NYC Hits Lowest Coronavirus Positive Rate Since Pandemic's Start

NEW YORK CITY — New York City just hit a new low during the coronavirus pandemic — and that's a good thing.

Just 0.24 percent of New Yorkers were positive for COVID-19 in the latest round of tests, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday.

"This is the lowest infection rate in New York City since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis," he said.

The positive test rate hit 71.25 percent during the pandemic's height in late March. The growing outbreak prompted city and state officials to institute a lockdown that continues, although it has been significantly walked back in phases.

The gradual reopening was made possible by a steadily-decreasing positive test rate, along with other indicators that de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have updated daily.

De Blasio on Monday unveiled tweaked indicators he said will provide more precise information to help continue improving the city's COVID-19 response.

Those included reporting the city's positive test rate to the decimal point and setting a 5 percent threshold — rather than 15 percent — to set an early warning on the virus' spread.

The low infection rate likely will change, but de Blasio said it reflects the hard work the city took to fight back against the virus.

"This is striking and this should be a clarion call for all of us to double down and go farther," he said.

The city's updated coronavirus data can be seen here.