Key metrics to measure the coronavirus in Western New York continue to rise.
The number of people hospitalized in the five-county region increased by 17 on Tuesday, according to state data, marking Western New York's largest one-day jump since April 28, the peak of hospitalizations in the region.
Western New York's hospitalization total Tuesday reached 126, a level the area has not seen since the first week of June. On April 28, hospitalizations increased by 26 to 263, the highest level Western New York has reached during the pandemic.
Erie County was the driver of those hospitalizations, as its hospitalization total increased by 17 on Tuesday, according to a tweet by County Executive Mark Poloncarz.
The "yellow zone" within Erie County saw a rise in its daily positive rate, as well as the seven-day average rate, which determines whether the state's microcluster designation will change.
Covid-19 in Western New York: The latest statistics
The Erie County yellow zone had a daily positive test rate of 8.12% for Tuesday's testing, the state reported Wednesday.
That was an increase from Monday's rate of 7.47%, and it raised the Erie County yellow zone's seven-day rolling average rate from 6.22% to 6.55%.
The yellow zone comprises all but the easternmost and southernmost towns of Erie County.
The state's metrics for determining a yellow zone include a seven-day rolling average positive rate above 2.5% for 10 days.
The Erie County yellow zone had a 5.35% positive rate for the week ending Saturday, Nov. 7, a significant increase from previous weeks (1.81% for Oct. 24; 2.86% for Oct. 31).
Higher rates within those same parameters would have areas reach the state's more restrictive "orange" and "red" zones.
Beginning Friday, bars and restaurants in New York must close by 10 p.m. Restaurants are limited to curbside, food-only pickup after 10 p.m.
An area with a positive rate average above 3.0% for 10 days would be designated as an orange zone; an average rate above 4.0% for 10 days would be a red zone.
The World Health Organization recommends a positive test rate of 5% or under.
The positive rate for the overall Western New York region, which consists of Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties, was 4.4% for Tuesday's testing.
The highest of the state's 10 regions for Tuesday's testing was the Finger Lakes at 4.6%. That marked the first time in six days that Western New York did not have the highest daily rate in the state.
Western New York continues to have the highest regional seven-day average positive rate in the state at 4.3%. Next highest is the Finger Lakes at 3.7%, with the statewide average at 2.4%.
Western New York's five counties combined to report a total of 484 cases on Wednesday. That came one day after the all-time record of 576 cases Tuesday.
Erie County reported 429 cases Wednesday after it had an all-time high of 446 on Tuesday.
Allegany County reported 25 cases as its fall outbreak continued. It how has 196 cases in November, which accounts for 35% of its pandemic total.
Chautauqua County reported 23 cases and Cattaraugus County reported 7.
Niagara County did not report cases Wednesday due to Veterans Day. On Thursday, it reported 90 new cases since Tuesday morning.
Wednesday's state data, which often differs slightly from county data due to differences in reporting dates or the location of tests, showed Erie County with 422 cases for Tuesday's testing.
For the second straight day, Erie County's total was higher than all other counties in the state; only New York City's total was higher at 1,731.
See the parts of Erie County included in the microcluster "yellow zone" designation.
Western New York counties reported nine coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, eight by Erie County and one by Allegany County, putting the region's total death toll at 900.
The Erie County deaths were reported on its online map, its first update of its overall death toll in a week. The Erie County death toll is 736.
County Executive Mark Poloncarz reported on Erie County coronavirus deaths in hospitals Thursday morning via Twitter, showing data that five people died Monday and one died Tuesday.
The Allegany County death is the county's 25th overall and 17th since Oct. 31.
Statewide coronavirus numbers continued to rise as well. New York reported 4,820 cases, its highest daily total since April, as it had a daily positive test rate of 2.9%. Statewide hospitalizations rose to 1,628, the highest total since June.
