New York reports lowest positivity rate since start of COVID pandemic
Wilmer Moro, 13, shows his vaccination sticker after getting the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the Mount Sinai-South Nassau Vaxmobile outside the De La Salle School in Freeport on May 14. Credit: AP/Mary Altaffer
New York State has registered its lowest daily level of positive results in testing for COVID-19 since the pandemic began more than a year ago, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Friday.
The 0.59% positivity level in test results from Thursday outdid the previous low of 0.65% last Aug. 27, according to state data.
In spring 2020, the state's positivity level was in the double digits, even hovering near 50%, though the number of people tested was much lower, possibly skewing the figure to those who were experiencing symptoms.
The daily figure Thursday was based on 159,504 tests across the state.
"As we head into summer, it is incredible to reflect on where we were with COVID a year ago," Cuomo said in a statement.
The state’s seven-day positivity average of 0.76% was the lowest level since last Aug. 29, he said.
Thursday also marked the first time since Oct. 28 that all 10 regions in the state were below 2% in the seven-day average, state data showed.
A woman wearing a protective mask exits a store in the SoHo retail shopping district in Manhattan earlier this month, passing by signs reminding customers to take precautions against COVID-19. The state has seen a drop in its positivity rate over the last months at the same time as more people were vaccinated. Credit: AP/John Minchillo
"The lower positivity rate is significant," said Dr. Mark Jarrett, chief quality officer at Northwell Health, the largest health system in the state.
"Many people are vaccinated, and most people who go for a test are either not vaccinated, need a test to travel or have symptoms. The fact that numbers are this low is great news."
But he cautioned that the full impact of less stringent mask-wearing regulations in New York aren't clear.
"It's only been a week, so we really don't know," Jarrett said. "That and variants are worth watching. COVID is not gone."
Long Island also showed low positivity for new virus cases, registering 0.64% in the seven-day average, while New York City’s level was 0.59%.
The number of new confirmed coronavirus cases was 52 in Nassau County, 56 in Suffolk County and 390 in New York City.
Fewer COVID patients in NY hospitals
Long Island hospitals had 171 COVID-19 patients on Thursday, down significantly from the 2021 high point on Jan. 18, when there were about 10 times that amount — 1,701.
At the overall COVID-19 peak, in April 2020, 4,108 patients were hospitalized in the Nassau-Suffolk region.
"The numbers are encouraging," Jarrett said. "We have to remember, however, that the virus is still new, and it's still full of surprises."
Northwell has 175 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at its 19 acute-care hospitals, down from its 2021 high point of 540, Jarrett said.
The New Hyde Park-based health system was caring for about 3,500 COVID-19 patients in April 2020.
"We are seeing very low admissions," Jarrett said. "We are averaging about 20 per day, which is good. On the flip side, the patients who are here are generally very sick. Some stay 15 days, and others are here for 60 days."
Jarrett added that hospitalizations should continue to decline as vaccinations rise. He said vaccinations are the main reason the positivity rate is at a statewide low.
Statewide, 11 people died on Thursday of causes related to the virus, including one in Nassau. That was Nassau’s first virus-linked death in a week. No one died in Suffolk on Thursday from the virus, according to the state.
"Thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers, we are getting closer to a reimagined normal every day," Cuomo said. "As we inch toward the end of the tunnel, I want to encourage the people of our state to utilize the greatest tool we have in defeating the virus — the vaccine. It's free, accessible and effective."
Vaccination effort continues
Cuomo's office said 64.7% of New Yorkers ages 18 and older have taken at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 20% of those ages 12 to 15 have received at least one dose since becoming eligible this month. More than 1.3 million people on Long Island have received at least one dose.
Statewide, 99,770 doses were administered in the last 24 hours, and 645,333 in the last seven days, he said
The state’s "Vax and Scratch" program, which gives free state lottery scratch-off tickets as an incentive to people 18 and over when they get the shots, will be extended next week to include 10 new state mass-vaccination sites, he said.
The new sites include SUNY Old Westbury on Long Island and the Aqueduct Racetrack, and the Javits Center in New York City.
People who get their first vaccine shot at the sites next week will receive a free ticket to the lottery, which has a grand prize of $5 million, and other prizes down to $20.
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