Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The Erie County Health Department says it now has "substantial" transmission numbers, with 54 new cases in the past week.
This as County Executive Mark Poloncarz addressed the issue with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership Friday morning. "The reds are bad, the oranges are hot, moderate is where we are," says Poloncarz before the afternoon update.
With the status change, Poloncarz says anyone who enters a county building starting Saturday must wear masks, regardless of vaccination status.
Poloncarz says he's not at the point of mandating masks for privately owned businesses. "We highly recommend it, but if these numbers continue to grow exponentially and we're seeing this tremendous rise of COVID and our hospitalization numbers, that's something I'm going to consider," says Poloncarz. He reminds business owners they are authorized to require masks and social distancing if they so desire.
Poloncarz says there have been strong statements from the federal government businesses can also mandate vaccinations by employees. "The EEO says traditional equal employment opportunity protection does not apply because the country is still under a state of emergency," says Poloncarz, who notes Erie County remains under a state of emergency.
