COVID-19 Positivity Rate Dips to New Record Low Statewide

     Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the statewide 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate dropped on Shabbos to 0.71%, which is the rate's 55th day of decline.

     New York State, [whose statewide positivity rate is 0.64%,] is beating back COVID and making progress on the numbers," Gov. Cuomo said. "The key is providing shots in arms for all New Yorkers."

     The state’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate has also dropped considerably to 1,068 patients, which is New York’s lowest number since Oct. 25. At COVID’s peak in April 2020, 18,825 patients in New York were hospitalized with the virus, and in January, 8,730 COVID patients were hospitalized statewide.

     While the COVID positivity and hospitalization rates are declining, however, the vaccination rate also has started to decrease, the governor pointed out with concern.

     “We need to get creative to encourage the remaining New Yorkers to take the shot," Gov. Cuomo said. "We're providing new and innovative incentives: including park passes, transportation tickets, and even a $5 million lottery—to make sure we can successfully vaccinate the population.

     “It's absolutely critical for us to rebuild our state, reopen our economy, and put New Yorkers back to work, so I urge everyone who has not yet taken the shot, to get vaccinated today."

(PHOTO BY: Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)