Western New York's Covid-19 daily infection rate climbed to nearly 2% on Saturday after hovering around 1% for most of the summer.
In Erie County and four surrounding counties, 1.8% of the people tested on Saturday were positive, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced.
That was the region's highest daily infection rate since Aug. 2, when 2.2% tested positive.
The region's seven-day rolling average has remained about 1% all summer.
Statewide, 0.77% of the 74,043 people tested Saturday were positive for the virus, the 16th straight day of test results below 1%.
No other region of the state had a positive test rate above 0.8% on Saturday.
Western New York's regional infection rate has been higher than the rest of the state for much of the past week. It was 0.8% last Monday; 1.4% on Tuesday; 1.0% on Wednesday; 1.6% on Thursday; and 1.4% on Friday.
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The infection rate in Erie County is driving the region's rate higher.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted that Erie County saw 52 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday out of 2,260 tested, a 2.3% infection rate.
Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale R. Burstein has said she expects the county's infection rate to climb in the coming weeks as college students return to campuses and grade schools reopen.
The governor noted Saturday the state hit new lows for Covid-19 hospitalizations, patients in ICUs and intubations.
Hospitalizations dropped to 472, the lowest number since March 16, and the number of patients in ICUs dropped to 110, the lowest number since March 15. Intubations dropped to 50, the lowest number since mid-March.
"New Yorkers should be proud that their hard work and discipline led to another day of record low numbers. Our hospitalizations, intubations and people in the ICU are the lowest they've been since mid-March – that's a real achievement," Cuomo said.
"But make no mistake: this virus is still surging in parts of the country and until there is a vaccine we cannot become numb or complacent about the risks we face. Local governments must continue to enforce public health guidance and we all must remember to be smart – follow the guidance, wear masks, socially distance and stay New York Tough!" he said.
Five people died in New York State from Covid-19 on Saturday, bringing the state's total to 25,288. One of the deaths was in Erie County.
Here are the total new infections for Western New York counties on Saturday: Erie, 52; Allegany, 1; Cattaraugus, 2; Chautauqua, 2; and Niagara, 9.
Read the full story from News Staff Reporters Caitlin Dewey and Thomas Prohaska.
