NY sees record-high 67K positive COVID tests

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Gov. Kathy Hochul says a record high of 67,000 people across the state tested positive for COVID Tuesday.

During a COVID briefing Wednesday, the governor talked about prepping for the new year and a January COVID surge. The governor said 362,000 tests were done just Tuesday across the state. She says, the state was ahead of the test kit need, and ordered about 37 million of them.

Not all the test kits have arrived in the Empire State, but the governor says they’re on the way. Some good news, Hochul said there has been an 8% increase in hospital bed capacity across the state. She says she hopes that continues to rise, but at the same time, her office is prepping for a January COVID surge.

"People were with other people not their usual families so because they were with family and friends we do think there is going to be a spike in cases that will continue not just in positive rates but in hospitalizations, then we have New Year’s, it would be great if everyone stood outside blew of fireworks, well it’s not legal, not fireworks, haha pretend, but avoid the gatherings indoors with family this would be the year to do that,” Hochul said.

When those test kits arrive, a good chunk of them will be for schools. The governor mentioned test to stay during her conference with about 500 superintendents from across the state. She said schools will be able to choose how they want to operate the program.

Watch the full briefing in the video in the player below (mobile users, click here):

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