Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was in Buffalo Wednesday touting progress made in battling the COVID pandemic.
New York's statewide positive test rate is 1.1% while hospitalizations are at its lowest point since November 14. Western New York and the Finger Lakes Region remain the two regions with the highest positivity rate at 2.3% and 2.78%, respectively, though both continue to steadily decline. Governor Cuomo blamed the higher numbers for the regions on behaviors in the community.
26 people died from COVID-19 on Tuesday.
The majority of adults in New York have received at least one dose of the vaccine. 60.7% of adults have been vaccinated and half of all New Yorkers have had at least one dose.
For the upcoming Toronto Blue Jays games in Buffalo beginning in June, Cuomo announced there will be 50 percent regular seating for fully vaccinated spectators and 50 percent seating for unvaccinated, with social distancing. All must mask.
"The dream lives," said Cuomo in referencing the decades old push to bring major league baseball to Buffalo under the administration of his late father, Governor Mario Cuomo. Not for 105 years has major league baseball be available to Buffalonians, Cuomo noted.
Cuomo announced a program to entice unvaccinated people to get the COVID vaccine by offering a free 7 day NFTA Metro pass for those who get vaccinated at special clinics being set up. The clinics run from Friday to Wednesday at the following locations:
Portage Road Transportation Center (Niagara Falls): 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
University Station (Buffalo): 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Utica Station (Buffalo): 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Buffalo MTC (Buffalo): 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
AppleTree Business Park (Cheektowaga): 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
COVID vaccinations will also be available during Blue Jays games.
