BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – When the state first created coronavirus restrictions, one of the main intents of those restrictions was not to overwhelm the hospital system tasked with saving those people who were seriously ill with COVID-19.
As of Thursday, there are 1,490 New Yorkers still hospitalized with COVID-19. In Western New York, 147 people are in a hospital. The hospitalization numbers in Western New York are at its lowest since late-March while the statewide numbers since last fall.
With vaccinations climbing, one doctor believes the hospital system has no reason to worry about being overwhelmed.
"I think that's largely behind us," Dr. Thomas Russo, Chief of Infectious Disease at Jacobs School of Medicine, told WBEN's A New Morning this week. "I feel very good here in Erie County that that's not going to happen…I think we're going to have a great summer here in Buffalo. Hopefully people will continue to get vaccinated. If we don't get a significant number of people vaccinated and head into the cooler months, that Halloween and Thanksgiving season, we're going to probably see another blip in cases of individuals that are still susceptible, but it's not going to be at the same magnitude."
At its peak, there were 548 hospitalizations in Western New York.
Is it time to end all pandemic related restrictions in New York? Governor Andrew Cuomo said Thursday most restrictions are lifted, though New York is still following much of the CDC guidance on issues like masks. He said the recent guidance on day cares was also taken from the CDC.
"We have very few restrictions left," Cuomo said. "We relaxed virtually all of the restrictions because we do believe the numbers are down. We can handle it and handle it in the hospitals. That's why we're relaxing the restrictions all across the board."
So why not go further than the federal government? Some states like Texas are banning the use of masks at places like public schools. Florida is banning businesses from requiring the COVID-19 vaccine passports.
"Masks don't really do anything about reopening," Cuomo said. "The questions are 'Are you reopened?' yes. 'Do I have to wear a mask?' No, if you're vaccinated. If you're unvaccinated, it's still open but you have to wear a mask."
Cuomo said if you don't want to wear a mask, you should get a vaccine. However, he did not say if the state would further lift restrictions beyond what the CDC has advised.
