Coronavirus-related hospitalizations in New York have surpassed 4,000 patients as an end-of-the-year surge of the pandemic continues, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday said. 

The positivity rate in the last day, including "cluster" zones of COVID hotspots, has reached 4.8% in the last day and 61 people have died. Hospitalizations are now at 4,063 patients in the state. 

Spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has reached nearly all corners of the country. Western New York and the Finger Lakes have the highest hospitalization rate in the state, with 0.03% of their populations hospitalized due to the virus. 

At the height of the pandemic's first surge in the spring, 19,000 people were hospitalized in New York. New York's current bed capacity is at 35,000 and can be expanded to 53,000 beds with ending elective surgeries.

Still, Cuomo has in recent days said he is concerned about the ratcheting up of hospitalizations in the state as the virus is resurgent at the end of the year and as a vaccine will begin to become available on Dec. 15 to nursing home residents and staff as well as frontline health care workers. 

New York officials are closely watching regional hospitalization rates and will tie them to potential business closures as well as limits on public gatherings. Elective surgeries in western New York hospitals have already ended to free up hospital space.

Cuomo at a news conference in Albany brought an example of a box containing Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, which must be stored at a cold temperature or with dry ice in order to preserve the doses. 

"This is the weapon that's going to win the war," Cuomo said. 

The economic crisis spawned by the pandemic, meanwhile, remains another front in the war. Cuomo urged Congress to take up a $908 billion stimulus measure that will extend unemployment assistance for people who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and provide support for mass transit systems that have seen a sharp decline in ridership. 

Cuomo called the measure "a first downpayment" as he is still seeking billions of dollars in aid for state amid lost tax revenue. 

"It doesn't come near to the need," Cuomo said. "It would be a short term bill until March. I would urge them to get this first down payment bill before they leave."