NYC’s positive test rate falls to 1% for the first time since the pandemic began from a high of 71% as the city proceeds with Phase 3 of reopening – but Gov. Cuomo cancels state fair and orders movie theaters and casinos remain closed
- The percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 in New York City has dropped to just 1%, Mayor Bill De Blasio announced Monday
- At the height of the pandemic 71% of people tested proved positive for virus
- On Monday New York City entered phase three of reopening meaning nail nalons, spas, and basketball and tennis courts can open
- Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the 2020 State Fair in Syracuse is cancelled
New York City’s COVID-19 positivity test rate has fallen to just one percent, Mayor Bill de Blasio proudly announced Monday.
It’s a victory for the city that was the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak and at the height of the crisis saw 71 percent of COVID-19 tests come back positive.
‘Most importantly, percentage of people testing citywide positive for COVID-19, threshold of 15 percent – and today, the lowest we have ever seen, one percent. So, that’s fantastic,’ De Blasio said at his daily coronavirus press conference.
The drop is due, in part, to increased and more widespread testing available for New Yorkers.
The Big Apple is reporting 213,852 cases of the virus and 18,583 deaths with an additional 4,607 probably deaths, according to government data from Sunday.
On Monday Mayor Bill De Blasio announced that New York City has a current positivity test rate of one percent, a major victory for the city that had a 71 percent positivity rate at the height of the pandemic
This chart shows how the percentage of people with positive COVID-19 test results has declined from April into July. At the height of the pandemic in late March 71 percent of tests were positive
This graph shows how the number of NYC residents who test positive has remained low in late June and hit one percent on Sunday
Hospitalizations for the virus have also dramatically declined in the Big Apple.
‘At the height of this crisis we had 850 people admitted to the hospital for suspected COVID-19 in a single day, compare that to the 62 we had admitted today,’ De Blasio said.
‘At the height we had 71 percent testing positive compared to the one percent today, a lot to be proud of,’ he added summarizing Sunday’s data.
Monday also marks the start of New York City entering Phase 3 that will allow personal care services and more outdoor spaces up to open after being closed for months.
Nail salons, tanning salons and tattoo parlors will re-welcome customers on Monday after being shut since March. However, capacity is limited to 50 percent, everyone must wear face coverings, and work stations must be disinfected after each customer.
Dog parks, basketball courts, and tennis courts will also open Monday.
However, indoor dining, which was supposed to reopen under Phase 3, will remain closed due to safety concerns. Casinos and movie theaters also remain closed.
New Yorkers pictured enjoyed an outdoor dining area on Sunday, with some people weraing masks and maintaining social distancing
Monday marks the start of New York City entering phase 3 of reopening meaning nail salons and spas can finally open their doors after months closed and basketball courts and tennis courts will open as well
‘At the height of this crisis we had 850 people admitted to the hospital for suspected COVID-19 in a single day, compare that to the 62 we had admitted today,’ De Blasio said Monday. A man getting his coronavirus antibody testing above in Brooklyn on May 15
The mayor announced that authorities inspected bars and restaurants in the city this weekend to see if they were complying with outdoor seating and social distancing rules and of the 1,000 places surveyed 85 percent were in compliance.
While things seem to be looking up in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo still voiced caution and announced Monday the 2020 New York State Fair is officially cancelled.
The fair usually takes place in Syracuse in late August and saw a record-breaking number of attendees last year with at least 1.33million people during the fair’s 13-day run.
‘This is a really tough one. We have a fantastic state fair in Syracuse,’ Cuomo said at his daily press conference Monday. Back in April Cuomo said the future of summer fairs and festivals would be a ‘statewide decision’.
Nationally there are over 2.8million cases of COVID-19 and over 130,000 deaths.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday the 2020 New York State Fair is officially cancelled. Last year over 1.33million people visited the fair in Syracuse during its 13-day run
