This is our daily update of breaking COVID-19 news for Friday, August 28th, 2020. Previous daily updates can be found here, and up-to-date statistics are here.

New York City is in Phase 4 of reopening now, which includes zoos, botanical gardens and bowling alleys. A look at preparing for the spread of coronavirus is here, and if you have lingering questions about the virus, here is our regularly updated coronavirus FAQ. Here are some local and state hotlines for more information: NYC: 311; NY State Hotline: 888-364-3065; NJ State Hotline: 800-222-1222.

Here's the latest:

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York has reached the lowest COVID-19 infection rate since the start of the pandemic. Right now, the state positivity rate is 0.65%, which also represents the 21st day in a row that the rate is under 1%.

"Fighting COVID-19 requires enormous bravery and discipline from New Yorkers and I thank them for today's new record-low infection rate. This is evidence that what each of us does to slow the spread—wearing masks, socially distancing and washing hands—makes a real difference," he said in a statement. "We're continuing to expand our ability to test and contact trace as we pursue a phased, data-driven reopening, and that's why we've reached 8 million tests conducted in the state. Yesterday's data also shows that we aren't necessarily finding more positives with more testing, which is a good new development."

However, an increase of cases in Western New York prompted Cuomo to send a "SWAT Team" there and open eight rapid-testing sites, with 50 machines, Saturday through Wednesday. The region's positivity rate has been above 1% for nine straight days, and earlier this week, Cuomo said the clusters have been at a steel plant in Erie County; a food processing factory in Chatauqua County; at farms with seasonal labor; two nursing homes; and people going to hospitals for procedures. Cuomo says there's a "caution flag" for the area.

According to New York state statistics, 636 additional cases of coronavirus were confirmed on Thursday (the statewide total is 432,767) and three deaths were reported.

Six Feet May Not Be Sufficient For Virus Protection After All

A new study argues that the six-foot social distancing rule to prevent the spread of coronavirus is based on outdated science and that particles can actually travel more than that distance through coughing and shouting.

Researchers, who published their paper this week in the BMJ journal, say that the recommendation of two meters—which comes out to about six and a half feet—was based on early 20th century studies that were flawed in their designs. Nonetheless, six feet has been interpreted by some as the golden rule in coronavirus protection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people social distance “at least six feet (about two arms’ length) from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces.” The World Health Organization advises an even shorter distance, that of at least one meter, or three feet.

Studies of recent viral outbreaks, including coronaviruses and Avian flu, have shown a suspected transmission distance beyond 2 meters. Six feet also is insufficient when it comes to airborne transmission, a theory that many experts have pushed in explaining the spread of the latest coronavirus.

In the paper, the authors argue instead for more nuanced approach into virus protection that takes into account multiple risk factors, including ventilation, occupancy, and exposure time. "Physical distancing is an important part of measures to control COVID-19, but exactly how far away and for how long contact is safe in different contexts is unclear," they wrote.

To provide a better guide, the scientists created a model showing the spectrum of risk according to setting, activity and face covering usage. Being silent and wearing a face covering, whether indoors or outdoors, for a short period of time and with fewer people, is the least risky, while not wearing a face covering and speaking, shouting or singing with a large number of people for a long period of time carries the greatest amount of risk.

Model of virus risk according to setting and duration of contact.

BMJ paper "Two metres or one: what is the evidence for physical distancing in covid-19?"

The model has since been translated into many different languages for people to read.

One of the study's authors, Trisha Greenhalgh tweeted, "I wanted to design a clear diagram that people would want to put on their wall."