Mass vaccination sites in four locations in New York state will close Monday, July 26, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, as the spate of people seeking to be vaccinated for COVID-19 has slowed in recent weeks. 

Vaccination sites at Binghamton University at Gannett Drive, Aviation Mall in Queensbury, Stony Brook Southampton, and the Diana Center at SUNY Orange will cease operations, Cuomo's office said, part of a broader "downscaling" of vaccination efforts to focus on more localized areas. 

"The COVID vaccine is the greatest tool we have in our fight against the virus. It is free, effective, and easily accessible throughout the State of New York," Cuomo said in a statement. "With this accessibility comes the state's responsibility to target and shift resources to areas with the lowest vaccination rates. Downscaling state sites is necessary to redirect these resources, but it does not mean that you should not get your vaccine if you haven't already."

COVID-19 positive cases in New York have steadily risen, meanwhile, over the last seven days. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have risen as well, with 424 COVID-19 patients being reported, a rise of 46 people from the last day. 

New York state does not break down the number of patients who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 who are also unvaccinated. But federal data has shown the vast majority of people who are hospitalized and die of COVID-19 have not been vaccinated. 

The state on Sunday administered more than 33,000 COVID vaccines and 54.7% of all New Yorkers have completed the vaccine sequence.