The COVID-19 toll continues to rise in Niagara County, with the Wednesday total hitting 155 cases.
That number reflects a dozen new cases and 103 who are in quarantine, either at home or in the hospital. The total of those who have recovered has risen to 51. There has been one death.
In the county's daily briefing, Legislature Chair Becky Wydysh said the state health department is slowly bringing out data from the massive sick list and reporting aspects, which are important. Wydysh pointed to a state website which is monitoring the total of those tested, including those from Niagara County.
"Six-hundred sixteen people, about 20% of those tests come back with positive results. Remember, we're a county of about 216,000 in our population. So, looking at those numbers, you hear we talk about the lack of testing. Those numbers really bring our point home as to how few individuals are being tested here in Niagara County and how frustrating that can be," Wydysh said.
Wydysh says any peak toll for the county is weeks away since Niagara was hit by the coronavirus several weeks after New York City was hit and it's not clear the ill and dead totals there have peaked.
She said now is not the time to relax about the social distancing rules and other means being used to slow the spread of the virus.
