Less than 1 percent of 60,000 tested for Covid-19 on Tuesday in NY were positive
State also recorded 17 Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday, fewest in more than 3 months
Chart from Governor’s Office, showing percent of positive tests in each region.
There were nearly 60,000 people tested for Covid-19 in the state on Tuesday and less than 1 percent were positive for the coronavirus. That is the lowest percentage in the 3 ½ months since the state had its first confirmed case of Covid-19.
Out of the 59,341 tests conducted in New York State yesterday, 567 were positive.
“60,000 tests across the state,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today. “Number who tested positive, less than 1%. That is the lowest percentage of positive that we have had since we have started. Period. That is one of the lowest levels in the United States of America and we once again have demonstrated that we’ve gone from the worst infection rate in the country to the best infection rate in the country.”
The state also recorded its fewest confirmed deaths from Covid-19 on Tuesday, with 17. That is a significant drop from a high of 799 on April 18.
“The only way I can feel better is if that number ever becomes zero,” Cuomo said. “But 17, we remember in our thoughts and prayers the 17 lives lost, but this is great, great news compared to where we’ve been.”
The low numbers with new infections and deaths has Cuomo confident that state’s staretgy is working to contain the virus while the state eases off some restrictions and more businesses reopen.
“Just think about what this state accomplished, what the people of this state accomplished,” he said about the low infections and deaths. “If I told you 108 days ago we were going to accomplish that, what would we have said? What would I have said? I would have said I didn’t believe it. I would have said I didn’t believe it was possible.”
Cuomo today also signed legislation (S.8397-A/A.10326-A) prohibiting health care employers from penalizing employees for making complaints of employer violations. This new law will provide medical professionals with greater protections and allow them to speak more freely about their working conditions and employee or patient safety in the workplace.
Cuomo also announced that Friday will end the streak of his daily briefings on Covid-19. He has been holding them each day for more three months.
The governor also said the New York State Department of Financial Services has reached an agreement with New York’s credit reporting industry to help New York consumers facing hardship caused by Covid-19 to avoid unjustified negative impacts on consumers’ credit reports. DFS also urges New York State-regulated financial institutions to furnish credit information in ways that minimizes negative impacts on consumers.
Credit reporting agencies will:
- Provide one free credit report each month through November 2020;
- Inform financial institutions of procedures that allow institutions to report missed or delinquent payments in ways that minimize the impact on consumers’ credit histories and credit scores;
- Apprise financial institutions of their credit reporting obligations under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provides relief for consumers; and
- Communicate with financial institutions about credit reporting that may not comply with the requirements of the CARES Act.
