WNY Hits Beyond 'Too High' COVID-19 Positivity, More Than 5x NYC

WNY's positivity rate is more than 5 times that of New York State's biggest city. We thought we were doing badly with a 5 percent COVID-19 positivity rate, which is considered too high. But now, Western New York's rate is more than 6 percent, extraordinarily more than the most populated city in the state and America. Over the past three days, the 7-day average positivity rate has been above 6 percent, according to the most recent data released by New York Governor Kathy Hochul's Office on Tuesday, November 9, 2021,

Saturday, November 6, 2021 - 6.29%

Sunday, November 7, 2021 - 6.41%

Monday, November 8, 2021 - 6.40%

With a positivity rate of more than 6 percent, WNY is in the 'too high' range (as deemed in 2020), which is 5 percent and above,

The higher the percent positive is, the more concerning it is. As a rule of thumb, however, one threshold for the percent positive being “too high” is 5%. For example, the World Health Organization recommended in May that the percent positive remain below 5% for at least two weeks before governments consider reopening.

WNY just had the highest 7-day average positivity rate in the state. Now, we're second only to the Finger Lakes Region, which had the following 7-day positivity rate over the last three days,

Saturday, November 6, 2021 - 6.48%

Sunday, November 7, 2021 - 6.56%

Monday, November 8, 2021 - 6.68%

Keep in mind, the statewide average is 2.65 percent. Also, noteworthy is that New York City's 7-day average positive rate is just over 1 percent. Only WNY and the Finger Lakes region have exceeded 6 percent for the 7-day average, but there are a few other counties in New York that are considered 'too high' also (They are highlighted below),

Capital Region	4.59%
Central New York	4.65%
Finger Lakes	6.68%
Long Island	2.50%
Mid-Hudson	1.92%
Mohawk Valley	5.51%
New York City	1.16%
North Country	5.66%
Southern Tier	3.64%
Western New York	6.40%

Two other regions - Capital and Central New York - are not that far off from 5 percent. Here are some highlights from that statewide data as of November 8,

Test Results Reported - 115,506
Total Positive - 4,108
Percent Positive - 3.56%
7-Day Average Percent Positive - 2.65%
Patient Hospitalization - 1,878 (+84)
Patients Newly Admitted - 250
Patients in ICU - 378 (+2)
Patients in ICU with Intubation - 215 (-4)
Total Discharges - 210,208 (+148)
New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 36
Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 45,860

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