NYC COVID-19 test positivity rate up to 7.93 pct: mayor

NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- New York City's COVID-19 test positivity rate on a seven-day average climbed to 7.93 percent, compared with 7.45 percent one day earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted on Wednesday.

The rate topped 3 percent late November, which was believed by the city government to signify the arrival of a second wave of the coronavirus, and has remained above the level ever since. It topped 7 percent on Dec. 27.

Meanwhile, the mayor said on Wednesday that there were 242 new hospitalizations and 3,269 new cases of the coronavirus in the city, adding, "Keep doing what works: practice social distancing, stay home if you feel sick, wear a mask, and get tested."

On Tuesday, de Blasio announced the Open Storefronts program, which permits storefront businesses to use a portion of their sidewalk to display merchandise, sell goods, complete transactions, and provide queuing areas, will be extended through Sept. 30, 2021.

"Open Storefronts has given business owners an easy way to maximize their space and keep customers safe as they shop. And by introducing restaurants into the program, we're giving local eateries more ways than ever to keep their communities vibrant," he said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, coronavirus deaths added up to 25,055 and confirmed cases to 415,357 in NYC, according to The City, a project that tracks the spread of confirmed COVID-19 infections and fatalities in New York City, based on information provided by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the governor's office, The COVID Tracking Project and the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.