Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz did not mince words when talking about the Delta variant during Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing:
“Probably shouldn't say but the Delta variant is badass. It's the best way to put it,” he said.
COVID cases are up 80% over the last two weeks, prompting Poloncarz to issue a mask mandate for all county buildings.
Despite concerns regarding the uptick in cases and the dangers of the Delta variant Poloncarz said he will not yet issue a mask mandate for the county despite having the power to do so.
“There is still a state of emergency in Erie County,” he said. “We've never rescinded the state of emergency the state of emergency was kept in effect so we could do certain things with regards to testing as well as vaccine delivering so the state of emergency still exists in Erie County and under the public officers law of the New York State I do have the power to mandate indoor mask wearing.”
During the same briefing Poloncarz said some of the reports he’s read about a potential Buffalo Bills move have been false and some have been true, but wouldn’t elaborate further.