Cuomo: State Sending NYSDOH SWAT Team To WNY After Increased COVID-19 Rate

The Western New York region has seen increases in its COVID-19 positivity rate and that has caught the attention of Governor Andrew Cuomo and health officials.

According to WKBW, Governor Cuomo announced on Thursday that a "SWAT" team from the New York State Department of Health will be deployed to Western New York, due to the increased positivity rate for COVID-19.

Western New York has seen its positivity rate range from 1.1% to 1.8 percent for the last week. The state average has stayed below 1%.

The most recent positivity rate for Western New York reached 2% on Thursday.

A few days ago, Governor Cuomo issued a caution flag to Western New York, based on the increases in positive COVID-19 numbers.

The NYSDOH SWAT team will set up eight more testing sites, throughout the region.

Three will be in the city of Buffalo. There will be one each in Niagara Falls, Lockport, Williamsville, West Seneca, and Dunkirk.

Cuomo added that "we are focusing on Western New York and will continue to focus on it."

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