Coronavirus hospitalizations in New York City appear to have stabilized and reduced the immediate need for ventilators, showing that the city needs to "double down" on social distancing measures that are helping to curb the pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.

De Blasio cautioned that the data was preliminary and there is a risk that coronavirus cases could begin to increase at a faster rate if residents do not adhere to social distancing and shelter-in-place policies.

The data, the mayor said at a press conference, "tells us we actually have to double down, stick to the strategies that are working."

"We know we're not out of the woods; it's too early," de Blasio said, cautioning that the data should not be used to draw "bigger conclusions."

He warned that COVID-19 infections are "going to reach a huge percentage of us," most likely more than half the population.

As of Wednesday morning, the city reported 77,967 total cases of coronavirus, a 7.8% increase from Tuesday morning. There have been 3,602 deaths from the virus as of Wednesday morning, 400 more than the prior day's tally, a 12.5% jump, according to city data.

Hospitalizations stood at 19,177 as of Tuesday night, with 3,844 more hospitalizations than the night before, a 25% jump, according to the most recent available data.

Coronavirus hospitalizations as of Tuesday represented 26% of the total number of COVID-19 cases in the city, compared with 22% of all cases the prior day.

For the first time, the mayor released demographic information about fatalities from coronavirus infections, showing a disparity in deaths among minority groups.

Hispanics, who account for 29% of the city's population, have accounted for 34% of the COVID-19 deaths, while blacks, who account for 22% of the population, made up 28% of coronavirus deaths.

De Blasio said whites, who comprise 32% of the population, account for 27% of coronavirus deaths.

And 7% of the fatalities are Asians, who make up 14% of the city's population.