Governor Cuomo announces single-day COVID-19 positivity rate drops below 3% for first time since November 23

Statewide positivity rate is 2.99%

First case of South African variant detected in New York state resident

5,764 patients are hospitalized across the state

1,162 patients admitted to ICU; 794 intubated

Yesterday, 75 people died from COVID-19 in New York State

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state’s progress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The statewide positivity rate currently stands at 2.99%, falling below 3% for the first time since Nov. 23.

The governor also said the first case of the South African variant was found in a New York state resident. The sequencing, involving a Nassau County resident, was performed at the Epidemic Response Laboratory of commercial laboratory Opentrons Labworks Inc in New York City and verified at the Wadsworth Center in Albany. Last week, a Connecticut resident hospitalized in New York City was found to have the South African variant.

Governor Cuomo said: "We continue to see positivity and hospitalization rates decline across the state, which is great news, and this progress allows us to further reopen the economic valve." "But as With a case of the South African variant found in the state, it's more important than ever for New Yorkers to stay vigilant, wear masks, wash hands and practice social distancing. We're now in a race between our ability to get vaccinated and those who are actively doing so. Variants trying to spread - we can only win this game if we stay smart and disciplined."

A quick summary of today's data is as follows:

• Reported test results- 221,157
• Total number of positives- 6,610
• percent positive- 2.99%
• 7-day average percent positivity- 3.44%
• patient hospitalized- 5,764 (-213)
• Net change in hospitalizations last week- -829
• Newly admitted patients- 602
• hospital county- 55
• Number of intensive care units- 1,162 (+0)
• Number of ICUs with intubation- 794 (-7)
• Total number of discharges- 142,307 (+715)
• death toll- 75
• total deaths- 37,851

The bed capacity and occupancy of hospitals in each region (including the number of hospitalizations as a percentage of the population in the region) are as follows:

The bed capacity and occupancy of hospitals in each region (including the number of hospitalizations as a percentage of the population in the region) are as follows:

The ICU bed capacity and number of residents in each region are as follows:

The seven-day average percentage of positive tests reported in each region over the past three days is as follows:

The seven-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the past three days by New York City borough is as follows:

Of the 1,578,785 people who tested positive for the virus, the geographic distribution was as follows:

Seventy-five New Yorkers died from COVID-19 in the state yesterday, bringing the total death toll to 37,851. The geographical distribution by county of residence is as follows: