NEW YORK CITY (WROC) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a briefing Wednesday to update New Yorkers on the COVID-19 pandemic, including the latest metrics, reopening measures, and new rules for baseball spectators based on vaccination status.
New numbers
The governor provided the following data Wednesday:
165,597 COVID-19 tests reported Tuesday
2,463 new confirmed cases
1.49% average positivity rate statewide
31 new COVID-19 deaths
2,458 statewide hospitalizations (lowest since November 21, 2020)
610 in ICU (lowest since November 24, 2020)
379 intubated (lowest since December 2, 2020)
“Overall, 1.49%,” Gov. Cuomo said. “That is the lowest since October 28 and that is a very big deal for us. That is really, really great news.”
Regionally, the seven-day average positivity rates are as follows:
Western New York: 3.12%
Finger Lakes: 2.84%
North Country: 2.09%
Mid-Hudson: 1.71%
Long Island: 1.67%
New York City: 1.61%
Central New York: 1.51%
Capital Region: 1.49%
Mohawk Valley: 1.44%
Southern Tier: 0.75%
“Positivity across the state, and I talk about this all the time, but I want people to ask themselves why is there a variance in positivity across the state?” Gov. Cuomo said. “Same state, same governor, same health commissioner, same message, same briefing. Why is there such a variance in the positivity rate across the state? There’s only one answer: Because it is the behavior of that community that is determining the positivity rate.”
Vaccination
The governor said, as of Wednesday, 16,071,778 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered in New York state.
The governor said 9,421,044 New Yorkers have received at least one dose — 58.% of the eligible population statewide. Additionally, the governor said 7,255,525 New Yorkers are now fully vaccinated — 45.6% of the eligible population statewide.
The governor reiterated that the state’s vaccination focus is now on the youth and the doubtful.
“We must continue to vaccinate, and we’re seeing the numbers slow on vaccination, and if there’s one dial that gives me pause it’s that the number of people coming it to get vaccinated has dropped, despite the fact that its much easier to get vaccinated,” Gov. Cuomo said. “We’re seeing a drop off, I call the two drops the youthful and the doubtful. They have been less of an emphasis through all of this. They are the two works we are working on, but the arrows are pointing in the right direction.”
Reopening
On Monday, the governor held a briefing on the state’s ongoing coronavirus response efforts, including a target date of May 19 for a “major” reopening development.
Business capacity limits to be replaced with space available to maintain six feet of social distancing on May 19 in New York and New Jersey
Outdoor social gathering limit increases to 500 on May 10 in New York; indoor social gathering limit increases to 250 on May 19 in New York
Outdoor residential gathering limit is removed and indoor residential gathering limit increases to 50 on May 19 in New York
Large-scale indoor venue Capacity increases to 30% and large-scale outdoor venue capacity increases to 33% on May 19, proof of vaccination or recent negative test still required in New York
“We have dramatically lifted capacity, basically to the CDC’s social distancing guidelines,” Gov. Cuomo said. “So that’s really the capacity restriction that remains, the six feet social distance.”
The governor said Broadway tickets will on on sale Thursday for 100% capacity shows in theaters beginning on September 14.
