COVID-19 hospitalizations at lowest point since pandemic began, state officials say
John Jeremie, of Mineola, an LIRR engineering department communications technician, gets a COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Jamaica Communications Center in Queens on March 25. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
New York on Friday registered the lowest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations since the pandemic began, as the figures for virus-related deaths and illness continued to trend downward, state officials said Saturday.
The hospitalization figure, a total of 371, was below the previous record low of 410, which came on Sept. 5 of last year, state figures show. It was also 44 fewer hospitalizations than the day before.
"We're finally putting the COVID-19 pandemic in the rearview mirror, and more New Yorkers are getting vaccinated every single day as the numbers continue to come down," Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care dropped to 92, two fewer than the day before, state figures showed. And the number of people in the ICU with intubation dropped by six in a day to 45.
New York suffered five deaths from COVID-19 Friday, including one in Nassau County, state figures said.
On Friday, 385 out of 97,020 virus tests were positive, for a positivity rate of 0.4%, the figures said.
Long Island's seven-day average for positive test results hovered at 0.36%, the same as Thursday but a slight drop from the 0.37% on Wednesday, according to state figures.
Nassau saw 28 new cases for a total of 183,907.
"With almost 4 out of every 5 adults vaccinated, Nassau County is in a great position to recover from the pandemic," County Executive Laura Curran said Saturday. "Life is returning to normal and we’re doing the things we love again with family and friends. Businesses are reopening and bustling again, and I want to encourage all to help build on this progress by continuing to support local businesses."
Suffolk had 32 new cases for a total of 201,342, state figures said.
Across the state, 75.1% of people 18 and older have received at least one vaccine dose, and 68.9% have completed the vaccine series, according to state figures.
A total of 62% of all New Yorkers have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 56.6% have completed the vaccine series, state figures show.
On Long Island, 3,788 people received their first shot on Friday for a total of 1.7 million people having received at least one dose. A total of 12,306 additional people completed their vaccine series Friday, for a total of 1.6 million, according to state figures.
Statewide, 10.38 million people have completed the vaccine series, the figures said.
"Getting shots in arms is the key to our future, and we're offering several exciting incentives to New Yorkers across the state who haven't yet been vaccinated," Cuomo said. "Taking the shot protects your family, friends and community, so if you haven't been vaccinated, please walk into a site or make an appointment today."
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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.
