A third person has died of COVID-19 in Monroe County, the county health department said Tuesday morning.
The patient was being treated at Strong Memorial Hospital.
"Please keep the individual’s loved ones in your thoughts and prayers today, as well as the healthcare professionals who are on the frontlines," county health commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza said in a statement.
This was the second day in a row that the county reported a death from COVID-19.
The county also confirmed 14 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the local total to 95 known cases.
Still, Mendoza said these numbers are an undercount of the true total. Shortages of testing supplies have meant that results are being prioritized for health care workers, first responders and patients who are being treated for COVID-19 symptoms in a hospital.
In a news conference Monday, Mendoza said the more important data is how many people are being treated in intensive care units. He said that number reflects how well social distancing measures are keeping the rise in COVID-19 cases from overwhelming the capacity of the local health care system.
In the county's latest numbers, seven people were being treated for COVID-19 in an ICU. A WXXI News analysis of state health department data found 132 intensive care beds in Monroe County. The county had yet to confirm that count.
Nearly 500 people were in mandatory quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the county, but the health department said everyone should be following quarantine guidelines as much as possible.
"Everyone should already be staying home, practicing social distancing, and talking with their healthcare providers to manage any symptoms," the health department said.
