Health & Fitness
NYC Coronavirus Rate Hits Lowest Point Since Pandemic Began: Data
The city's seven-day average positivity is 0.93 percent, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday.
NEW YORK CITY — The coronavirus rate in New York City fell below 1 percent for the first time in months, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
De Blasio on Friday said the city's is 0.93 percent on a seven-day average.
“We are under 1 percent right now,” he told WNYC's Brian Lehrer. “Lowest since Labor Day last year.”
Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
BREAKING NEWS: our #COVID positivity rate is below 1% for the first time since last September! • 0.93% positivity rate (7-day avg.) • 73 new hospitalizations • 339 new cases The end of this crisis is in sight — let’s finish the job: https://t.co/KwhEv8K9Bt
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 28, 2021
The milestone is in fact the city's lowest recorded positivity on a seven-day, according to health department data. The previous low of 0.96 percent was reached on Sept. 4, data shows.
And it's not just New York City that hit a new coronavirus low — daily positivity in the state as a whole reached 0.59 percent, which is the lowest since the pandemic began.
Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"As we head into summer, it is incredible to reflect on where we were with COVID a year ago," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "Thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers, we are getting closer to a reimagined normal every day. This is our opportunity to build back safer and stronger than ever before with a new perspective. 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."
Coronavirus levels last year ticked below 1 percent in September without vaccines, although numerous lockdown restrictions and mask mandates were in full effect.
They then ticked up in the fall and reached a holiday high of nearly 10 percent.
The city's average positivity hovered stubbornly above 6 percent for weeks before dipping below 6 percent on April 9, data shows.
It then fell below 5 percent and, within days, 4 percent, according to data.
A short time later, it fell below 3 percent — the level city officials once set as a threshold to close schools.
Just over two weeks ago, it fell below 2 percent.
The city is now in the midst of reopening, with many restrictions and mask wearing requirements being lifted.
De Blasio and health officials have credited the falling coronavirus levels to vaccinations.
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