As of Friday at 8 p.m., we have identified 89 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Erie County residents for a total of 310 reported cases. There are 52 individuals admitted to hospitals in Erie County for COVID-19.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced the House of Representatives approved the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the third emergency package approved by Congress to address public health and economic needs related to COVID-19.

Niagara County Clerk Joseph A. Jastrzemski on Friday said the Department of Homeland Security has delayed implementation of the REAL ID requirements for domestic flights until Oct. 1, 2021. The requirements were set to take place this October.

The USA Niagara Development Corp. board of directors met Wednesday and approved items to advance key development projects in downtown Niagara Falls.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday announced the state has received significant donations from a number of major corporations, philanthropic organizations and celebrities to help increase the state's supply capacity amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

•We have received reports of 31 Erie County residents who are hospitalized as of yesterday due to COVID-19. As of today, at noon, we have had 166 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Erie County residents.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced new federal resources to help federally qualified health clinics in Western New York respond to COVID-19. Three local clinics will receive a total of $192,735 in new federal funding.

Congressman Brian Higgins and other members of the House of Representatives' New York delegation sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, asking the secretary to authorize the transfer of 20,000 ventilators to New York from the national stockpile.

At a closed press conference televised live on LCTV Wednesday, Niagara County 8th District Legislator Rich Andres said Niagara County intends to extend the April 1 county tax deadline by 30 days. A formal legislature vote is slated for Friday.

Nearly 20 local philanthropic organizations have come together to announce the Western New York COVID-19 Community Response Fund in partnership with the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County. The fund will be used to address the community's most immediate needs in the eight counties of Western New York, with an initial focus on the areas of health, human services, food and child care, and to address the needs of front-line responders.

Catholic Health continues to work with vendors, regional partners and the local, state and federal governments to build an ongoing supply of personal protective equipment to meet the needs of its frontline physicians and caregivers.

From our data reported as of 2 p.m. today: We have 114 positive COVID-19 cases in Erie County. Our public health lab has 92 tests pending. Commercial and private labs are testing for COVID-19 and those results are available to ECDOH through the New York State Department of Health reporting system.

National Grid has taken another step to reduce the coronavirus' financial strain and economic uncertainty on upstate New York customers by deferring a bill increase that was scheduled to take effect April 1. The company has asked New York regulators for permission to postpone the previously approved gas and electricity delivery price increases in recognition of the unprecedented hardships the COVID-19 outbreak continues to bring to families across the region.

As of this afternoon, ECDOH is aware of 87 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Erie County residents; 379 Erie County residents have tested negative; and tests for 171 people are pending as of this afternoon.

Congressman Brian Higgins, New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and New York State Sen. Tim Kennedy are asking President Donald Trump to immediately commence national coordination of emergency supply production, authorized under the Defense Production Act. New York is home to 50% of the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced an initial delivery of hospital supplies to the Jacob K. Javits Center where FEMA has started to build a 1,000-bed temporary hospital that will help increase New York's hospital capacity to combat COVID-19.

Elderly caregivers play a vital role in the community and in individuals' lives. Amidst the angst and uncertainty of the COVID-19 epidemic, their jobs are even more essential and likely more stressful. Follow some of these simple tips to make things easier on yourself and your patient.

On Monday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo urged Americans to be "socially distanced, but spiritually connected" during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Sunday accepted the recommendation of the Army Corps of Engineers for four temporary hospital sites in New York state in an effort to address imminent capacity issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor visited the four sites - the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and locations at SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Old Westbury and the Westchester Convention Center — Saturday, and said New York is ready for the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction immediately.

Niagara County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski on Sunday announced an update to the operations of his office based on executive order 202.8 of Gov. Andrew Cuomo that is in effect until April 19, 2020. The order includes:

Kaleida Health continues to prioritize testing its own workforce to ensure it maintains the health and well-being of its staff. It has been conducting its own COVID-19 employee testing for the past few days.

A State of Emergency for the City of North Tonawanda as was declared under Section 24 of New York State Executive Law which preserves public safety. In line with this declaration effective Sunday March 22, 2020 at 7 pm all City Municipal playgrounds, pavilions, and athletic fields including tennis and basketball courts, disc golf, and softball fields will be closed. Swings will be removed by the Parks Dept, and all facilities will be closed until further notice. Walking/riding on trails is still permitted. Working in conjunction with the schools, County Health dept. and the State we are trying to prevent the spread of COVID 19.

The Erie County Department of Health online case mapping tool is reporting 56 positive cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday evening.

In the interest of public safety, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has severely curtailed the ways in which people can gather together. Restaurants and bars are limited to takeout and delivery; movie theaters, bowling alleys, shopping malls and hair salons are temporarily closed; events are cancelled; and nonessential businesses have to reduce workforce 100%.

On Thursday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released guidance to help state and local jurisdictions and the private sector identify and manage their essential workforce while responding to COVID-19.

The Niagara County Department of Social Services today announced it has been working to identify open child care slots for public and private sector employees who are deemed essential and are having child care issues.

Congressman Brian Higgins reported Friday on new restrictions at the border between the United States and Canada, which will be put into place by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security effective 11:59 p.m. today, in a binational response to limit the COVID-19 outbreak.

Congressman Brian Higgins on Friday announced U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reported the IRS tax filing deadline for this year is being moved to July 15, 2020.

Per Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order on Thursday:

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, announced the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved New York's request for a disaster declaration based on economic injury caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Higgins and other members of the New York federal delegation sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging approval of the disaster designation.

Follows directive Monday limiting crowd capacity for recreational & social gatherings to 50 people, temporary closure of movie theaters, gyms and casinos as well as on-premise service at restaurants & bars

"Our communicable disease investigation team immediately began their investigation and now, after one full day of work, they believe they have an accurate picture of the affected individual's community contact."

On Wednesday morning, Niagara County Public Health Director Daniel J. Stapleton and Niagara County Legislature Chairperson Becky Wydysh confirmed Niagara County's first positive test for COVID-19. During his time, Stapleton voiced his frustrations about the severe lack of testing kits available in the region.

A member of the University at Buffalo community has tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19, the university learned today from the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH).

With news of a binational plan for strict restrictions at the border between the United States and Canada, Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, is asking U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide clear details on the procedures for necessary border crossings and other information related to staffing levels and protections.

Niagara County Legislature Chairwoman Becky Wydysh and Niagara County Manager Rick Updegrove on Tuesday announced the following series of closings and service reductions as county government complies with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's mandate to reduce staff reporting to government offices by 50%. This mandate, they said, will promote social distancing and curtail the spread of COVID-19.

The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) will continue to offer regular updates to the media and community on COVID-19. For March 17:

Eastern Niagara Hospital and Niagara County today announced they have entered into a short-term agreement for the use of the former Newfane Intercommunity Hospital for housing quarantined individuals, should it be needed in the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Niagara County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski on Tuesday announced a series of closing and service curtailments as his office complies with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's mandate to reduce staff reporting to government offices by 50% to promote social distance and curtail the spread of COVID-19.

During a novel coronavirus briefing Monday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued an executive order allowing the state to increase hospital capacity to prepare the state's health care system to handle the potential influx of patients suffering from COVID-19.