New York continued to advance in the battle against COVID-19, with fewer hospitalizations and ICU patients, and a falling positivity rate across New York, state figures that were released Saturday showed.
The state had 1,361 people hospitalized Friday, 83 fewer than the prior day, and the lowest number since Nov. 5, the state figures showed.
In addition, the number of people in ICUs decreased to 326, four fewer than the day before and the lowest level since Nov. 11.
“We are working night and day to stop COVID-19 in its tracks, and the key is getting as many New Yorkers vaccinated as possible — as quickly as possible,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said.
The state positivity rate of 0.80% was the lowest since Sept. 4. Of the 167,918 tests reported Friday, 1,347 came up positive, the state said.
Long Island’s seven-day average for the positivity rate was even lower, at 0.79%, a drop from the rate of 0.89% on Wednesday.
The state suffered 24 COVID-related deaths, a far cry from the approximately 800 deaths a day that were occurring during the height of the pandemic in April of last year. Two of those deaths were in Suffolk.
Nassau saw 71 new cases, for a total of 182,810, and Suffolk had 87 new cases for a total of 199,991, the figures showed.
Cuomo also announced that more than 1 million Excelsior Passes have been issued since New York State launched the first-in-the-nation voluntary platform in March. Excelsior Pass — which is now being utilized by venues, universities, stadiums and businesses statewide — is a free way to present digital proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results.
But not all people have been able to access the downloadable digital pass. Some are finding that they are not in the state database.
Jennifer Givner, a Cuomo spokesperson, said the “overwhelming majority of users have a seamless experience” accessing the pass, which can be downloaded to a smartphone app.
Givner said those who have trouble getting a pass should go back to the place where they were vaccinated and check their information. She said all vaccine administrators, such as CVS, are required to submit data to the state and New York City databases. Those administrators should have staff that can correct any problems with data, she said.
To get a pass, log on to epass.ny.gov. Passes can be printed or downloaded on your smartphone.
Some people have also expressed concern because the pass comes with an expiration date.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Pass is available 15 days after the final dose of the vaccine was administered.
Major sports venues across the state are already using Excelsior Pass to safely get even more fans back into stands.
Universities and colleges across New York have already leveraged Excelsior Pass for in-person graduation ceremonies and large events, like sporting games, or plan to for the fall.
Cuomo also offered an update on the state’s efforts to get people vaccinated. A total of 63% of adults in the state have received one dose, and 54% have completed the vaccine series, he said.
A total of 52% of all New Yorkers have received at least one dose, and 44% have completed the series.
Some 109,615 doses were administered in the last 24 hours, the state said.
“We’re going to reach the end at the light of the tunnel and defeat this virus, and the faster we can get New Yorkers vaccinated, the faster that dream will become a reality,” Cuomo said.
Elsewhere, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that its public vaccination program will be extended through Saturday, May 29 at Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, the program’s most popular sites.
The program has administered more than 10,000 vaccinations to date at locations throughout New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley since May 12. The program will continue to administer the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and has the capacity to serve up to 300 people per day on a walk-in, no-appointment basis.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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Craig Schneider is a Long Island native and Stony Brook University alumnus. He joined Newsday as a general assignment reporter in January 2018 after 20 years at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
