Mayor Bill de Blasio ( Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office)
Nov. 9, 2020 By Allie Griffin
New York City has “one last chance” to stop a second wave of the coronavirus as new cases continue to surge, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today.
The number of new cases on a seven-day average — as of Saturday — increased to 779 citywide, up from 593 a week earlier and well above the city’s threshold of the 550 cases it deems safe.
Meanwhile, the the COVID-19 positivity rate has been at about 2 percent or higher for a week and reached 2.36 percent Saturday, de Blasio said Monday.
The city had managed to keep the rate around 1 percent toward the end of summer. The number, however, has continued to creep up since then.
The rise of coronavirus is a problem throughout the city, but some ZIP codes are seeing an uptick greater than others, de Blasio said.
In Queens, Richmond Hill (11418), Averne/ Broad Channel (11693), Hollis/ Holliswood (11423) and Ditmars Steinway (11105) are areas of concern, according to city testing data. The neighborhoods have COVID-19 positivity rates of 4.43 percent, 3.85 percent, 3.84 percent and 3.60 percent respectively.
De Blasio said the numbers show New York City is “dangerously close” to another coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19 cases rise across the country.
“We need to do everything in our power to stop the coronavirus from reasserting [its self] in New York City,” he said at a press briefing Monday. “We have to stop a second wave from happening here.”
The mayor warned that he would have to impose restrictions–such as closing schools and businesses– should the city enter a “full-blown” second wave.
However, he said the city can avoid the closures if the case numbers and positivity rates come down.
“There’s still time to fight [the rising numbers] back, but those are numbers that should have us all alarmed and ready to act with everything we got.”
De Blasio and the City Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi advised New Yorkers to wear masks and avoid indoor gatherings.
They also asked residents not to travel or attend indoor parties and gatherings for the upcoming holidays.
“The virus starts local, but — as we’re seeing around the country and around the world — it doesn’t stay local unless each of us takes the action that we need to to protect ourselves as well as ours,” Chokshi said.
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17 Comments
Trump doesn’t wear a mask. If they work so well, why hasn’t he been hospitalized for covid-19?
Masks do work! Trump was not only hospitalized at Walter Reed for COVID-19 for three days, but he got experimental drugs at that time that were not readily available to the public.
Trump said it was a hoax.
I heard the vaccine will be ready soon. I hope its free because i do not have insurance.
Hashtagger as Heidi- Maybe you should develop your character a little more where she purchases healthcare insurance.
Get health insurance now. Chances are you’ll get financial assistance to pay for the monthly premium. Sign up period is expiring soon. It will be months before you’ll be able to get vaccinated, assuming a vaccine is approved soon.
Go to nystateofhealth.ny.gov
Why don’t you have healthcare?
Trump promised he’d strip all Americans’ healthcare on “day 1” and replace it. That was 4 years ago.
I’m sure he’ll get around to getting healthcare for Americans during a pandemic soon ?
The MTA needs to resume enforcement of distancing and masking on buses, including the Q-60 that runs along Queens Boulevard between Manhattan and Jamaica. In recent weeks, I’ve found Q-60 buses packed in late morning/early afternoon due to the major shopping centers around Rego Park and Elmhurst. People, many of them seniors and most vulnerable to Covid-19, are sitting or standing without enough distance between them to even turn around. I haven’t seen anyone without masking, but some are careless and not covering noses.
Just wear the damn mask and practice social distancing. Wash your hands — a lot. Quit bitching about it. Just do it.
Mr Mayor should lead by example. The Cuomo reported stats were not too bad. A little more enforcement of masks and these “outdoor” dining sheds which are fully enclosed and prob fire traps.
Here we go again! Its all so sad.
i am staying away from ditmars, astoria. this weekend was chaotic with the amount of people i saw at the restaurants, bars and just walking around drunk celebrating bidens victory.
I want to celebrate the holidays but those numbers are scary
Joe Biden; “A dark winter is coming”. He got that right.
Do you think it will be worse than that?
Yes, unfortunately. Many areas of the USA that weren’t included in the 250,000 death total are just getting widespread infections for the first time. And it is also returning in areas included in the 250,000.
I smell a lockdown coming.