Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new state figures Wednesday that show the number of new HIV diagnoses has dropped to a new low since the peak of the epidemic.
"I am proud to announce that last year we saw a record decline in the number of HIV cases, more than double the decline from previous years over 11 percent, and at that rate we will end the AIDS epidemic by 2020," Cuomo said.
He said New York saw 2,481 new HIV diagnoses last year, a 28% drop from 2014. The state directs $20 million annually to Cuomo's 2014 initiative to end the AIDS epidemic by the end of 2020.
Earlier this year, President Trump launched a campaign to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 in America.
New York will also require health insurance plans to cover PrEP without co-pays beginning Jan. 1. PrEP greatly reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex.
Cuomo's office says 32,000 New Yorkers filled at least one prescription of the drug last year. That's up 32% from 20-17.
