The region, which has an approximate population of 1.4 million people, currently has a three-day average of 2.17 new hospitalizations per 100,000 people. That figure must be under two in order for the region to be eligible for reopening. In addition, Western New York has not seen a 14-day decline in net hospitalizations and has 28 new hospitalizations in a three-day average. The region also must has fewer than five deaths over three days or a 14-day decline in hospital deaths.
Still, frustration continues as the general public wants a return to normal life.
“This is an area where we have the most control,” Hochul said. “We have the ability, each and every one of us, to stop the spread of this transmission if we adhere what you’ve been hearing about for months.”
“I would simply be guessing if I told you,” Restaino said. “While there is science and data connected to this, some of it is a question of just how quickly we can touch those last (three) bases. There was optimism among those of us on the call that we’re ready. It’s just going to be a question of one of those metrics that is the most difficult, but we’ll get there.”
Chautauqua County has only 44 cases of coronavirus and only seven of those cases are still active. There are 108 combined cases between Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.
Wendel said that his office and Congressman Tom Reed’s office are working to help assist Erie County with their needs.
The governor’s office mandated that the regions must open as one, rather than on a county-by-county basis. Despite this, Wendel said he is lobbying for counties like Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany, to reopen ahead of places like Erie County because of the different circumstances.
“It’s very hard more so for Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties because of their borders,” Wendel said. “Allegany County borders the Finger Lake counties and the Southern Tier. I would see their points just as well.”
Hochul said there is an ongoing dialogue with leaders from rural communities but she said there could be an outbreak even at farms. She cited the example of a farm in Madison County that has nearly 150 cases of coronavirus and worries that a similar situation could happen at a farm in any rural area.
Madison County is part of the Central New York region, which will reopen Friday, despite the outbreak at the farm.
The Chautauqua County executive pointed out that there shouldn’t be a concern about people from Erie County coming into their counties because the City of Jamestown is only a short drive away from Cleveland, Ohio and Erie, Pennsylvania.
“If you open Chautauqua, people would flock here? We’d love that for our economy, but realistically, they can go anywhere because other states are open at a much greater capacity,” Wendel said.
Wendel said he will continue to ask if the counties can individually open before Erie County.