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On Long Island, the positivity rate was down to 2.76 percent on Wednesday, April 21, down from 3.04 percent two days earlier and more than 4.5 percent last week.
Statewide, the positivity rate has dropped to nearly 2.5 percent, the lowest since November.
Less than 400 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in both Suffolk (356) and Nassau (277), as the total number of infections hit 194,868 and 178,512 respectively.
No new fatalities were reported in Nassau in the past 24 hours, though there were four virus-related deaths in Suffolk, bringing the total to 6,448 on Long Island since the pandemic began more than a year ago.
As of Thursday, April 22, there were 540 COVID-19 patients hospitalized on Long Island, down more than two dozen earlier in the week, but still representing 0.02 percent of the region's population and leaving 34 percent of the region's hospital beds still available.
The Department of Health was also reporting that 622 ICU beds on Long Island were occupied out of 845 available, leaving 26 percent in reserve in case the virus surges again.
The latest breakdown of the communities with the most confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nassau, according to the most recent data provided by the county Department of Health on April 22:
- Levittown: 5,372;
- Hicksville: 4,376;
- Hempstead: 4,178;
- Freeport: 4,071;
- East Meadow: 3,772;
- Valley Stream: 3,818;
- Elmont: 3,310;
- Oceanside: 3,166;
- Franklin Square: 3,150;
- Long Beach: 3,071;
- Glen Cove: 2,958;
- Uniondale: 2,640;
- Massapequa: 2,308;
- Rockville Centre: 2,232;
- Baldwin: 2,173;
- Plainview: 2,003;
- Woodmere: 1,995;
- North Bellmore: 1,966;
- North Massapequa: 1,947;
- Wantagh: 1,934;
- West Hempstead: 1,926;
- Mineola: 1,909;
- Merrick: 1,872;
- Lynbrook: 1,823;
- Garden City: 1,821;
- East Massapequa: 1,766;
- Massapequa Park: 1,738;
- Bethpage: 1,713;
- Seaford: 1,713.
The breakdown of cases reported in Suffolk County, according to the Department of Health:
- Brookhaven: 55,967;
- Islip: 47,753;
- Babylon: 27,277;
- Huntington: 22,264;
- Smithtown: 13,839;
- Southampton: 5,621;
- Riverhead: 3,532;
- Southold: 1,664;
- East Hampton: 1,634;
- Shelter Island: 59.
Statewide, the one-day positive infection rate, seven-day average positivity rate, and the hospitalizations rate are down to the lowest since before Thanksgiving in early November.
There were 242,432 COVID-19 tests administered in New York on April 21, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, resulting in 4,996 newly confirmed infections for a 2.06 percent positive infection rate, continuing a trend of the numbers declining, though there were 45 new COVID-19-related deaths reported in the past 24 hours.
One hundred and ninety COVID-19 patients were discharged from New York hospitals in that time span, as the number being treated is down to 3,567, the lowest since Nov. 30 last year.
A total of more than 43 percent of New Yorkers over the age of 18 have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while nearly 30 percent are fully vaccinated.
As of Thursday, 1,058,759 first doses have been administered to Long Island residents, while 694,635 have completed the process, both among the highest rates in the state.
"We continue to vaccinate more New Yorkers each and every day, and we're bolstering statewide efforts to get shots in arms by opening mass vaccination sites to walk-ins over 60, expanding eligibility, and establishing more new sites," Cuomo said.
"We have a lot of work ahead to get New Yorkers to a sufficient level of immunity to defeat this virus once and for all, but millions have now taken both doses and we're undoubtedly making progress. In the meantime, New Yorkers should follow the public health guidance and keep each other safe to get us through the pandemic together."
Statewide, a total of 2,002,512 positive COVID-19 cases have been confirmed out of nearly 50 million tests that have been administered. There have been a total of 41,678 virus-related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
"The dedication and determination of New Yorkers in fighting the COVID pandemic is stronger than ever and it shows in the numbers," Cuomo added. "As our hospitalizations continue to decrease and vaccination rates increase, we are closer than ever to the light at the end of the tunnel. While we should all be encouraged by the progress we've made, this fight is not yet over."
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