Erie County said it is now currently at a high community level of COVID-19 based the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) guidelines.

At this level, recommendations include:

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses, for 5 years and older, including those who are pregnant and plan on becoming pregnant. This means getting all recommended primary and booster doses when eligible.
  • Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status. 
  • If you are (or live, work or have contact with someone who is) at high risk for severe illness or have a weak immune system, consider rapid testing before gatherings and avoiding non-essential indoor gatherings.
  • Get tested if you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19.
  • Wear a mask if you have symptoms, positive test results, or have been exposed to COVID-19.
  • Stay home while waiting for test results. If you have positive test results, even if you don’t have symptoms, stay home and apart from others in your home and, if possible, use a separate bathroom; inform your close contacts to stay home and get tested.
  • Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible.

In the past week from Monday, May 16, to Sunday, May 22:

  • 777 new cases were reported with a daily average of 111 cases.
  • There was one new death, increasing the total to 799.
  • The total unvaccinated death count remains at 655, which is 82 percent of the total deaths.

As of May 22, among the total reported in deaths in Erie County, the breakdown by vaccination status and age range is as follows:

Reported Deaths

Ages
0-49

Ages
50-64

Ages
65 & older

Sub-total

Percentage breakdown

Not vaccinated

31

91

533

655

82%

Partially vaccinated

0

3

28

31

4%

Fully vaccinated without a booster

2

16

73

91

11%

Additional dose/booster

0

3

19

22

3%

Total

799

799

100%

The number of persons vaccinated in the past week was 237. This increases the total number of persons vaccinated to 182,430 with the following breakdown:

 

Number of persons

Of eligible population

Of total population

Partially vaccinated

23,617

9.3%

8.8%

Fully vaccinated

158,813

62.3%

58.9%

Received first booster

80,146

31.5%

29.7%

Received second booster

12,363

4.9%

4.6%

Boosters extend the effectiveness of vaccines against COVID-19 and help protect against variants. Based on data from Erie County, those who are boosted are:

  • 7 times less like to be infected with COVID-19
  • 14 times less likely to die from COVID-19

Free vaccines and boosters are available for residents of Erie County ages 5 years and older. A list of local vaccination sites is available here.

To find vaccines and boosters in other nearby locations, text your ZIP code to 438829, visit vaccines.gov or call 1-800-232-0233.  

Erie County Department of Health recommends community members, vaccinated or unvaccinated, to get tested for COVID-19 if they have been exposed to anyone who has COVID-19 or if they have symptoms such as sore throat, coughing, upper respiratory congestion, difficulty breathing, fever or chills, muscle or body aches, vomiting or diarrhea, or loss of taste or smell.

Community members using home test kits who have questions or need guidance can call 814-451-6700.

A full list of local sites offering free testing is available here.