New York’s Covid-19 positive test rate falls to lowest level in months

New York, New York - The coronavirus positive test rate in New York has fallen below 2% – its lowest level since the first week of November – as the vaccine campaign keeps a lid on the pandemic.

New York continues to make progress as the vaccination campaign drives Covid numbers down.
New York continues to make progress as the vaccination campaign drives Covid numbers down.  © 123rf/tomas1111

Just 1.79% of the Covid-19 tests in the state came back positive from Friday to Saturday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced.

The seven-day average also dipped to 2.2%, also a more than five-month low mark.

"Some may feel Covid fatigue setting in (but) we have to keep doing what we can to keep each other safe," Cuomo said.

The total number of new Covid-19 cases dropped to 4,164, the second lowest daily total since mid-November.

Staten Island was the only borough where the positivity rate remained above 3%.

Hospitalizations dropped by almost 100 people in a single day to 3,294, a dip of more than 15% in just a week.

Forty New Yorkers died, including 26 in the city, a number that has remained relatively high even as other statistics have eased significantly.

The continuing decline marks a remarkable recovery from the brutal surge that hit the state and nation after the end-of-year holidays.

New York’s infection rates leveled off in February and March and threatened to move higher again. But in recent weeks, the numbers have started ticking down amid the vaccination push.

New York has administered more than 14 million vaccines, including 1.2 million in the past week alone.

More than 30% of New Yorkers are now fully vaccinated, including most of the elderly population who are most vulnerable. Roughly 43% have received at least one dose of the lifesaving vaccines.

Cover photo: 123rf/tomas1111

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