New York City saw the lowest number of new coronavirus cases since the pandemic hit the Big Apple in March — with only 1 percent of people tested for the disease receiving a positive result this week.
“Look at that, 1 percent only! An extraordinary day for New York City,” Mayor Bill de Blasio gushed at his press briefing from City Hall Tuesday.
He called the figure an “amazing statement” to New Yorkers’ ability to shelter-in-place and drive out the virus. The city started Phase One of its coronavirus reopening plan Monday with construction, manufacturing and curbside retail coming back.
New daily hospital admissions were at 52, well below the 200 threshold required for reopening and ICU capacity was at 337, under the 375 threshold. The figures, due to a reporting lag, are from Sunday.
De Blasio was so optimistic about the stats that he said, “Now we can start a conversation around pools,” after closing them for the entire summer.
Governor Andrew Cuomo applauded similar progress across the state, noting that New York is 101 days from its first coronavirus case.
“If you had told me 100 days ago that we would be reopening, I would say, that would be the best scenario,” Cuomo said during a press at New York Medical College in Valhalla.
Hair salons, real estate showings and outdoor dining will return to Long Island when it enters Phase Two of the state’s restart Wednesday.
“Their numbers are also down. They’ve have made great progress. One death. We were losing over 100 at one time,” Cuomo said. Like the Big Apple, Long Island’s positive testing rate is at just 1 percent.
