The Niagara County Health Department reported Tuesday that a 58-year-old male with no underlying health conditions has become the first person to die of coronavirus in the county since the onset of the pandemic.
No further information, including the municipality in which the victim lived, were immediately released by health officia. But Becky Wydysh, Niagara County Legislature Chair, stated during her daily COVID-19 briefing that while there have been many deaths within the state recorded since the start of the outbreak, it especially hits home when it happens within the county.
"We lost a neighbor today to COVID-19. And I asked you again, please use that as a reminder that no one is immune from this virus," she said. "Again, this was a 58-year-old male with no underlying health conditions. You should take that again as your warning that no one is potentially, you know, really safe from this, that everyone can be affecte. Not just you, but again, you can bring that home to your family members as well, if you're not following those physical distancing guidelines."
Since Monday, 13 new positive cases were identified, bringing Niagara County's total number of known cases to 143. As of Tuesday afternoon, 101 individuals were in isolation, 86 of them at home and 15 in a local hospital. Forty one other people have since recovered.
