New York City reached the lowest COVID-19 positivity rate since tracking of the pandemic began, with just .83 percent of tests coming back positive in the past seven days, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday.
“Since we started testing and measuring, this is the lowest level that we’ve had,” de Blasio said during his morning virtual press briefing. “It’s absolutely amazing.”
“This is another clear fact, another clear piece of evidence that New York City is coming back strong.”
De Blasio, who celebrated the “crucial” milestone,” encouraged eligible New Yorkers who still haven’t been inoculated to get their shots.
“Vaccines equal freedom, it’s as simple as that,” de Blasio declared, noting the city has administered 8,289,469 COVID-19 doses.
To incentivize residents to get vaccinated, New Yorker who in June and July sign up to get shots at city-run sites have a chance at winning one of 20 two-night “staycations” at ritzy Big Apple hotels, de Blasio said. New Yorkers who sign up to get vaccinated at city-run sites will also have a chance at scoring three-day passes to the music festival Governors Ball and a free Crunch Fitness gym membership, according to the mayor.
The city’s seven-day rolling average is 271 new COVID-19 cases, while just 9.72% of the 72 patients admitted to hospitals in the five boroughs have tested positive for the bug.
“These numbers really look strong,” de Blasio said.
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