Cuomo Announces COVID Positivity Rate has Plummeted to 0.35%: a Record Low

By Yehudit Garmaise

      Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that at 0.35%, New York’s COVID positivity rate has continued to drop to record lows for 69 consecutive days.

     The state’s seven-day average rate, which is 0.42%, along with Massachusetts, which has the same rate, are the states with the lowest COVID rates in the country, according to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.

     "New York's COVID-19 numbers continue to hit record lows and New Yorkers are ready to return to normal, and that's why we're reducing restrictions and providing vaccination incentives across New York State," Gov. Cuomo said. "Vaccination is the key to our success, and New Yorkers who get vaccinated improve the public health and protect their families and friends. We can move forward into a bright future together, but we need anyone who hasn't gotten the vaccine yet to make an appointment or simply walk into a site today."

     Since the beginning of the city’s vaccination campaign that started late last year, New York’s Department of Health (DOH) has put forth great efforts to work with community-based organizations to help bring vaccinations right into Orthodox Jewish communities, Health Commissioner Dave. A. Chokshi told BoroPark24 last week.

     For instance, the city has provided pop-up sites in addition to permanent vaccination centers, like those atthe Ezra Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center, and the ODA Primary Health Care Network of Williamsburg.”

    Now that children 12 and up are eligible for vaccination, Dr. Chokshi said that better reaching young teens going “will be our square focus for the month of June.”

    The important point is we have gotten a lot of cooperation and great teamwork in the Orthodox community from institutions, from community leaders," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "First, with testing, now with vaccinations.

     "We want to reach everyone, obviously. The goal is to keep reaching every community until we've gotten literally every single person who's willing to be vaccinated."

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