Citing low COVID rates as a reason, governor Kathy Hochul has ordered the resumption of nonessential procedures in all New York hospitals.
The latest order of Hochul came after almost three months she signed an executive order to free up beds in the face of the omicron COVID threat.
Hochul revealed that the latest data from the Health Department has shown that the seven-day average of cases has dropped for 47 straight days and hospitalizations and deaths have also decreased.
“Our health care system really came through a lot through the last two years, and then to be hit with omicron over December and January, it was really hard,” Hochul said.
“We had to take some extraordinary steps,” Hochul added.
The latest health data also shows that 2,300 New Yorkers were hospitalized with COVID as of Thursday.
The data is considered as the lowest total since Nov. 19.
Meanwhile, Hochul revealed that the state recorded 31 COVID deaths on Thursday.
“We are still losing our fellow New Yorkers,” she said.
“One is too many, so we keep those individuals and their families in our hearts and minds,” she added.
In view of the high COVID-19 deaths, Hochul called on New Yorkers to get vaccinated and boosted.
Hochul also said that she is more comfortable lifting the state’s controversial school mask mandate if parents improve sluggish inoculation rates in children.
The data from the Health Department also showed that 60% of New Yorkers between the ages of 5 and 11 had still not received a shot as of Thursday.
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