New York's COVID-19 cases have doubled in a month

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Just under 50,000 New Yorkers tested positive for COVID-19 in October, roughly double the number who got the virus in September, according to state statistics.

The increase mirrored one that has happened across the U.S. and in other nations this autumn, as people have relaxed their guard against the disease and returned to schools, shops, restaurants and other indoor activities.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo noted that the rise in New York has been slower than in some other states. But he cautioned that there are "danger signs all around us."

"All I can do is warn New Yorkers and ask them to remember what worked for us, and what worked for us is discipline and (being) smart; that's what worked for us, and we have to keep it up because these are dangerous, dangerous times," Cuomo said. 

Over the last seven days in October an average of around 2,040 people per day tested positive for the virus in the state, up from around 680 people per day the last seven days in August.

In early October the state tried to limit the spread of the coronavirus by limiting public gatherings and ordering businesses and schools to close in a small number of virus hotspots. Since then, the average number of New Yorkers testing positive each day has increased by more than 50%, as has the number of people hospitalized with the virus.