New York once again saw its highest number of deaths in a single day. A total of 799 people statewide died from COVID-19 in just the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 7,067. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that the state plans to bring in more funeral directors to help deal with the influx. 

The state is still seeing a slowdown in the rate of hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions. Thursday was the lowest rate yet with a 200-patient net increase in hospitalizations and 64-patient net increase in ICU admissions. 

Cuomo said this is a sign that social distancing is working, but cautioned people to still stay diligent. 

“Every day that we are New York tough, we are actually saving lives," Cuomo said.“If we stop acting the way we are acting, those numbers will go up.”

Cuomo also said that the state should be prepared to see more waves of the virus hit the state, even when people start returning to work.

“Even after we get through this battle, we have this war,” Cuomo said.

The state is still keeping a close watch on numbers in metro suburban counties such as Rockland, Suffolk and Nassau.

Cuomo also said the state is asking people who have recovered from COVID-19 to volunteer their blood to see if it is possible to create a vaccine against the virus.