UB releases statement about COVID-19 cases in Erie County

Editor's note: This statement was updated following Erie County's announcement at 7:30 p.m. that four additional people tested positive for COVID-19.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The first seven confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in Erie County are not believed to be directly connected to the University at Buffalo as students, faculty, staff or visiting scholars.

The entire UB community extends our thoughts and best wishes to these individuals and their families, as we hope for their quick and full recovery.

While spread of COVID-19 is concerning, it is not unexpected. The university has been preparing and responding to this eventuality for weeks under the guidance of Erie County and the State of New York. For example, the university last week, under guidance from the State University of New York, announced it would move to a distance learning model starting March 23.

The state of emergency declared Sunday in Erie County, where UB’s campus are located, will give county leaders broader authority to respond to the crisis and it will not directly impact university operations. The university remains open and fully operational.

As more information is provided by state and county officials, we will keep the UB community informed of any new developments that impact our community and which require a university response. 

Meanwhile, we ask that all members of the UB community continue to take care of their health and follow the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the county health department.

For any developments—and all other relevant updates that affect the university community—members of the university community should refer to UB’s COVID-19 website and monitor their email. All members of the UB community are advised to also sign up for UB Alerts to receive emergency notifications about urgent matters that affect the university.