The infection rate for the coronavirus in New State plummeted to the lowest level during the pandemic, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported Monday.
Of the 62,031 tests of New Yorkers reported Sunday, only 408 came up positive for COVID-19 — or 0.66 percent.
It was the 17th consecutive day that less than 1 percent of New Yorkers tested positive.
“That is the lowest infection rate that we have had since we started this so that is really great news,” the governor said during a COVID-19 press briefing in New Hyde Park.
“It’s not just that the 0.66 as one day is great news. It’s consistent with what we’ve seen all along. If you’ve been looking at our infection rate over the last couple of weeks it has been below 1 percent. So it’s not an anomaly.
“We’ve been doing a good job controlling this virus. Congratulations to the people of New York .”
The Health Department figures also showed that 482 people were hospitalized for the virus and 7 died.
In other matters Cuomo said:
- The State Liquor Authority conducted 3,964 compliance checks of restaurants and pubs over the weekend but issued only 34 violations of COVID-19 safety rules. Inspectors have suspended the liquor licenses of more than 150 establishments for flouting health rules during the pandemic.
- Health officials are setting up new COVID-19 testing sites at LaGuardia and JFK airports to help control the virus.
- Beginning Sept. 21 students participating in “low risk” school sports can compete– tennis, soccer, cross country and swimming. They can only play in their specified regions until Oct. 19.
But students who play football and other higher-risk contact sports can’t compete until at least Oct. 19.
