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Coronavirus infection rates in New York City, which had been so overwhelmed by the spread that it became known as the epicenter of the virus U.S., have dropped to 1%, in “an extraordinary day for New York City,” Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday.
More than 30,000 coronavirus tests are being administered each day in the city, de Blasio said, and on Monday, “for the first time since the beginning of his crisis, only 1% of those tested, tested positive for COVID-19.”
The daily rate of infection is a striking contrast from the end of March, when that figure peaked at 71% — though at the start of the pandemic, far fewer tests were being conducted.
Positive metrics were witnessed across the board in New York City on Monday, when 52 new patients were admitted to hospitals for suspected COVID-19 and 337 patients remained under the care of the city’s ICUs. Both figures are below the recommended thresholds of 200 and 375, respectively.
The daily infection rate will be crucial in tracking the virus going forward and identifying possible spikes that could be caused by a number of scenarios, from statewide reopenings and hundreds of thousands of employees returning to work, to the mass protests that have been occurring across the state, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“Every region of the state is now reopening,” Cuomo said Tuesday. “So we need to look at the facts and the numbers through a different lens now.”
See: New Yorkers aren’t fazed by phased reopening
Keeping track of the percentage of people testing positive for the coronavirus each day will be the new focus, according to the governor.
“This will tell you on a day-to-day basis if you start to see tremors of a spike, and if those numbers start to move, then you want to know right away why and how,” he said.
The state will begin publishing online the daily infection rate data, both regionally and on a county basis, and Cuomo prompted citizens, hospital administrators and elected officials to monitor the figures. The state’s rate of infection for New York City was 2%, above that announced by the city. It’s not clear why the numbers differ.
“We’re in a new phase, we’re feeling good, we’ve done great,” he said. “But we have to stay smart, because reopening resets the whole game.”
Other New York developments from Tuesday:
Trump: Gov. Andrew Cuomo blasted President Donald Trump for a tweet suggesting that the 75-year-old protester in Buffalo who was seriously injured after he was pushed to the ground by two police officers could be an “ANTIFA provocateur,” and that incident “could be a set up.” Cuomo branded the comment as “reprehensible,” and “dumb.”
“Not a piece of proof. Totally, personally disparaging, and in a moment when the man is still in the hospital. Show some decency, show some humanity, show some fairness. You’re the president of the United States,” Cuomo said, and called for Trump to apologize.
Reopening: The New York regions of Westchester, Rockland and Hudson Valley, entered Phase 2 of reopening Tuesday. Long Island will enter phase two of reopening Wednesday.
