NYC Coronavirus Rate, Cases, Hospitalizations All Reach New Lows

NEW YORK CITY — All of New York City's coronavirus benchmarks dipped under warning levels for the first time in months, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.

The city's COVID-19 positivity rate, number of new cases and hospitalizations are below benchmarks set by the city, de Blasio said.

They haven't all been at those low levels since Oct. 13, he said.

"This is a very big day," he said.

For the first time in months, EVERY #COVID19 indicator is below our benchmarks:

• 96 new hospitalizations
• 537 new cases
• 1.44% positivity rate (7-day avg.)

We are closing this chapter in NYC history because of YOUR efforts. Let's keep going.https://t.co/cNSZQW3Wf1
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 19, 2021

The low levels also coincide with the city's first official day of reopening — a point at which fully vaccinated New Yorkers can remove their masks in most, but not all, circumstances.

Vaccinations appear to have driven back the coronavirus in the city. Viral indicators have steadily fallen as 7.68 million doses, and counting, of vaccine have gone into arms in the city.

Those indicators have city-imposed benchmarks that serve as warning lights for the virus's spread.

On Wednesday, the number of new cases in the city dipped below the 550-case threshold that health officials set.

There were 537 new cases, de Blasio said.

Likewise, 96 patients were hospitalized for suspected COVID-19 — another level below threshold, he said. There are now 0.92 hospitalizations per 100,000 people in the city, yet another low, he said.

Finally, coronavirus positivity stands at 1.44 percent, far below a 3 percent threshold city officials set, he said.

"Go get vaccinated, let’s go farther,” de Blasio said.