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MAYVILLE – Saying there are big differences between Erie County and Chautauqua County, County Executive P. J. Wendel acknowledged it may be time to track and report COVID-19 on a by-county basis instead of regionally.
In response to a question by WNYNewsNow, Wendel said Chautauqua County can open more businesses if the state looked at the pandemic on a county to county basis.
“We are not New York City, we’re 400 miles away,” he said. “that’s been a concern, but a lot of concern was brought by the Governor’s office.”
“Buffalo’s the largest city outside of New York. Look at this as counties from here on, yes,” Wendel said.
He said much of the county has been open at some level since early June.
“We have been open, looking face forward, since the beginning of June. We have been open,” he said.
The county, when compared against Erie County, could increase restaurant capacity, open movie theaters and other similar businesses, Wendel argued.
“We are not forcing anybody to do anything. We are not,” he said, adding that people can decide for themselves if they want to attend an event or dine out but that “We (the state) haven’t allowed individuals that opportunity.”
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