Counts of people hospitalized in New York with the coronavirus continue to drop to the lowest levels since the pandemic began, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saturday.
There were at least 646 people hospitalized in the state on Friday, a new low from March 18 and slightly below the previous day, the Democratic governor said in a statement. The number of patients in the ICU was the lowest from March 16 to 149.
The number of reported deaths in the state increased by one, to 10.
Daily statistics from across the state show that New York has more than 750 recently confirmed cases, accounting for only about 1% of all tests conducted. The actual number of cases is likely to be higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest that people can become infected and not feel sick.
New York, once a pandemic hot spot, has so far avoided an increase in new cases like those affecting other states in the south and west. But Cuomo has repeatedly warned that New Yorkers could be at risk if they abandon social alienation, costumes, and other practices adopted to stop the spread of the virus.
He said this week that cases have leveled out in the state because of his “smart reopening” plan that has been introduced in non-essential services. The governor said New York is now closely monitoring increases in other states.
“We face a threat from states that have rushed to reopen and are not ready,” Cuomo said at a press conference on Thursday. Large meetings are to blame for significant increases from other states in a short period of time, according to the governor.
“We know why … it’s not difficult to understand what’s going on,” Cuomo said. “Young people, this is not the time to fight for your right to party.”
–Contribution: Audrey McNamara
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