Three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Erie County

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has announced three residents in Erie County have tested positive for the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

In a tweet, the County Executive wrote three samples came back positive from today's testing.

This is the first confirmation of any positive cases of coronavirus in Erie County.

The County Executive says the Erie County Department of Health is now working to get in touch with close contacts of the people who have confirmed cases.

There is no information about where in Erie County these three people live. We do not have any information about where they may have traveled.

So far, a total of 613 cases have been confirmed in New York State. There are two confirmed cases in Monroe County. The majority of confirmed cases are in Westchester County.

Earlier today, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced two people had died from the coronavirus. One woman had an underlying health condition. She was in her 80s. Another person, from Rockland County, also had underlying health conditions.

Poloncarz is expected to hold a news briefing about these latest cases tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.

Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein and Commissioner of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Dan Neaverth, Jr. will be speaking at that time as well.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown released a statement on this new development.

"We have been planning and preparing for this eventuality. Government has been working together at every level to ensure that we deal with this public health emergency with calm, cooperation and a spirit of community. I ask that everyone follow the Department of Health recommendations to help contain the spread of Coronavirus, and we will do our best to provide everyone with any assistance or information that they need as this situation continues to unfold."