Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the seven-day average COVID-19 positivity rate in New York has dropped below 1% for the first time since Sept. 26 on Friday.

The governor says the average positivity rate over a seven-day period was at 0.99% and the statewide positivity rate on Friday was at 0.86%.

Hospitalizations dropped to 1,444, which is the lowest since Nov. 8.

The number of patients admitted to intensive care units and intubations were also down.

A total of 15 New Yorkers died of coronavirus-related complications Thursday.

“COVID-19 is on the run in New York State as we more shots in arms, put people back to work and reopen our economy,” Cuomo says. “We couldn’t have made this progress without the discipline and fortitude of New Yorkers, and it’s important to maintain the momentum until we defeat the virus for good.”

The governor says vaccination is the way to defeat COVID, and New Yorkers who haven’t been vaccinated yet should make appointments or walk into a vaccination site.