Three local businesses are among 36 bars and restaurants across New York State that have had their liquor license suspended because of COVID-19 violations.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the new suspensions Tuesday, saying the total is now 279 statewide since the pandemic began. What he called "egregious violations" can result in fines up to $10,000 each.
This is a repeat suspension for the Clinton Bar and Grill in West Seneca. Also on the list are The Cowboy in downtown Buffalo and Chautauqua County's Big Shots Kennedy Grill in Kennedy.
State Liquor Authority Chair Vincent Bradley said, it's "imperative that businesses stay compliant across the state," as we move into the colder weather and are forced indoors.
Cuomo also updated COVID-19 numbers for the state. He said 74 people died of virus, including 8 in Erie County; 4,835 people are hospitalized; 906 patients are in the ICU and 493 are intubated. He said the statewide positivity rate is now 5.74%.
The governor said in the Western New York Region, about half of ICU beds are filled with COVID-19 cases. There are 559 total ICU beds and 289 are now being used for COVID patients. Only the Finger Lakes, at 60%, and the North Country, at 54%, are at higher capacity. The statewide capacity rate is at 36%.
The federal government on Monday released detailed hospital-level data showing the toll the virus is taking on healthcare facilities, including how many inpatient and ICU beds are available on a weekly basis. That data can be found here.