Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza says the Rochester area could still be weeks away from the peak of its own dealings with the coronavirus.
In a news conference, Dr. Mendoza said we have to keep pursuing social distancing. He also says the window to reopen schools this spring is running out, as he would like to wait for two infection cycles after the virus is knocked down before reopening.
Dr. Mendoza also looked at data released on Wednesday showing a breakdown of coronavirus hospitalizations in the county. He says more than 53 percent of ICU patients are African-American, and that approximately 18 percent of COVID-19 deaths are in African-American patients.
Racial disparities have been noted across the country in the patients becoming seriously ill with the coronavirus. Dr. Mendoza says he expects to see similar disparities turn up as more data is analyzed locally.