9 Bronxites die from COVID-19
Moses Kuwema
136 people died from COVID-19 on Wednesday in New York State and nine of those deaths were recorded in the Bronx.
According to each New York City borough's seven-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days, the Bronx's positivity rate was the second highest in the city after Staten Island.
The Bronx recorded a 5.87 percent positivity rate on Monday, 6.26 percent on Tuesday and 6.63 percent on Wednesday.
And Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday during his daily briefing at City Hall that the city recorded 199 new hospitalizations and 3,259 new COVID-19 cases representing a 8.87 positivity rate during the seven-day average.
Meanwhile, during his daily update on the State's progress in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the state has so far recorded a total of 30,040 deaths.
"Over the past year, New Yorkers faced the unimaginable and united together to show the nation that by staying smart and staying tough, we can overcome any challenge life throws our way," Governor Cuomo said.
"As we move forward in a new year, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but how fast we get there all depends on what each of us does. Yes, the vaccine is here and yes, we are laser focused on ensuring hospitals do not become overwhelmed, but we cannot lose sight of our collective responsibility to slow the spread.
"As we begin 2021 and look forward to brighter days ahead, let us all use this time to celebrate smart and recommit ourselves to doing what we know works — wearing masks, avoiding gatherings and socially distancing — so we can win this war and finally put this invisible enemy to rest once and for all."
216,587 test results were reported on Wednesday and a total of 16,802 tested positive, representing a 7.776 percent positivity rate.