New York's coronavirus infection rate fell below 1 percent of the thousands of people tested in the last day, Governor Andrew Cuomo's office announced on Saturday. 

More than 70,000 tests on Friday found 703 new coronavirus cases, a rate of .96 percent. 13 people died from the virus, the governor's office said, and 908 people are hospitalized as discharges continue at a steady clip. 

New York's rolling 7-day average has stood at around 1 percent, the lowest in the country, as the virus spikes elsewhere, mostly in southern and western states. 

The low infection rate comes as New York has gradually started to reopen businesses in the last month, with five regions in Upstate New York reaching Phase 4 on Friday, and others following suit in the coming days. 

Meanwhile, states like Texas and Florida have had to reverse their re-openings amid a surge in new COVID-19 cases. Cuomo on Friday announced New York would offer assistance to those states that are being affected by the virus, as the state imposes a 14-day quarantine for people traveling from states with high infection rates. 

New Yorkers should continue to follow guidances like social distancing and mask-wearing. 

"In New York, our response to COVID-19 has always been by the numbers," Cuomo said. "Today's numbers show a continued, steady decline in our hospitalization and death rates, and proves that a response based on science, not politics, is only way to defeat this virus. While this is good news, New Yorkers cannot become complacent  — we must continue to remain vigilant and smart in the fight against COVID-19."