Hospital capacity has stabilized in Massachusetts, according to the state’s top public health official.

“For the first time in years, we are seeing a sustained period of stability in hospital occupancy across the commonwealth. After operating so long under intense pressure, most hospitals are finally functioning at a more reasonable and manageable level,” Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said Wednesday, without delving into the conditions at specific hospitals.

“That means smoother operations for health care facilities, and it means a better, more timely and more humane experience for patients and families who are often navigating some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” Goldstein said at a Public Health Council meeting.

State officials use a four-tier system for evaluating hospital capacity response and risks. The system status has been lowered to Tier 1, representing the lowest risk level.

“This change reflects a combination of factors, including reduced respiratory virus activity, improved staffing levels, more effective use of urgent and primary care, and the stabilization of the former Steward hospitals,” Goldstein said. “We’ve not gotten to this point by chance. We’re here through a commitment to tracking the data, listening to and acting upon hospital feedback, staying in close communication with regional partners, and refusing to accept high occupancy as the new normal.”

Beacon Hill Democrats say they plan to focus on improving primary care this session, as avoidable emergency room visits and steeper health care costs call out for policy solutions. The state continues to grapple with a health care workforce shortage, and the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association has repeatedly sounded the alarm about the backlog of patients awaiting discharges to post-acute care settings.

Goldstein said he was not issuing a “declaration of victory.”

“Health care is constantly shifting, and all it would take is one difficult respiratory virus season or another unforeseen challenge to quickly reverse these gains,” he said. “So we’ll remain vigilant, we’ll monitor trends closely, and we’ll stand ready to respond. But after years of relentless strain on our hospitals, this moment of relief is meaningful.”