ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROVIDES COVID-19 DATA UPDATE FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

Modified: September 14, 2021 5:19pm

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09/14/2021

ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROVIDES COVID-19 DATA UPDATE FOR WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

ERIE COUNTY, NY – The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is providing an update on COVID-19 data. For the week ending September 11, 2021, ECDOH received reports for 1,449 new COVID-19 cases among Erie County residents, a 10% increase from the previous week. This represents a smaller rate of growth for new cases compared to previous weeks.

The COVID-19 case rate of 152 cases per 100,000 residents in the past seven days for the week ending September 11 is an increase from the previous week’s case rate of 139. [Note: last week’s rate was calculated using 2020 U.S. Census population data. Case rates by age and ZIP code will be calculated with 2010 U.S. Census data until the full 2020 data set is available.] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) set a case rate threshold of 100 or more for a community to be considered to have “high transmission.”

31% of new COVID-19 cases last week were among city of Buffalo residents. For reference, city of Buffalo residents make up 29% of all Erie County residents. This past week 33 ZIP codes (compared to 31 ZIP codes the previous week) had seven-day case rates of more than 100 new cases per 100,000 persons, indicating “high” transmission according to CDC indicators. The 14057 (Eden) and 14052 (East Aurora) ZIP codes had the highest seven-day case rates per 100,000 people with 259 and 248, respectively.

Total diagnostic COVID-19 test reports were on par last week with the previous week, with about 34,000 tests. ECDOH and health care providers within Erie County still have substantial diagnostic testing capacity. People who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, should strongly consider a diagnostic COVID-19 test. Free tests are available through ECDOH by calling 716-858-2929 to schedule an appointment. Based on increased demand for diagnostic testing, ECDOH has expanded testing dates and times for Erie County residents to Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Appointments are required for COVID-19 testing.     

The highest positivity rates continue to be in persons under age 19; the 5-10 and 14-17-year-old age groups each had positivity rates of more than 7% for the week ending September 11. The 11-13-year-old age group’s positivity rate was nearly 10%. This represents an increase in positivity rates for these age groups from the previous week. These data are provided with the note that these younger age groups tend to have lower overall test report numbers than adult age groups.               

With 120 COVID-19 hospitalizations reported in Erie County hospitals on September 12, 2021, the number of patients admitted to Erie County hospitals with COVID-19 has remained relatively stable for the past two weeks. [See chart at end of release].

ECDOH is reporting COVID-19 mortality data. ECDOH received reports of eight deaths associated with COVID-19 in the past seven days. Of those eight reported deaths, one person passed away in August, and seven passed away in September. Total COVID-19-related deaths from March 2020 to September 9, 2021 now stand at 1,983, with 707 reported in 2021. Of the 62 reported COVID-19 associated deaths during July 1 through September 9, 2021, 65% (40) of these deaths were among persons who were not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to infection. All deaths among people under age 60 during this time period were not fully vaccinated.

With data compiled by the ECDOH epidemiology office through September 13 and based on 2020 U.S. Census population estimates, 70.3% of Erie County residents ages 18 and older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 66.3% of Erie County residents ages 18 and older have completed a vaccine series. For the 16-17-year-old age group, 57.2% have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Additional data, including vaccination estimates by ZIP code, are posted to the ECDOH web site. NYSDOH also updates vaccination data by demographics, by county and by ZIP code.

ECDOH has an active schedule of COVID-19 vaccine clinics, listed at www.erie.gov/vax, and will also vaccinate any eligible Erie County resident at their home. Call (716) 858-2929 for the “Vax Visit” program. ECDOH encourages Erie County residents who are not fully vaccinated to begin their COVID-19 vaccine series. COVID-19 vaccination is especially important for youth and families attending school or child care. Third COVID-19 vaccine doses for people with moderately or severely immunocompromising conditions are available at any Erie County COVID-19 vaccine clinic.

Chart: Erie County Hospitalization Data, last two weeks (August 27-September 12, 2021)

Data Sources: New York State Department of Health and Erie County hospitals

 

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