Bronx reports highest positivity rate for COVID-19 on New Year's Day

Moses Kuwema

The Bronx reported the highest positivity rate for the COVID-19 on New Year's Day of about 7.65 percent with four deaths recorded.

According to seven-day average percentage of positive test results reported for each New York City's five Boroughs over the last three days, the positivity rate for COVID-19 in the Bronx was at 6.63 percent on Wednesday, 6.92 percent on Thursday before it shot up to 7.65 percent on New Year's Day.

Elsewhere, Staten Island recorded a 6.94 percent positivity rate on Wednesday, 7.02 percent on Thursday and 7.45 percent on Friday.

In Queens, 6.55 percent of positive results were recorded on Wednesday, 6.83 percent on Thursday and 7.32 percent on Friday while Brooklyn recorded 5.76 percent of the positivity rate on Wednesday, 5.97 percent on Thursday and 6.35 percent on Friday.

Manhattan recorded the lowest positivity rate in the last three days, 3.26 percent on Wednesday, 3.43 percent on Thursday and 3.80 percent on Friday.

In New York State, a total of 128 people died from COVID-19 on New Year's day, 38 less than the 166 deaths that were recorded on Thursday. The total number of 30,337 deaths have so far been recorded.

7,814 patient hospitalizations were recorded statewide with 1,321 of those patients in the ICU and 786 intubated, representing a statewide positivity rate of 7.45 percent.

A total of 202,446 test results were reported on Friday, of which a total of 15,074 were positive cases. A total of 103,828 (+860) patients were discharged.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo in his daily update on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, "With 2020 now behind us, we can see brighter days ahead, but to get there quickly, it's going to take all New Yorkers staying smart and staying united," he said.

"We have the vaccine, and that is good news, but it will be months before we've reached critical mass, making it as important as ever that we do not let COVID fatigue get the best of us.

The state is working around the clock with the medical community to not only ensure vaccines are distributed as quickly and efficiently as possible, but to also continue growing bed capacity so hospitals do not become overwhelmed.

As daunting as it may seem after all this time, it's critical that the rest of us remain tough and keep up our efforts to slow the spread. We've already come so far and we will finally reach that light at the end of the tunnel if we all just do our part."