⁍ The rate of positive coronavirus tests in 20 New York ‘hot spot’ ZIP codes rose to 6.5% from 5.5% the day before.

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⁍ The overall rate in the state was 1.27%, or 1,382 positive tests out of the 109,218 reported on Wednesday.

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– As New York grapples with an outbreak of the deadly virus known as coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is urging New Yorkers to download a new app that will alert them if they’ve recently been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the disease, Reuters reports. The app, called COVID Alert NY, is available for free on iPhones and Androids. “If you’re not wearing a mask, you should be fined,” Cuomo said. “If you speed in your car, you get a ticket. That’s how it works.” The app will alert users if they’ve recently been near someone who has tested positive for the disease. Many of the 20 “hot spots” include Orthodox Jewish communities, and Cuomo said he had had productive conversations with community leaders about enforcing social distancing measures. “A cluster today can become community spread tomorrow,” Cuomo said. “These ZIP codes are not hermetically sealed.”