During a COVID-19 update on Friday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said they are “cautiously optimistic” that the infection rate in the state is slowing based on recent data. He stated that there was a “dramatic decline” in hospitalizations based on a three-day average, and that fewer people were intensive care statewide. Although rates appeared to be dropping, Cuomo added that they “continue to lose a tremendous amount of lives,” with over 7,000 deaths caused by the virus in New York.