NYS COVID-19 test positivity rate trends down, hospitalizations up: governor

NEW YORK - Of the 226,560 COVID-19 tests reported on Thursday in New York State, 12,446 were positive, or 5.49 percent of the total, down from 5.55 percent one day earlier, tweeted Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday.

The total COVID-19 hospitalizations were 6,950 on Thursday, up from 6,928 on Wednesday, added Cuomo. The state's COVID-19 hospitalizations topped 6,000 on Dec. 15 and has remained above the level ever since.

Earlier on Friday, he tweeted to highlight the decision by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to require air passengers arriving in the United States from the United Kingdom to test negative, no more than 72 hours before departure.

"A Christmas wish answered. The CDC finally mandates UK flight testing," he said.

As of Friday afternoon, the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University reported 37,028 coronavirus deaths in New York State, the worst in the country.