BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - We'll know more today when word comes from New York State and Governor Andrew Cuomo on what will happen within the current COVID yellow zone within Erie County.
Will it expand? Will portions go to orange? Red? At this point, we don't know or have any definitive indication, but Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz raised a big warning flag during a hastily called and brief YouTube announcement Tuesday afternoon.
No town or city in Erie County has an infection rate below three percent, according to Poloncarz. Most parts of the county have a rate above five percent.
"To those who are thinking this is just politics and those in the political arena who are attacking it as a political measure, it's not," Poloncarz said. "This is real. This is not a hoax. This is not a power grab. The last thing I want to do is spend all my time dealing with COVID-19. As long as it's in our community, I will."
Poloncarz said Governor Andrew Cuomo will announce on Wednesday that parts of Erie County will advance into an orange or red zone. He did not specify which parts will be upgraded.
Municipalities outside of the yellow zone are also seeing an increase in coronavirus cases. Elma had an infection rate of 11.8 percent. North Collins, Boston, and Evans all had infection rates of above 10 percent, according to Poloncarz. Areas not in the yellow zone are likely to be added.
"We are in a very bad situation," Poloncarz said. "I ask everyone to put politics aside, including those in the political arena. Now is not the time to point fingers. Now is the time to come together as a community and say we can overcome this unfortunate growth of COVID-19 in our community."
Poloncarz said the next few weeks are not going to be good and that there will be more cases and increased in hospitalizations and deaths.
"It is everywhere and it is an anti-discriminatory illness," Poloncarz said.
"This is not a power grab. This is a life or death situation," Poloncarz said.
