Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As new COVID-19 restrictions across the expansive 'yellow cluster zone' in Erie County take hold, leaders are pleading with the community to adhere to the new guidelines in an effort to reverse the rising number of new cases and hospitalizations in the region.
"This is a very frightening time for us," said New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul as she painted a grim picture of COVID in the Western New York region. "Western New York is the epicenter of New York State's epidemic," Hochul announced as she reflected on a time early in the pandemic when the epicenter of the COVID crisis was in New York City.
As an effort to help turn the numbers around in Erie County, new restrictions on bars, restaurants and gyms kick-in at 10pm Friday that require them to close at 10pm. There is also a maximum of ten people allowed in private household gatherings, with the exception of a household that may normally inclue more than ten.
As Thanksgiving approaches, Hochul is pleading with people to refrain from large gatherings and to take social distancing and masking precautions to control the spread of the virus. "Your guard goes down when you're with family and friends," Hochul said.
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Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is also concerned about COVID spread in the workplace. "If you are sick, you have to stay home," said Poloncarz as he pleads with anyone who may feel ill and be symptomatic to refrain from working and get tested. Anyon symptomatice individual can get tested by calling the Erie County Health Department at 716 858 2929.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown joined in the plea to the public to adhere to the new guidelines taking hold across the metro Buffalo region. "The spike in coronavirus is very dangerous."
Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul says she is frustrated by the phrase 'COVID fatigue' that is creeping into conversations across the region, the state and the country. "The only ones entitles to have COVID fatigue are the front line workers," Hochul stated.
