NY passes 10 million COVID-19 vaccinations, Cuomo says
A shot is delivered at a Rochester COVID-19 vaccination site last month. Credit: Mike Groll/Office of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo/Mike Groll
New York reached a major COVID-19 milestone Saturday, as it passed 10 million vaccine doses administered, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office announced.
On Long Island, nearly 800,000 people have received at least one dose, and more than 445,000 are fully vaccinated, state data shows.
Statewide, nearly 6.5 million people — or 32.5% of residents — have received at least one dose of vaccine, and nearly 4 million — 19.9% — are fully vaccinated.
The 249,541 doses administered statewide between Friday and Saturday mornings brought the total to 10,174,773, according to state data.
Citing the increase in vaccinations and vaccine supply, and the state allowing any New Yorker 16 and older to get vaccinated beginning Tuesday, Cornell University on Friday announced that all students returning this fall to its three campuses, including the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island, must be vaccinated unless they have a medical or religious exemption. Rutgers University in New Jersey said on March 25 that it is requiring vaccinations for in-person instruction.
More than 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in New York, the governor's office said. Credit: Office of the Governor / Darren McGee
Nationwide, more than 104 million people — 31.4% of Americans and 40.1% of U.S. adults — have been administered at least one dose, and nearly 60 million — 18% of Americans — are fully vaccinated, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data as of 6 a.m. Saturday.
Yet in a reminder that COVID-19 remains a deadly threat, 60 more New Yorkers died of the disease Friday, including four each in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Cuomo's office said Saturday morning.
New York's COVID-19 positivity rate remained level Friday, lower than a few months ago but much higher than over the summer, the state reported, as experts warn of the risks of big gatherings this Easter weekend.
As has been the case for months, Long Island had among the highest rates of positive coronavirus test results of the state’s 10 regions: a seven-day average of 4.47%, second only to the mid-Hudson region. Statewide, the seven-day average was 3.59%.
COVID-19 hospitalizations fell by 49 patients to 4,491. The number of hospitalizations has generally fluctuated between 4,400 and 4,700 for more than three weeks.
Of the 7,846 positive test results on Friday, 733 were for Suffolk residents and 651 for Nassau residents.
"We're still fighting a pandemic and the infection rate is a function of our actions. …" Cuomo said in a statement. "It's critical that New Yorkers continue wearing masks and following the public health guidance."
Meanwhile, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran called for further relaxation of rules for arts and entertainment venues, a day after the state began allowing them to open with 33% capacity.
"I’m advocating for further flexibility for our entertainment and arts industry in particular so we can bring fun and joy back into people's lives as safely as possible," she said in a statement.
The crowd limit is 500 outdoors and 150 indoors with proof of full vaccination or a recent negative coronavirus test result, or 200 outdoors and 100 indoors without those requirements. Masks, social distancing and health screening is mandatory.
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David Olson covers health care. He has worked at Newsday since 2015 and previously covered immigration, multicultural issues and religion at The Press-Enterprise in Southern California.
