COVID cases on the rise again

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — COVID cases are on the rise again across our region. Monroe County reported 594 new cases on Tuesday, nearly double the number of new cases reported Monday.

The 7-day rolling average now sits at 332, 120 people are hospitalized, 18 of them in the ICU. State data shows only 30.3% of those hospitalized were admitted due to COVID or complications of COVID.

It’s been about a month since masks became optional inside schools.

“We don’t know that everybody is reporting all of their cases to either the state website or the county website,” said Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza. “That being said, we are seeing a fair number of parents reporting their children’s cases and we are seeing a relative increase among the school-age population but it’s unclear if that’s because they’re testing more, or they’re having symptoms more, or some other reason that we can’t think of.”

The upside is that most cases are mild.

“We are seeing more cases in general but we’re not seeing an increase in hospitalizations or anything else more serious so that’s good news,” Mendoza said. “I do think consistent with what we’re seeing downstate and across the country, the B2 variant is a much milder illness for most people.”

Mendoza urged people with underlying health conditions or immune system issues to continue to be vigilant regardless of age.

“I think parents and children have to make assessments for themselves and I will say in general those that are properly vaccinated, boosted if eligible and otherwise healthy without any immune system compromise really have nothing much to worry about,” Mendoza said.