New York, Dec 20 (IANS): Of the 191,476 coronavirus tests reported in New York state in the last 24 hours, 9,919 were positive, or 5.18 per cent of the total, up from 5.09 per cent a day earlier, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced.

The total hospitalisations were 6,208 on December 18, up from 6,081 a day ago, Xinhua news agency quoted Cuomoas saying on Saturday.

The state's Covid-19 hospitalizations topped 6,000 on December 15 and has remained above the level ever since.

Earlier on Saturday, Cuomo sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging the latter to use his influence and force Congress to ensure that the next Covid-19 stimulus package includes real financial relief for American families, states and localities.

The Governor also called on the President to forge a compromise on corporate liability limitations.

Trump does not step in and act now to help the nation withstand, and begin recovering from the pandemic, his lasting legacy will be as a President who allowed the national economy to crumble, while impeding the ability of states to quickly and efficiently distribute the Covid-19 vaccine, he said in another statement.

"This is your last act. You will sign this Covid legislation and be accountable for its results. President-Elect Joe Biden's first act will be repairing the damage done in your last act," said the Governor.

"More Americans will die from Covid than those who died during World War II. And a failed vaccine program will be the culmination of 10 months of federal failure in managing the Covid crisis."

Meanwhile, he was quoted as saying in another official statement that "from the moment we received the first dose, New York has been quickly and efficiently distributing the vaccine, all the while working around the clock with our hospitals to grow capacity and ensure they do not become overwhelmed".

"With this work underway, we also need to double down on efforts to slow the spread. New Yorkers have proven themselves time and time again throughout this pandemic, and I believe we can learn from what we saw during Thanksgiving," he added.