Chautauqua County exceeded 1,300 COVID-19 cases on Saturday.

The Health Department announced 20 additional cases, bringing the total to 1,314 since March. Full details regarding the cases will be released on Monday. In addition, there have been 139 cases in the last seven days.

Our region’s steep decline mirrors what is happening around the nation. “We are seeing a rising tide of COVID nationally and internationally. The rate of increase is less in New York, but it is an increase,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “We don’t have the same problem that other states have, but we’re seeing an increase and the increase is continuing. We know the factors that contribute to spread, like COVID fatigue, winter, restaurants, gyms, and living room family spread. What’s going to happen? Will we shut down and will we have more restrictions? What has worked for New York from day one is it’s a pure consequence of science. There’s no political decision making, no ideological decision making. Look at the numbers, and if the numbers are increasing and if they’re not slowing, then you have to restrict activity. Our actions today determine our positivity rate tomorrow, so follow the public health law – wear a mask and adhere to gathering limits, and localities need to do the enforcement.”