Niagara County reported 21 new Covid-19 cases over the weekend, as the county's infection rate rose to 1.58%.
That's still a small figure, and below the Western New York regional figure of 1.8% positive tests reported by the state Health Department Sunday, but it is an uptick from recent Niagara County figures.
For example, on the weekend of Aug. 14-16, Niagara County recorded only five positive cases of the new coronavirus, and recent daily infection rates in the county had been below 1%. From Aug. 14 through last Wednesday, there were only 18 new cases, with a 0.65% infection rate.
"No need to worry," county Public Health Director Daniel J. Stapleton said Monday.
"The governor was correct to raise the issue that Western New York has seen an uptick in the last few days, but it's also important to remember the governor also said the numbers are not a cause for serious concern. Our rate of infection in Niagara County continues to go anywhere from just under 1% to just under 2% and that is where we still are, even with this uptick," Stapleton said.
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"We are on top of tracing the contacts of any positives and looking to identify clusters so as to contain any spread. With the opening of schools just around the corner, it's important the public continues to do its part by wearing masks and maintain social distance so our numbers remain low," Stapleton added.
The 21 new cases this weekend were found among 1,329 tests. The number of active Covid-19 cases in the county is now 54, with five patients hospitalized. On Friday, the figure was 37, with three in the hospital.
Erie County had 81 new Covid cases Thursday, its most since May 22, but Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein said those specimens were collected over a period of a couple of weeks. The Erie County caseload increase was 49 Friday and 52 Saturday.
The Western New York daily infection rate, as monitored by the state Health Department, bottomed out at 0.5% on Aug. 4 and 11. Saturday's 1.8% figure was the highest since July 13, when the rate was 2%.
The statewide rate has been below 1% for 17 consecutive days, and Western New York was the only region above 1% Sunday.
Read the full story from News Staff Reporters Caitlin Dewey and Thomas Prohaska.
