ALBANY, N.Y. (WBEN) — New York, once the epicenter of the country's coronavirus crisis, now has the second-lowest COVID-19 positivity rate in the nation, according to Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo congratulated New Yorkers on the progress the state has made in beating back the virus.
"God bless New Yorkers," he said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday.
The governor said New York is second only to Maine, which has a positivity rate of 0.77%. New York's positivity rate is 1.39%.
South Dakota tops the list with a 43% positivity rate followed by Idaho at 34%.
The governor also announced a change to Orange County's micrco-cluster classification.
He said the county has made "dramatic progress" in lowering the infection rate, dropping from 12% to 2% in three weeks. The county's red zone now becomes orange, while the yellow zones remain unchanged.
No changes have been made to the red zones in Brooklyn. Cuomo said the data still doesn't support making any adjustments there.
Additional alterations to other micro-clusters are expected next week.
The governor has also given Westchester County the green light to impose its own mask mandate in schools. He said other counties and cities also have the option to require students to wear face coverings.
