New Yorkers should take precautions as air quality in the state worsens due to the ongoing wildfires in Canada, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday said. 

The entire state is under an air quality advisory, with swaths of New Yorkers living in areas where the air quality index is considered unhealthy for vulnerable groups. 

"We went through this three weeks ago," Hochul said. "The numbers do not seem to be trending as high as they were three weeks ago, but there are still significant public health risks." 

State officials are distributing hundreds of thousands of masks for people to wear outdoors. New York is also sending push notifications to phones for people living in areas where the sustained air quality is above 200. 

Air quality above 200 is considered unhealthy or hazardous, the governor said. 

Hochul also advised people to check airnow.gov, the Environmental Protection Agency's website that monitors the air quality index by zip code. 

"I know this is frustrating for New Yorkers," Hochul said, "But iIll tell you you will feel the difference."

Symptoms of worsening air quality include runny noses and watery eyes. For now, there has not been an increase in hospital visits due to the poor air quality, but there is a lag in reporting. Hochul believes that could change in the coming days if people start to feel the effects.  

State officials plan to continue to monitor the air quality going forward. 

"Much of this weather is going to be lingering through much of the state," she said.