For the first time since March 18, the total COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped below 1,000 in New York State.
Governor Andrew Cuomo made the announcement Thursday on Twitter.
While New York State is seeing a downward trend in COVID-19 cases, many states in the south and west are seeing big increases in cases.
On Wednesday Governor Cuomo, along with the governors from New Jersey and Connecticut, announced a travel advisory for visitors from out of state.
Travelers from states with high infection rates will need to quarantine for 14 days. Right now, that includes Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Texas. However, Cuomo said the list of states can change as the infection rates change.
Cuomo said New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have worked hard to get the transmission of COVID-19 down and they don't want to see it go up again.
Five regions, including the Finger Lakes region of which Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties are a part of, are on track to enter Phase 4 on Friday. Western New York is expected to enter Phase 4 next week.
Phase 4 includes:
- Low-risk, outdoor arts and entertainment, including zoos and botanical gardens at 33% capacity
- Low-risk indoor arts and entertainment, including museums and aquariums at 25% capacity
- Film and movie production
- Higher education
- Professional sports without fans
Also, under Phase 4, indoor religious gatherings will be able to increase occupancy up to 33% up from the current 25%. Social gatherings of up to 50 people will now be allowed, up from 25 in Phase 3.
Cuomo said the state continues to study the impact of certain activities, including malls, movie theaters and gyms. He said they are looking at what's happened in other states, including looking at whether or not air conditioning in these places may be recirculating the virus.