Motorists drive into the Western New York Covid-19 rapid testing site in the closed Protocol Restaurant parking lot on Transit Road in Williamsville on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.
Robert Kirkham / Buffalo News
There are signs at business requiring masks to be worn by all. A sign is displayed at Hertel avenue Poutine & Cream, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.
Mandatory mask-wearing is back in Erie County's restaurants, gyms and other public places, and the county executive is considering much more restrictive measures if Covid-19 hospitalizations increase.
The indoor masking requirement is considered Phase 1 of a four-phase restrictions and shutdown plan if Covid cases and hospitalizations continue to rise.
“Normal” now and in the immediate future, health experts say, will likely still include some level of ongoing, fluctuating precautions as communities react to Covid-19 surges.
The number of new Covid-19 cases among students and teachers in Erie County recently hit an all-time high: more than 1,000 new cases the week of Nov. 7.
Some bars are requiring proof of vaccination as the mask rule went into effect ahead of Thanksgiving Eve, traditionally one of the busiest nights for bars in Buffalo.
Motorists drive into the Western New York Covid-19 rapid testing site in the closed Protocol Restaurant parking lot on Transit Road in Williamsville on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.
