Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress during COVID-19 Pandemic

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In the top 20 ZIP codes in areas that have seen recent outbreaks - Brooklyn and Queens and Rockland and Orange Counties - 5,311 tests were conducted, yielding 271 positives or a 5.1 percent positivity rate. In the remainder of the state, 102,935 tests were conducted yielding 1,089 positives or a 1.05 percent positivity rate.

The Governor noted that the recent uptick in hospitalizations over the past several weeks is driven primarily from the same hotspot ZIP codes in counties where we are seeing increases in cases. For the top 20 ZIPs in the four counties we are primarily seeing the most serious cluster outbreaks - Brooklyn, Queens, Orange and Rockland Counties - these ZIPs represent just 6.7 percent of the state's population - yet 20 percent of all new hospital admissions over past two weeks are from these ZIPs.

"We've seen time and time again throughout this pandemic—mass gatherings become a cluster, which can spread and become an outbreak if we don't stop the cluster early," Governor Cuomo said. "Our numbers remain good news, but the infection rate in these hot spots is 5 times what the rate is statewide. These restrictions are better than going back to shutdown, which is what we've seen in states across the nation as the infection rate goes up. As we go through this fall season and tackle these clusters, it's going to take the work of all New Yorkers to maintain our progress and the work of local governments to enforce the rules. We will get through this the way we have so far, by continuing to wash our hands, wearing our masks, remaining socially distant and by being New York Tough."

New York State continues to track clusters with a particular focus on areas where there are hot spot, cluster situations. Within the top 20 ZIP codes in counties with recent outbreaks - Brooklyn, Queens, Rockland and Orange Counties - the average rate of positive tests reported to New York State yesterday is 5.1 percent. The rate of positive tests for the remainder of New York State, not counting these 20 ZIP codes, is 1.05 percent. These 20 ZIP codes contained 20 percent of all positive cases in New York State yesterday, but represent only 6.7 percent of the state's population.

Areas in hot spot communities, predominantly in Brooklyn, Queens, Rockland and Orange Counties, will continue to be subject of focused testing efforts including access to rapid testing machines. The ZIP codes in these counties, sorted by highest positivity on a 7-day average, are available below:

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 596 establishments in New York City and Long Island and observed 6 establishments that were not in compliance with state requirements. A county breakdown of yesterday's observed violations is below:

·         Manhattan - 1

·         Nassau - 5

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

·         Patient Hospitalization - 748 (+43)

·         Patients Newly Admitted - 129

·         Hospital Counties - 36

·         Number ICU - 176 (+18)

·         Number ICU with Intubation - 72 (+0)

·         Total Discharges - 77,267 (+75)

·         Deaths - 8

·         Total Deaths - 25,545

Each region's percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:

Each New York City borough's percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:

Of the 468,268 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:

Yesterday, there were 8 deaths due to COVID-19 in New York State, bringing the total to 25,545. A geographic breakdown is as follows, by county of residence: