More COVID Deaths in Chenango While NYS Reports Low Numbers
Chenango County is reporting three additional deaths attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The county now has lost 72 residents. There were 17 additional cases reported from April 15. Broome County reported 58 additional cases on April 16. There have been 331 deaths. Cortland County reports 16 new cases since April 15. Deaths stand at 63. Delaware County reported 14 new cases on April 16. The death toll stands at 46 and Tioga County reported 14 new cases on April 17. Deaths remain at 72.
New York State officials April 18 reported 5,704 new positive tests for the coronavirus. The state’s 2.35% positivity rate this weekend is the lowest since November 7 and marks the first time since November 24 that the positivity rate has fallen below 3% state-wide. The 35 lives lost in New York overnight Saturday, April 17-18 was the lowest fatality rate reported in the state since November 22.
State Health officials point to the growing number of residents getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as helping to pull the numbers down but stress the biggest factor to controlling the pandemic is to continue to wear masks and to keep a six-foot distance in public, especially in indoor spaces.
Meanwhile, starting April 19, bars and restaurants in New York can stay open an hour later, until midnight, under slowly easing pandemic restrictions.