Andy: Bravo on COVID-19, stay focused

ALBANY — New York’s coronavirus infection rate fell below 1% Wednesday as the state continues to stave off a second wave of the deadly respiratory illness.

Gov. Cuomo said only 636, or 0.87%, of the more than 70,000 test results that came back Tuesday were positive as hospitalizations fell by four patients to 564 people statewide.

“Our progress is thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers — even after 21⁄2 months of reopening, the numbers have continued to go down,” the governor said in a statement.

As other states see surging COVID-19 numbers, New York has reported steady declines since the state became the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S. back in April.

Cuomo encouraged New Yorkers to remain vigilant, practice social distancing and other safety precautions, as he warned of infections coming from other hotspots.

“But we learned from this crisis that nobody is safe until everybody is safe, and an outbreak anywhere is an outbreak everywhere,” he said. “Surging infection rates across the country threaten that progress, so we must continue to wear our masks, socially distance and stay New York Tough.”

On Tuesday, Cuomo added Rhode Island to New York’s coronavirus quarantine list, while removing D.C. and Delaware from the travel advisory.

Travelers from 34 states, as well as Puerto Rico, are now required to isolate for 14 days if they visit New York, New Jersey or Connecticut.

Earlier in the day, Mayor de Blasio announced quarantine “checkpoints” at airports, bridges, tunnels and major roadways to quiz travelers about their plans and register with authorities.

The falling infection rate in the Empire State comes as the city passed a significant milestone: three days without a reported COVID-19 death. The state recorded just four deaths from the virus on Tuesday, Cuomo said.

A total of 25,179 people have died from the virus in New York.

As New York continues to crush the coronavirus — even as it rampages across much of the country — authorities are going to check cars at tunnels, bridges and on major roadways to tell occupants of mandatory 14-day quarantine rules. Based upon Gov. Cuomo’s orders, the following states and territories meet the criteria for required quarantine: