Monroe County: 550 new COVID cases

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) – The Monroe County Health Department announced 550 new COVID cases Thursday.

While we are still waiting to find out what that means for the area’s positivity rate, it’s the highest daily number since mid-January. The Finger Lakes Region as a whole has New York’s highest positivity rate for a rolling seven day average.

"As much as we would all like to see an end to this pandemic, today’s new caseload is a clear indication that COVID-19 is still very much a part of our lives.", read a statement from Monroe County Executive Adam Bello and Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza.

The statement went on to push for vaccinations and booster shots, pointing out "the rate of hospitalization for unvaccinated individuals is nearly ten times that of vacccinated people."

You can watch the county’s weekly COVID briefing by clicking the video on this story.