(WBEN) The latest New York State COVID numbers have been released for Saturday 2/21/21.
The statewide positivity rate, now at 2.99 percent, dropped below 3 percent for the first time since November 23. Western New York rate drops to 2.28-percent.
220 new cases in Erie County with Niagara County showing 27 new cases. Here are more of the results from the Governor's Office:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The statewide positivity rate, now at 2.99 percent, dropped below 3 percent for the first time since November 23.
The Governor also said the first case of the South African variant has been identified in a resident of New York State. The sequencing, involving a Nassau County resident, was conducted at Opentrons Labworks Inc's Pandemic Response Lab, a New York City based commercial lab, and verified at the Wadsworth Center in Albany. Last week, a Connecticut resident who had been hospitalized in New York City was found to have the South African variant.
"We continue to see a reduction in positivity and hospitalizations throughout the state, which is good news, and this progress is allowing us to reopen the valve on our economy even further," Governor Cuomo said. "But with the discovery of a case of the South African variant in the state, it's more important than ever for New Yorkers to stay vigilant, wear masks, wash hands and stay socially distanced. We are in a race right now — between our ability to vaccinate and these variants which are actively trying to proliferate — and we will only win that race if we stay smart and disciplined."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
Test Results Reported - 221,157
Total Positive - 6,610
Percent Positive - 2.99%
7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.44%
Patient Hospitalization - 5,764 (-213)
Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -829
Patients Newly Admitted - 602
Hospital Counties - 55
Number ICU - 1,162 (+0)
Number ICU with Intubation - 794 (-7)
Total Discharges - 142,307 (+715)
Deaths - 75Total Deaths - 37,851
The regional hospital bed capacity and occupancy numbers, including the number of hospitalizations as a percent of the region's population, is as follows:
