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NYS hits pandemic milestone: 3,000 COVID-19 cases in 1 day

State data shows that nearly 3,000 people tested positive for COVID-19 in New York in one day, a milestone that illustrates the steady erosion of the progress the state made to get the virus under control this summer.

After averaging as few as 600 positive tests per day in August, autumn has brought a disturbing upswing.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said weddings, birthdays and other private gatherings have fueled the spread, on top of universities and schools opening their doors. He has also pointed to public weariness of mask mandates and distancing rules.

The Western New York Region is particularly troubling. Erie County officials announced a 5% positivity rate Wednesday -- an 80% increase in just one week.

The governor noted that the positive testing rate in all focus areas under the state's Micro-Cluster strategy -- all downstate -- is 2.69% and outside the focus zone areas is 1.42%.

"The surge in cases around the country and the globe is a stark reminder that this pandemic is far from over, and while we are doing a good job keeping our positivity rate comparatively low, the numbers in Western New York are a caution flag," Cuomo said Thursday "We're staying on top of this situation by continuing our aggressive micro-cluster strategy, expanding testing capacity and enforcing compliance of the public health law. But New Yorkers must continue to practice the basic daily behaviors that make such a difference in our ability to slow the spread."

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