After seeing a slow uptick of coronavirus cases in Chautauqua County, a jump in cases has occurred.

According to the county Health Department, there were 53 new cases and one new death from COVID-19 over the weekend. The person was between 70 and 79 years old. This was the first death since the last full weekend of July. Before that, two deaths were reported in the month of June.

The bulk of the cases (13) came from those living in the Jamestown zip code, followed by six in Fredonia; five each in Mayville and Dunkirk; three each in Silver Creek, Brocton and Westfield; two each in Lakewood, Forestville, Ashville and Falconer; and one each in Clymer, Frewsburg, Gerry, Kennedy, Panama, Portland and Stockton.

It appears the last time there was a spike of this many cases was the weekend of April 16-18, when 93 new cases were reported.

There are also 79 active cases of the virus in addition to four people with COVID in the hospital and 187 in quarantine.

There have been 9,437 total confirmed cases to date along with 9,199 recoveries.

Chautauqua County’s seven day positive average is now 3.9%. The county is considered “moderate” in terms of community transmission. According to the Center for Disease Control, both Erie County (NY) and Cattaraugus County are considered “substantial” in terms of community transmission. The range runs low, moderate, substantial and high. The CDC recommends masks indoors for all unvaccinated people and for vaccinated people in “substantial” or “high” transmission communities.

The county reports that 46% of the population has received at least one dose and that 43% are fully vaccinated. Of those eligible (ages 12 and up), 53% have received at least one dose; 55% of those 18 and up have received at least one dose; and 75% of those 65 and up have received at lease one dose. Officials have said in the past that number may be higher because they don’t always know when an individual gets vaccinated from another state.

According to the state Health Department, 64% of the total New York population has received at least one dose and 57% are fully vaccinated.

Of the five counties in Western New York, 58% have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 54% are fully vaccinated.

In a news release Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged everyone to get vaccinated. “COVID-19 is spreading across our state, and it will take New Yorkers’ concerted effort to get vaccinated and defeat this virus for good,” he said. “The Delta variant is threatening to hamper our ability to rebuild and revitalize New York for the future, and getting shots in arms is the surest way out of the COVID crisis. For everyone who is able to get the vaccine and hasn’t yet received it – we have available vaccines and sites are open today, so get it as soon as you can.”

County Executive PJ Wendel said they don’t know if the positive cases are from the Delta variant or not. “We have no confirmation yet if the Delta variant is in Chautauqua County,” he said during a phone call. “We should know by Wednesday.”

There were a number of events this past weekend, including the car show in Jamestown, the Cattaraugus County Fair and the Gerry Rodeo, just to name a few. Still, Wendel said the 53 cases probably aren’t directly related. “Usually we start getting positive cases 7-10 days after the event,” he said. “This uptick is probably not connected to a specific event.”

Wendel also encouraged everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. For those who have concerns, he suggests they talk to their health care provider.

The county Health Department is offering the vaccine today, Aug. 10, and Aug, 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Chautauqua Lake Central School Bus Garage, 100 N, Erie St., Mayville. Preregistration is available on the county’s website (https://chqgov.com/public-health/covid-19-vaccination-clinics), but walk-ins are permitted.

There are a number of pharmacies offering the vaccine as well, including Concord Pharmacy (Fredonia), CVS, Pharmacy Innovations (Jamestown), Rite Aid, Tops Pharmacies, Walgreens, Walmart, and Wegmans.