Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As the Buffalo Bills were dominating the Seattle Seahawks at Bills Stadium Sunday afternoon, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz was on a call with representatives from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's office discussing COVID.
The urgency of the call comes after consistent high rates of COVID in Western New York and Erie County, hovering around 5%.
"We're seeing exponential growth across the county," Poloncarz told WBEN Sunday. He later released a daily update that showed the COVID Saturday rate at 6.3% with a seven day rolling average of 4.5%.
"We really have to buckle down as a region and take this seriously," said Poloncarz and adds that the increased rate is a result of community spread and not any one sector of the region's population.
Private parties and gatherings of large people are the biggest concern, says Poloncarz. "The biggest problem that we are hearing is private parties that people are having at their homes."
Poloncarz and New York Lieutnenant Governor Kathy Hochul say a new micro cluster strategy for the region will be announced Monday and it is hoped the efforts can get the COVID spread under control and not require any further restrictions on the population and businesses.
"I do not want to see further shutdown of businesses, but if it gets worse, that's the direction we're heading," Poloncarz warned.
Hochul would not offer any detail on what the new strategy for the region will include. "The Governor will be addressing specific measures we're going to take," she said.
As a resident of Western New York, Hochul acknowledges the majority of residents are adhering to mask and social distancing guidelines. But she says there are those who push the limits, host and attend house parties, and spoil it for the entire region. "This is the highest infection rate in the state. The rest of the state has gotten it under control."
With the Thanksgiving and holiday season approaching, both Poloncarz and Hochul are pleading with the region to comply with public health guidelines, wear masks, social distance and not attend events with large crowds.
"If this continues, we're going to have to say no Thanksgiving except for your immediate family," declared Poloncarz.
Hochul added her words of warning for the region, strongly stating, "Western New Yorkers, step up and do your part."
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Lt Governor Kathy Hochul discusses COVID in Buffalo Sunday/WBEN Photo
