ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. — According to the health department, Erie County is now experiencing a 6.4% positivity rate for coronavirus. Governor Andrew Cuomo says the goal is to trend at or below 5%. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says hospitalizations and deaths are increasing. 

"We've seen unfortunately over the last few weeks multiple deaths and it's really distressing because we've done such a good job of managing it and now we're seeing the cases increase," Poloncarz added. 

Poloncarz is one of many local leaders who helped organize the state safety guidelines to curb the spread of the virus. Erie County is now in a "Yellow" cluster zone due to increasing cases. That includes the cities of Buffalo, Lackawanna and Tonawanda and Towns of Amherst, Aurora, Cheektowaga, Clarence, Elma, Grand Island, Hamburg, Lancaster, Orchard Park, Tonawanda and West Seneca. 

Poloncarz says it is a reprieve to avoid a shutdown. 

The county executive told Spectrum News the spike in cases is result of community spread, people not social distancing, and/or wearing masks. 

"We have to yield in our practices if we think we're going to act like coronavirus and COVID-19 are no longer an issue," he said.

Erie County will administer tests and complete inspections at bars, grocery stores, and other establishments with the help of the New York State Department of Health. 

Yellow Zone guidelines restrict gatherings to 25 people or less. Indoor and outdoor dining is permitted, but a maximum of four people will be allowed at each table. Schools will remain open, but weekly testing of students and faculty is now a requirement. 

If guidelines are followed, Poloncarz says he anticipates Erie County can reduce its COVID-19 positivity rate within weeks. 

"I'm going to put this out there that if it gets worse, I'm expecting us to be moved into an Orange Zone," he stated. "If it gets really bad, I'm expecting us to go to a Red Zone, which is basically shutdown of everything again. Let’s do what we can to ensure that doesn't happen." 

Even after hearing positive news of a COVID-19 vaccine, the county executive is encouraging the public to still be vigilant as it may take months to distribute the vaccine.