New York’s COVID Positivity Rate Plummets Below 2%

 New York’s COVID-19 positivity rate on Shabbos dropped below 2%, which is the lowest that number has been since Nov. 3, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said yesterday.

   On Friday, 1.79% of the 233,067 COVID tests New Yorkers took on Friday came back positive.

   The COVID-positivity rate, when measured on a 7-day average on Friday, was 2.27%, which is the lowest that number has been since Nov. 9.

   In New York City, the COVID positivity rate fell to 2.42%.

   After the number of COVID hospitalizations in New York fell decreased by 540 patients last week, the state saw its lowest count since Nov. 27, on Friday, when a total of 3,294 patients in the state were hospitalized with the virus.

   "New Yorkers are staying safe, getting vaccinated and following the public health guidance, and we're seeing a decrease in the numbers as a result of their efforts," Gov. Cuomo said. "We're getting closer to the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's important that we don't lose any of our hard-earned progress. Washing hands, wearing masks and social distancing are important tools we can use to combat the virus as we work toward getting every New Yorker vaccinated. This has been a long battle, but I know as long as we stay united, we can get through it and defeat COVID once and for all."

    As of Shabbos afternoon, a whopping 44% of New Yorkers have had at least their first shots. So far, the state has administered 14,295,610 doses of COVID vaccines, Gov. Cuomo said.

   In New York City, 6,075,038 residents have received at last one shot of the vaccine at more than 600 vaccinations centers.

   After the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted to lift the pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Shabbos that New York City will immediately resume the use of the one-shot vaccine, which is particularly useful for homebound New Yorkers, mobile buses and vans, pop-up sites at houses of worship and other non-clinical locations.

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