COVID-19 cases in NY fall to pre-Omicron level

New York’s statewide COVID-19 positivity rate has fallen below 2 percent for the first time since Omicron was named a “variant of concern” last fall, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Saturday.

Of the 177,826 COVID-19 tests that came back Friday, 3,050 — or 1.72 percent — were positive for the virus. The statewide positivity rate, when measured on a seven-day average, remained just above 2 percent at 2.36 percent.

The Big Apple’s seven-day positivity rate Friday was 1.43 percent.

New York’s hospitalization numbers continued to fall with 2,745 patients being treated Friday, the lowest number since Nov. 27.

There were 39 deaths from the virus Friday including 20 among residents of New York City.