NYC releases map of positive COVID cases by ZIP code
Courtesy of the NYC Department of Health
New York City’s health department this week released real-time data on new coronavirus cases by ZIP code and borough for the first time. An interactive map and a table show the percent of people who tested positive by ZIP code for the most recent seven days of available data and the rate of people tested during the last week. The detailed data comes as the city faces a surge of new cases of the virus in every borough, with an 89 percent increase in cases citywide compared to two weeks prior.
According to the data from the Department of Health, the ZIP code with the highest percentage of positive coronavirus tests between November 3 and November 9 is 11418, which is Richmond Hill in Queens at 6.46 percent. Currently, over 100 ZIP codes are averaging positivity rates over two percent over the last week.
Of the 15 ZIP codes with the highest percentage of positive cases over seven days, five of them are on Staten Island. This week Gov. Andrew Cuomo designated parts of Staten Island as a “yellow” precautionary zone, citing the borough’s proximity to New Jersey as a reason for the spike in cases.
“Staten Islanders spend a lot of time going back and forth from New Jersey, and New Jersey has a very high rate,” Cuomo said during a press briefing on Wednesday. “I think that’s part of what’s driving the high rate in Staten Island, which is higher than the rate in the rest of New York City.”
But with cases on the rise across the state and country, and with the holidays on the horizon, Cuomo announced new restrictions this week related to “three main areas” that he said are causing the increase in new cases. Starting Friday, bars, restaurants, and gyms will have to close at 10 p.m., and gatherings at private residences must be limited to 10 people.
“While New York is doing better than just about any state in the United States, we are not immune from the national trend. Now it’s up to what we do,” Cuomo said in a statement. “There is no pre-destined future here. It’s a pure consequence of our actions. If we stay New York Tough and don’t fall subject to COVID fatigue and we stay smart through the holidays, through Thanksgiving, through Christmas, through Hanukkah, we’ll keep it under control.”
As of Thursday, the statewide positivity rate was 2.95 percent. Explore the interactive map and table here.
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