Albany, N.Y. (WBEN) - Despite the fact that the COVID positivity rate in New York State falling below one percent for the first time since September 24th, Western New York remains a concern according to Governor Andrew Cuomo.
"We've had an ongoing issue with Western New York," Cuomo said during a Sunday COVID update call. "It is not getting dramatically better, it's not getting dramatically worse," Cuomo added.
The positivity rate in Western New York stood at 1.4% Saturday, compared to the statewide rate of .96%. In Erie County the positivity rate is at 1.6% according to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.
Cuomo says the problem across New York are the so-called 'red zone' areas that are responsible for the majority of the positive COVID tests results in the state. The "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of the state population yet had 14.9 percent of all positive test results reported to the state yesterday, and 17.6 percent of all positive case results reported to the state this week.
Cuomo says there are no known 'clusters' in Western New York and says there is "a general lack of compliance which is causing the issue." Cuomo, as a result, says he is urging more stringent compliance to COVID guidelines.
