More than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed on Long Island, although the overall positivity rate in the region dropped slightly after a small increase over the weekend.
The state Department of Health reported 640 newly confirmed COVID-19 infections in Nassau, with 554 new cases in Suffolk, bringing the total to 144,771 and 159,146 cases, respectively, since the pandemic began nearly a year ago.
According to the Department of Health, the positivity rate dropped to 4.30 percent on Monday, February 22, after rising to 4.35 percent over the weekend. The positive infection rate is still the highest of the nine regions of the state, only the city of New York (4.49 percent).
Across the country, the infection rate dropped slightly from 3.53 percent to 3.46 percent.
As of Tuesday, February 23, there were 1,024 COVID-19 patients – compared to 986 the previous day – on Long Island, representing 0.04 percent of the region’s population, the highest in New York.
The state also reported that 670 of Long Island’s 865 ICU beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, leaving 22 percent available in the event of a new outbreak of the virus.
If Long Island – or any of the other nine regions of the state – is in danger of reaching its 90 percent capacity rate within three weeks, Cuomo has promised to close the entire region.
Eight new COVID-19 deaths were reported in Suffolk because, according to the state, it rose to 3,033, and there were four in Nassau, as the death toll has risen to 2,879 since the pandemic began.
The latest outline of the communities with the most confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nassau, according to the most recent data provided by the Department of Health on February 23:
- Levittown: 3,884;
- Hicksville: 3,147;
- Free Harbor: 3,131;
- Hempstead: 3,131;
- East Meadow: 2,892;
- Valleinstroom: 2,785;
- Ocean: 2,377;
- Elmont: 2,374;
- Langstrand: 2,361;
- Franklin Square: 2,306;
- Glen Cove: 2,180;
- Uniondale: 2,045;
- Massapequa: 1,742;
- Rockville Center: 1,722;
- Baldwin: 1,562;
- Woodmere: 1,532;
- Plainview: 1,478;
- West Hempstead: 1,476
- North Bellmore: 1,454;
- Northern Massapequa: 1,418;
- Wantagh: 1,406;
- Lynbrook: 1,378;
- Mineola: 1,373;
- Merrick: 1,372;
- Massapequapark: 1,341;
- Garden City: 1,335;
- Eastern Massapequa: 1,332;
- Seaford: 1,324;
- Bethpage: 1,248.
According to the Department of Health, the outline of cases reported in Suffolk County is:
- Brookhaven: 44,213;
- Islip: 39,319;
- Babylon: 22 042;
- Huntington: 17 771;
- Smithtown: 11,074;
- Southampton: 4,717;
- Riverhead: 2,955;
- East Hampton: 1,404;
- Southold: 1,401;
- Shelter Island: 45.
According to Cuomo, 157,333 COVID-19 tests were administered in New York on Feb. 22, resulting in 5,977 new cases for a positive infection rate of 4.23 percent, slightly lower than the previous day.
86 new COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours.
Cuomo noted that 91 percent of the first COVID-19 vaccine doses awarded to New Have were administered on February 23 at 11 p.m.
A total of 2,477,825 first doses were received, with 2,252,945 administered. New York received 1,390,250 doses, of which 1,183,999 are administered to complete the vaccine.
“The decline in our hospitalization and infection rates is due to the dedication that New Yorkers have repeatedly shown in defeating this invisible enemy,” Cuomo said. ‘As our rates continue to fall, we are opening up our economy and proving to ourselves that the distribution of vaccines can be fair and equitable.
“The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and brighter every day, but we are not there yet. I encourage New Yorkers to stay vigilant until the war is won: wear a mask, social distance and wash your hands . “
Across the country, a total of 1,591,585 positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed from more than 3.76 million tests administered. There have been a total of 38,031 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic
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