Coronavirus News: Cases rising in Brooklyn, Orange and Rockland counties

COVID-19 News and Information

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Rising COVID cases cause concern for schools preparing for in-person learningLucy Yang has more on how New York City schools in areas of recent COVID upticks are preparing for in-class learning.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Brooklyn is a major contributor in a concerning rising in the number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases statewide, Governor Cuomo said on Monday. Orange and Rockland counties are also areas of concern.

Cuomo said 200 rapid testing machines would be made immediately available to these areas.

"The public schools, private schools that are in those zip codes, I strongly encourage to request a rapid testing machine and have them start testing their students," he said.

A rapid testing machine is 15 minute turnaround, four per hour.

"If you focus on the infection rate in the top 10 zip codes is about 15%," Cuomo said. "Those top 10 zip codes represent 2.9% of the state's population and 25% of the cases, 2.9% of the population, 25% of the cases, positive cases."

The Department of Health said eight neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens are outpacing the citywide average by 3.7 times over the past 14 days.

Those ZIP codes are:

Rockland County

10977 -- 30% positive

10952 -- 25%

Orange County

10950 -- 22%

Brooklyn

11219 Borough Park 5.26%

11210 Flatlands/Midwood 4.08%

11204 Bensonhurst/Mapleton 5.15%

11230 Midwood 5.53%

11223 Gravesend/Homecrest 6.72%

11229 Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest/Sheepshead Bay 4.05%

Queens

11415 Kew Gardens 3.61%

11691 Edgemere/Far Rockaway 3.98%

Additionally, one new ZIP code has surpassed 3% positivity:

11367 Kew Gardens Hills/Pomonok 3.04%

New York City warns that activities could be shut down in several neighborhoods with COVID clusters.

In addition to those ZIP codes, the NYC has identified three more that are showing increased growth of cases and test positivity between 2 and 3%, including:

11374 Rego Park 2.49%

11218 Kensington/Windsor Terrace 2.50%

11235 Brighton Beach/Manhattan Beach/Sheepshead Bay 2.63%

Williamsburg remains an area where officials are observing a faster increase in cases compared to other parts of the city, even though the test positivity rate is below 3% (1.84%).

The data is already showing an uptick in hospitalizations in Queens and Brooklyn.

"Everybody should wear a mask," said Ted Long, of the NYC Test and Trace Corps. "That's singularly such an important thing that we can do. And we're now, I'm going to tell you, in more than 300 synagogues across New York City, we're arming them with masks to help."

Rockland County Executive Ed Day released a statement to thank New York State for sending additional testing machines and test kits:

"Increasing testing will help identify how serious the local situation is while allowing our contact tracing program to warn those who may have been exposed to take protective action, we continue to urge complete compliance with these efforts.

We are continuing to work closely with municipal, community and religious leaders throughout Rockland to remind residents of the need to stay at least 6 feet apart from other people in both indoor and outdoor spaces. And that this social distancing should be practiced in combination with everyday preventive actions including wearing masks, avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands, staying home when unwell, and frequently washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

It is concerning that the number of active cases continues to increase throughout Rockland and significantly increase within two zip codes within the Town of Ramapo. I am both privately and publicly urging local municipalities to utilize their employees such as building and fire inspectors and police in educational efforts. It is my expectation that appropriate enforcement action will be taken, as necessary. (i.e. building or fire code violations, summonses, etc.)

The Rockland County Department of Health is also responding to locations about which we receive COVID-19 related complaints to provide educational materials and guidance. We in government must focus all our energies on ensuring residents follow the commonsense precautions that limit the spread of this deadly disease.

To the residents of our County, we all need to take this situation seriously. By working together, we can limit the further spread of COVID and protect our families, friends, and neighbors. I strongly urge all Rockland residents to do their part."

WATCH: Eyewitness to a Pandemic

Suddenly, the brutal death of George Floyd while in the custody of police officers in Minneapolis filled the streets of a nation with rage and sorrow. New York was no different. Protesters put the fear of the virus aside and took to the streets by the thousands. Abandoning the safety and comfort of social distance, to demand social change.