New York’s Rate of Covid Infections at Its Lowest, Cuomo Says
New York’s Rate of Covid Infections at Its Lowest, Cuomo Says
(Bloomberg) -- Only 1.2% of New Yorkers tested Sunday were infected with the new coronavirus, the lowest rate since the pandemic began, Governor Andrew Cuomo said.
“Why are we reopening? Because these numbers say we can,” Cuomo said at a news conference in Manhattan.
On Sunday, 58,054 tests were done statewide, and 702 people were found to be positive for Covid-19, Cuomo said.
The positive rate was higher in New York City, at 2%, but the governor said the city’s Monday reopening would continue apace. The revival of the nation’s capital of commerce and culture comes after months of quarantine that ended with an explosion of street protests over police violence that some worry may set off another wave of disease.
As the city returns to life, Cuomo rode a conspicuously clean subway car to boost confidence.
Masks are mandatory for those riding buses and trains, Cuomo said. The state is sending 1 million masks and 25,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, as well as 500,000 2-ounce bottles.
When asked whether an increase in subway ridership would cause a spike in cases, Cuomo said that the trains have been running throughout the pandemic.
“If they’re using the sanitizer, if they’re using the masks, it will be OK,” Cuomo said. “If we’re going to have a problem, the variable here is: Did the protests have an effect? I don’t know, and I don’t want to speculate. That’s why I’m asking them to actually get tests.”
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