Monroe County's commissioner of public health is expressing concern over the rise in the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19.

Dr. Michael Mendoza says since last Monday, the number of COVID patients at local hospitals has increased by 36%.

Mendoza says the majority of people infected with the new variant are not getting severely ill, but for some the new strain is dangerous. He is again asking that anyone at higher risk mask up and practice social distancing. 

Health officials say there have been more than 3,100 new cases of the virus reported since Monday, April 4. The seven-day rolling average is 455 new cases per day. 

There are now more than 160 patients hospitalized in the Finger Lakes region.