In the city, the seven-day average of new daily cases has been well under 20,000, New York City Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said earlier this week.
While Hochul commended the city and Long Island for plummeting cases, she noted that hospitalizations remain above 11,000 statewide.
Despite the decline in cases and hospitalizations, another 154 New Yorkers died from the virus.
She said the state’s vax-or-mask rule for businesses and venues, set to expire Feb.
“Schools are safe, and why are they safe? Because people have been wearing masks,” Hochul said.