Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - In a tweet sent out on Tuesday, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says he will follow the lead of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul when she decides on whether to continue the statewide mask mandate on Wednesday.
Poloncarz says it appears better days are ahead, as the Omicron variant wave of COVID-19 is coming to an end.
"Today, thankfully, new infections have dropped tremendously and hospital bed capacity rates have stabilized, there being nearly 20% of all hospital beds in the county available today. While these are positive and encouraging signs, a cautious, fact-based approach has always been most prudent and we will remain vigilant while monitoring this data in days and weeks to come." said Poloncarz in a statement.
Poloncarz says Erie County is prepared to follow Gov. Hochul's lead as she updates the public on New York State’s stance on masking in Wednesday’s announcement.
"If the Governor rescinds the statewide mandate on masks, Erie County will follow suit and my Emergency Order issued on Nov. 23, 2021, requiring masking in public facilities, will be allowed to lapse. Dr. Burstein’s Commissioner’s Order on the same will be rescinded in alignment with the state’s position. If the Governor should continue her statewide mask requirement, we shall follow suit and continue our requirement for consistency with the state’s rules." said Poloncarz.
However, Poloncarz says if Hochul rescinds the mask mandate, he will keep his executive order requiring masks to be worn by all employees and guests in county-owned facilities through the end of February.
"At which time, we will reconsider the need for such requirement based on the, then, designation of whether the county is at a low, moderate, substantial or high risk of COVID transmission, as those terms are defined by the CDC,” said Poloncarz.
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Poloncarz's order has been in effect since just before Thanksgiving.