Hospitalizations due to the coronavirus have fallen by more than 500 patients over the last week to under 8,000 people, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced. 

Cuomo pegged the drop in patients, now at 7,967 people statewide, to an overall decline and flattening of a holiday season spike in cases this winter.

Still, there are other lagging indicators, including 135 deaths confirmed in the last day due to COVID-19. The statewide positivity rate stands at 4.38%, Cuomo said.

"The good news is New York's numbers continue to show progress as the holiday surge recedes," Cuomo said.

 "Our positivity rate has been steadily declining, and that success is a reflection of New Yorkers' commitment to defeating this beast. We know the weapon to win the war is the vaccine and more and more needles are getting in arms every day, but the federal supply is still not enough. This has been a long road, but I commend New Yorkers for their determination through it all."

Cuomo urged New Yorkers to remain vigilant this weekend ahead of the coming Super Bowl, traditionally a time for people to hold parties at home. 

Meanwhile, the Cuomo administration announced 1,475,122 first doses of the COVID vaccine have now been administered. Second dose vaccines have reached 369,186 arms.

"We're in a footrace to vaccinate all eligible New Yorkers while continuing to keep the infection rate low," Cuomo said. "We've proven we have the necessary infrastructure in place to win the COVID war, but it will take time and the more supply we get from Washington the quicker we will go."