The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention level for community transmission regarding COVID-19 has risen in Chautauqua County from low to moderate. The level went to moderate July 26 and July 29, but before that had been at low since at least June 17.

The seven-day positivity rate — the number of people testing positive for the virus compared to the total number of tests administered — has also risen to 2.3%, according to information collected Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On July 1, the seven-day rate was 0.3% when the county saw some of its lowest COVID stats.

Meanwhile, seven new cases were reported Monday by the county Health Department: Three in Jamestown, two in Dunkirk, one in Fredonia and one in Westfield.

To date there have been 9,351 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county; there were 54 cases recorded from July 1 to July 31 as well as 45 from June 1 to June 30 and 271 from May 1 to May 31.

To date there also have been 9,167 recoveries — an increase of 31 in the last month — and 157 virus-related deaths — with just one reported in all of July.

According to the state’s vaccine tracker, 63,904 Chautauqua County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine while 59,112 have completed their vaccination series.

In Cattaraugus County, 34,082 have received at least one shot while 31,482 have completed their series.

An average of nearly 2,300 people have been testing positive for COVID-19 daily across New York state over the past week, up from around 300 new cases per day in late June. Almost two dozen of the state’s 62 counties met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s threshold for masking up indoors.

Health officials say the delta variant of the coronavirus accounts for 72% of new cases in New York City.

Infection rates have been rising nationwide. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued guidelines recommending that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the delta variant is fueling infection surges.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City’s mayor have resisted reimposing mask mandates, instead stressing vaccination as the key to fighting the pandemic. Bill De Blasio announced last week that city employees would have to get coronavirus vaccines by mid-September or face weekly COVID-19 testing. Cuomo later announced a similar rule for state employees.

Citing new information about the variant’s ability to spread among vaccinated people, the CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors at schools nationwide, regardless of vaccination status.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.