Covid-19: Vigilance remains as WNY hospitals ease into the 'new norm'

k9`m':8:=2?46 C6>2:?D 2D (6DE6C? }6H *@C< 9@DA:E2=D 62D6 :?E@ E96 V?6H ?@C>Vk^9`m

kAmu@C 2?J@?6 H@?56C:?8 9@H E@ E9:?< @7 E96 DE2E6 @7 E96 r@G:5\`h A2?56>:4 :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<[ H96C6 2?645@E2= 2?5 6>A:C:42= 6G:56?46 A@:?E E@ 8C62E AC@8C6DD 4@?EC@==:?8 E96 DAC625 @7 E96 G:CFD[ r2E9@=:4 w62=E9 rt~ |2C< $F==:G2? @? |@?52J C624965 324< E@ E96 A2:?7F= 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 qF772=@ q:==D :? E96 $FA6C q@H= 2?5 42>6 FA H:E9 E9:Dik^Am

kAmQ(6 42??@E 277@C5 E@ {6@? {6EE E9:D]Qk^Am

kAm%96 C676C6?46 H2D E@ E96 s2==2D r@H3@JD 5676?D:G6 =:?6>2? H9@ DE2CE65 52?4:?8 @? 9:D H2J E@ E96 6?5 K@?6 :? $FA6C q@H= ))'xx 2?5 925 E96 32== D=2AA65 @FE @7 9:D 92?5 3J E96 q:==DV s@? q6636]k^Am

kAm~? E96 52J r2E9@=:4 w62=E9 2??@F?465 :E ?@ =@?86C ?66565 E@ FD6 @?6 @7 :ED 9@DA:E2=D 6I4=FD:G6=J 7@C r@G:5\`h A2E:6?ED[ 2?5 @E96C 962=E9 42C6 DJDE6>D D:>:=2C=J A@:?E65 E@ 8@@5 ?6HD 23@FE 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D[ E96 >6E2A9@C H2D F?>:DE2<23=6i s@ ?@E DE2CE 46=63C2E:?8 AC6>2EFC6=J]k^Am

kAm$F==:G2? D2:5 E92E $:DE6CD @7 r92C:EJ $E] y@D6A9 r2>AFD :? r966<E@H282 92D EC62E65 >@C6 E92? e__ r@G:5\`h A2E:6?ED D:?46 =2E6 |2C49 2?5 DE:== 92D `c r@G:5\`h A2E:6?ED] xE H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ D6E 2D:56 2 r@G:5\`h\@?=J F?:E[ 3FE 96 D2:5 E96 9@DA:E2= ?665D E@ C6DF>6 @E96C D6CG:46D]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^G:8:=2?46\C6>2:?D\2D\H6DE6C?\?6H\J@C<\9@DA:E2=D\62D6\:?E@\E96\?6H\?@C>^2CE:4=60722heccc\5d2_\``62\ghbe\c33faf54`6d5]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#tps |~#tk^2mk^Am

k9C ^m

k9am!#t'x~&$ r~'t#pvtk^9am

kAmkDEC@?8m!2C6?ED[ 962=E9 42C6 H@C<6CD H2?E >@C6 :?AFE :? qF772=@VD D49@@= C6@A6?:?8 A=2?i k^DEC@?8m$6G6C2= C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D DA62<:?8 :? 7C@?E @7 {272J6EE6 w:89 $49@@= D2:5 E96C6 H6C6 76H @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ E96 A=2?[ H9:49 925 E@ 36 DF3>:EE65 3J uC:52J 2?5 H9:49 H2D A@DE65 @?=:?6] (:E9 E96 4=@4< E:4<:?8 5@H? 367@C6 D49@@= C6DF>6D[ E96J H2?E 2DDFC2?46D E92E H:== D@@? 492?86] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^65F42E:@?^A2C6?ED\962=E9\42C6\H@C<6CD\H2?E\>@C6\:?AFE\:?\3F772=@D\D49@@=\C6@A6?:?8\A=2?^2CE:4=605g3bh4`g\5d2a\``62\h542\`3ef6cb2b3a3]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mrF@>@i $49@@= 5:DEC:4ED D9@F=5 5:D4FDD C6@A6?:?8D H:E9 A2C6?EDi k^DEC@?8m(:E9 }6H *@C< $E2E6VD 564:D:@? 6IA64E65 =2E6C E9:D H66< @? H96E96C D49@@=D H:== 36 2==@H65 E@ C6@A6?[ @77:4:2=D 2E =@42= D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED D9@F=5 36 H@C<:?8 E@ :?7@C> A2C6?ED @? E96 DA64:7:4D @7 E96:C A=2?D[ v@G] p?5C6H rF@>@ D2:5 |@?52J] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@G6C?>6?E\2?5\A@=:E:4D^4F@>@\D49@@=\5:DEC:4ED\D9@F=5\5:D4FDD\C6@A6?:?8\A=2?D\H:E9\A2C6?ED^2CE:4=605f6a37hg\5d3a\``62\2f`3\5bgfcgcc24b5]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(92E 92AA6?D :7 D@>6@?6 E6DED A@D:E:G6 7@C r@G:5\`h :? D49@@=ni k^DEC@?8m$49@@=D E9C@F89@FE }6H *@C< $E2E6 2C6 AC6A2C:?8 E@ @A6? @?6 H2J @C 2?@E96C :? $6AE6>36C] qFE H92E 92AA6?D :7 2 E62496C[ 2 3FD 5C:G6C @C 2 DEF56?E E6DED A@D:E:G6 7@C r@G:5\`h 27E6C :?\A6CD@? 4=2DD6D 368:?n k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^65F42E:@?^H92E\92AA6?D\:7\D@>6@?6\E6DED\A@D:E:G6\7@C\4@G:5\`h\:?\D49@@=^2CE:4=60h3_edeaa\5af4\``62\hec5\7347d6ffd3h3]9E>=REC24<:?8\D@FC46l9@>6\E@A\DE@CJQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m}* =2H>2<6CD AFE w62=E9 r@>>:DD:@?6C +F4<6C @? 9@E D62E 2E r@G:5\`h 962C:?8i k^DEC@?8m}6H *@C< $E2E6 w62=E9 r@>>:DD:@?6C w@H2C5 +F4<6C E@52J C6A62E65=J 5676?565 E96 DE2E6VD C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 r@G:5\`h 562E9D 2E ?FCD:?8 9@>6D 2D =68:D=2E@CD 8C:==65 9:> :? 2 G:CEF2= 962C:?8] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\2?5\C68:@?2=^?J\=2H>2<6CD\AFE\962=E9\4@>>:DD:@?6C\KF4<6C\@?\9@E\D62E\2E\4@G:5\`h\962C:?8^2CE:4=606c24`bae\5d22\``62\3e`f\23df37h`a66`]9E>=REC24<:?8\D@FC46l9@>6\E@A\DE@CJ\`Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m}6H *@C<VD r@G:5\`h 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@? ?F>36CD 4@?E:?F6 E@ 5C@Ai k^DEC@?8m%96 =2E6DE 7:8FC6D C6AC6D6?E ?6H =@HD D:?46 E96 5:D62D6 A62<65 :? E96 DE2E6i dbe A6@A=6 9@DA:E2=:K65[ `be A2E:6?ED :? :?E6?D:G6 42C6 2?5 ea A6@A=6 :?EF32E65[ rF@>@ D2:5 5FC:?8 2 3C:67:?8 :? }6H *@C< r:EJ] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^DE2E6\2?5\C68:@?2=^?6H\J@C<D\4@G:5\`h\9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?\?F>36CD\4@?E:?F6\E@\5C@A^2CE:4=60chf`dg44\5dh_\``62\2fhb\535_cd`g_g6a]9E>=REC24<:?8\D@FC46l9@>6\E@A\DE@CJ\`Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mp?DH6C65 AC2J6CD 7@C AC:6DE :? ?665 @7 =:G6C EC2?DA=2?E 2>:5 A2?56>:4ik^DEC@?8m %96 #6G] y@9? |24< 8@E 2 ?6H =62D6 @? =:76 27E6C 2 7:G6\J62C 32EE=6 H:E9 ?@?2=4@9@=:4 4:CC9@D:D @7 E96 =:G6C[ 2 7:89E E92E :?E6?D:7:65 :? C646?E >@?E9D 2D 9:D 962=E9 72:=65[ 2 A2?56>:4 3682? 2?5 96 =@DE 9:D ;@3 2E r9C:DE E96 z:?8 $6>:?2CJ :? t2DE pFC@C2] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^2?DH6C65\AC2J6CD\7@C\AC:6DE\:?\?665\@7\=:G6C\EC2?DA=2?E\2>:5\A2?56>:4^2CE:4=60h6eef2fg\5af`\``62\ha66\h3_d32dea_f3]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mw@H r@G:5\`h :D D92A:?8 >2==D @7 E96 AC6D6?E 2?5 E96 7FEFC6i k^DEC@?8msFC:?8 E96 >2==VD `hg_D 96J52J[ :7 J@F 925 :>28:?65 2 >2== :? a_a_[ :E :D >@C6 =:<6=J J@F H@F=5 92G6 6?G:D:@?65 C@3@E D2=6D 4=6C<D 2?5 =2D6C\6BF:AA65 >2??6BF:?D E92? 92?5 D2?:E:K6C 2?5 7246 >2D<D] qFE 96C6 H6 2C6] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^9@H\4@G:5\`h\:D\D92A:?8\>2==D\@7\E96\AC6D6?E\2?5\7FEFC6^2CE:4=60f45b756c\5afa\``62\hg_6\e3db5f53gb36]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m|U2>Aj% q2?< 6IE6?5D H@C<\7C@>\9@>6 A@=:4Ji k^DEC@?8mQ(6 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@H2C5 AC6A2C2E:@?D E@ :?4C62D6 56?D:EJ H:E9 2? 2AAC@AC:2E6 =6G6= @7 D276EJ 2?5 2==@H 2 =:>:E65 ?F>36C @7 255:E:@?2= E62> >6>36CD E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 @77:46 @? 2 G@=F?E2CJ 32D:D[Q D2:5 yF=:2 q6C49@F[ 2 32?< DA@<6DH@>2?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^>\E\32?<\6IE6?5D\H@C<\7C@>\9@>6\A@=:4J^2CE:4=60_df6h_`6\5d33\``62\2b2c\5f2f66c67_ee]9E>=REC24<:?8\D@FC46l9@>6\E96\=2E6DEQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m{:G6 >FD:4VD :?5@@CD C6EFC? @776CD 2 C25:42==J 492?865 =2?5D42A6ik^DEC@?8m *@F 42? 86E J@FC 325=J ?66565 =:G6 >FD:4 7:I[ :E’D ECF6] qFE[ :7 J@F 92G6?’E J6E G6?EFC65 E@ @?6 @7 E96 4=F3D E92E C6@A6?65 H96? }6H *@C< $E2E6 :>A=6>6?E65 A92D6 7@FC @7 :ED 8C25F2= C6EFC? yF?6 b_[ H96? J@F 5@[ J@F’== 36 H2=<:?8 :?E@ 2 564:565=J 492?865 =2?5D42A6]kDEC@?8m k^DEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^6?E6CE2:?>6?E^>FD:4^=:G6\>FD:4\D\:?5@@CD\C6EFC?\@776CD\2\C25:42==J\492?865\=2?5D42A6^2CE:4=607ac_6_de\5`4b\``62\37cf\2ba4e576c`6a]9E>=REC24<:?8\D@FC46l9@>6\E@A\DE@CJ\`Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m$@CCJ[ q:==D >27:2[ #2:56CD D2J ?@ 72?D 2E 82>6D :? '682D E9:D D62D@?i k^DEC@?8m~?6 @7 E96 >@DE 2?E:4:A2E65 C@25 EC:AD 7@C q:==D 72?D E9:D D62D@? 92D A@E6?E:2==J 366? 42?46=65[ 2E =62DE :7 E9@D6 72?D H6C6 A=2??:?8 E@ 2EE6?5 E96 82>6D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^3:==D^D@CCJ\3:==D\>27:2\C2:56CD\D2J\?@\72?D\2E\82>6D\:?\G682D\E9:D\D62D@?^2CE:4=60`6e75_7_\5d3f\``62\2b42\2be3ef3efh3_]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mu:G6 BF6DE:@?D 7@C &q 7@@E32== 2D :E AC6A2C6D 7@C DAC:?8 AC24E:46Di k^DEC@?8m&q’D D4965F=6 92D 2=C625J 366? :>A24E65 3J r@G:5\`h[ H:E9 EH@ 82>6D 36:?8 42?46=65[ 2?5 E96 7FEFC6 @7 4@==686 72== DA@CED :D :? 2 9@=5:?8 A2EE6C?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^4@==686^7:G6\BF6DE:@?D\724:?8\F3\7@@E32==\2D\:E\AC6A2C6D\7@C\72==\AC24E:46D^2CE:4=60eadf6`e2\5bef\``62\h_``\gfh4ceh`gh76]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m%96 t5:E@C:2= q@2C5i $49@@= C6@A6?:?8 A=2?D =62G6 BF6DE:@?D[ DF886DE:?8 A=2??:?8 E:>6 DBF2?56C65i k^DEC@?8mxE 2AA62CD E92E D@>6 @7 (6DE6C? }6H *@C<’D D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED H2:E65 F?E:= E96 =2DE >:?FE6 E@ 4@>A=6E6 E96:C DF>>6C 2DD:8?>6?ED[ HC:E6D %96 }6HDV t5:E@C:2= q@2C5] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^@A:?:@?^65:E@C:2=^E96\65:E@C:2=\3@2C5\D49@@=\C6@A6?:?8\A=2?D\=62G6\BF6DE:@?D\DF886DE:?8\A=2??:?8\E:>6\DBF2?56C65^2CE:4=607_d6_g`c\5d3c\``62\g37e\fbeg55ah`5gg]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mp?@E96C '@:46i qF772=@ D49@@=D ?665 E@ :>A=6>6?E 4@?5F4E[ H6==?6DD A@=:4:6Di k^DEC@?8mx7 E96 5:DEC:4E H2?ED E@ AFD9 E96 5:2= 29625 @? 24256>:4 DF446DD[ 2 4@>AC696?D:G6 2?5 :?E68C2E65 A=2? 7@C A9JD:42=[ D@4:2=[ 6>@E:@?2= 2?5 3692G:@C2= H6==?6DD :D :>A6C2E:G6[ HC:E6 y6DD:42 q2F6C (2=<6C 2?5 #6?66 r25K@H] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^@A:?:@?^2?@E96C\G@:46\3F772=@\D49@@=D\?665\E@\:>A=6>6?E\4@?5F4E\H6==?6DD\A@=:4:6D^2CE:4=60bc`g`ecc\5dah\``62\2`h3\2f_76cc2a7b5]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm#625 >@C6k^2mk^Am

k9C ^m

kAmw2G6 E9@F89ED @? E9:D ?6HD=6EE6Cn t>2:= k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i7665324<o3F77?6HD]4@>Qm7665324<o3F77?6HD]4@>k^2m]k^Am