The Niagara County Legislature has sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, asking him to intervene in the high number of COVID-19 cases recorded at the Newfane Rehabilitation and Health Center.
The facility has the second highest number of positive cases in the county.
The letter expressed gratitude for the state Department of Health's recent visit to Newfane, but also noted that residents, their families and workers there are overwhelmed.
The Legislature is asking the governor to activate the state National Guard Medical Staff to help, and to reopen the now-closed Newfane Intercommunity Hospital as a site specifically for COVID-19 seniors and nursing home patients.
Niagara County is already cleared to use the hospital as a quarantine site, but hasn't had to use it.
