State sets new record for Covid cases in one day with nearly 50K on Dec. 24

Positivity rate dropping in Orleans, Genesee

New York State set a new pandemic record for most new Covid cases in one day with 49,708 positive tests on Dec. 24. That passed the record set the day before with 44,431 new positive Covid cases.

The state also had 36,454 new cases reported on Saturday, which was Christmas. Those new cases included 7 in Orleans and 14 in Genesee.

Although the total number of new cases was down, the percent of positive tests increased from 12.4 percent on Friday to 14.2 percent on Saturday.

The percentage of positive tests in the past 7 days is 11.70 percent state-wide. Orleans and Genesee, which were near the top for highest positivity rates only two weeks ago, now are below the state rate. In Orleans, the 7-day positivity rate ending Dec. 24, is 8.9 percent and Genesee is at 9.7 percent.

“As we come home from holiday gatherings, it is as important as ever to take precautions to limit the spread of Covid-19 this season,” Governor Hochul said in a statement today. “Wear your mask, wash your hands, and if you haven’t yet, get vaccinated and boosted. The vaccine is the best tool we have to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe as we head into the new year. Take advantage of having it readily available and get yours today.”

The state will be running a Covid testing clinic this week from Monday through Saturday at the GCC campus center on Route 31 in Albion. The GCC site will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Saturday.

The site will offer tests by appointment, as well as walk-ins. Upon launch, all sites will offer RT-PCR testing. Rapid antigen and rapid PCR tests will also be available within a few days of opening, Hochul’s office said.

Starting on Monday, New Yorkers can make an appointment for a Covid-19 test by clicking here.