Niagara County is reporting another death from COVID-19, bringing the total to 17 as of Tuesday. There are also eight more cases, bringing the county total to 287.
The bulk of the cases are from the densest part of the county: North Tonawanda, Wheatfield and Niagara Falls.
During her daily briefing, County Legislature Chair Becky Wydysh said additional changes include the Pistol Permits Office. It has gone virtual to renew licenses.
Wydysh said what should not change are distancing rules. The need continues because totals are still rising.
"Even on a plateau, once we've hit that flat point, there's always the risk that you could trend back upwards again, instead of going downward, which is what we're looking for and hoping for," she said, "and we need to avoid that. So, again, just another reminder that those New York on Pause guidelines are still in effect and we need to keep following them to see the trend continue that we're on."
Wydysh said the county also needs more testing for the virus and there just aren't enough test kits available, anywhere in New York.
"Testing has been a fustrating subject here in Niagara County and, of course, most of Western New York," Wydysh said. "We just haven't been able to get the testing supplies to do the testing that we want and need to be able do here. We know that many of you are as frustrated as we are with that process, but we have been been doing more tests, just recently, which is the good news."