Orange, Rockland Coronavirus Red Zones Making Progress

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Coronavirus tests show declining positivity rates in Orange and Rockland counties, where large ultra-Orthodox communities have seen severe outbreaks since September.

Restrictions were not lifted today for either county's micro-cluster, where controversial restrictions have been in place for two weeks. SEE: Opposition Rises To New York's Coronavirus Red Zone Shutdowns

Gov. Andrew Cuomo also noted that localized areas that are seeing outbreaks are also seeing hospital admission increases, and remain the main driver of new hospital admissions for the state. Nearly 50 percent of all new daily hospital admissions in New York State over the past 14 days have been from Brooklyn, Queens, Rockland, Orange, and counties along the Pennsylvania border that are "micro-cluster" focus zone areas.

There are 48 people hospitalized in Orange County with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. In Rockland, 23 people are hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19.

Thursday, one person died from COVID-19 in each county, state health officials reported.

Overall, Rockland and Orange are coming back into line with other counties in the Hudson region in terms of positivity rates.

Outside the hot spots, New York's positivity rate was 0.98 percent Thursday.