in quarantine. It would also allow the county to hire more epidemiologists and personnel to track coronavirus.
"It's a place to start," Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein said. "We have to reassess because the epidemic may change and our needs may change."
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz requested the $5 million as part of his state of emergency he announced on Sunday. The legislature was able to expediate the process because of the state of emergency.
Lawmakers passed the funding with one caveat: They asked the county executive and the department of health to report back to the legislature on how exactly the money is being sent.
"We definitely want to make sure that we have the beds that we need here in Erie County for the people that have to go through this sickness," Erie County Chairwoman April Baskin said. "I think we are going to need assistance in the department of health from epidemiologists and people who are qualified to be able to do the testing and administer health governments."




