Mayor Bill de Blasio (Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office)
Nov. 5, 2020 By Allie Griffin
City officials are concerned over a steady increase in COVID-19 cases citywide.
The number of new coronavirus cases has risen above the city’s cautionary threshold for nearly a week and it hit a new high on Tuesday — the date of the latest data available, Mayor Bill de Blasio said today.
The seven-day average of reported COVID-19 cases grew to 633 on Tuesday — well above the threshold of 550 cases that the Health Department set as an advisory marker when the city reopened over the summer.
“Again today, we’re noticeably above that threshold,” de Blasio said during a press briefing Thursday morning. “That’s an area of concern… We want to see that number go down.”
The average number of new cases has been above the 550 threshold since Thursday, Oct. 29. The number surpassed the threshold — that was set in August — for the first time last month.
De Blasio said part of the reason for the increase is due to increased COVID-19 testing citywide. Still, he said, the number needs to come down.
The increase in cases is one of three COVID-19 data points city officials collect to monitor the coronavirus in New York City. Each data point — new cases, positivity rate and new hospital admissions — has a threshold set by the Health Department.
The thresholds were used to determine when New York City could reopen over the summer. When the data fell below the set thresholds for consecutive days, the city lifted COVID-19 restrictions.
If the data rises above the threshold markers, the city could bring back restrictions and possible closures. An uptick in just one of these variables, however, is unlikely to lead to any restrictions in the short term.
Both new hospital admissions for suspected COVID-19 and the coronavirus positivity rate remain below their respective thresholds across the city.
The seven-day average of New York City residents who tested positive for the virus was at 1.81 percent on Tuesday, below the 5 percent threshold. However, de Blasio said it’s another number he would like to see decrease.
“That number puts it pretty much right in the middle of where we’ve been for the last few weeks — a level that we can work with, but a level we want to push down,” he said.
Featured Events
12 Comments
This is because of Halloween ? and social gatherings. There were plenty of people walking around with costume masks and no proper face masks. The city should band Biden’s presidential win and Thanksgiving celebrations.
People getting lax and not wearing masks while they wander the streets.
I guess herd immunity is no longer a thing. Amazing how the goal posts keep shifting in this thing.
Flatten- Maybe you should turn off Fox Entertainment and read a few news articles on the issue. Herd immunity doesn’t work on every virus. Sweden needed to enact new restrictions in the past few weeks. We know distancing and masks do work in slowing the spread of the virus as a study out of the Republican leaning state has just confirmed. Washing your hands also works. Politicizing the virus does not work in slowing the spread it actually has proven to worsen the pandemic that’s why America is number one in infections and deaths.
Masks are Not a Political Statement?
Masks Save Lives❗
Science Matters??
Science is not monolithic. There are many different theories, schools of thought, and conclusions in all the sciences. Dissent, and varying shades of opinion are not just welcome but necessary. You are confusing science with religion which is based on inflexible dogma. For many people, politics IS their religion hence the intolerence and comtempt for anyone whose opinion does not conform.
The scientists who say dogmatically now that masks are necessary are some of the same that said they weren’t necessary a few months ago. Perhaps you forgot. They may well be whistling a different tune tomorrow.
That got him a ticket to Walter Reed Medical. Weak!
The CDC just updated their findings today. Mask-wearing protects you AND those around you. Perhaps you should check out their website: cdc.gov
Glad to see an increase inn testing
Take dwn the outside dining TENTS.
I’m assuming your livelihood isn’t tied to a restaurant? That’s why you just casually suggest something that takes away a source of income? Typical socialist; easy to just give others orders.
Payne- all of these outdoor ungly eyesore makeshift dining tents are empty . Hardly anyone is sitting outdoor anymore . Whats going to happen when snows these wannabe roofs not sturdy to hold snow . Time to take it down . Looks like refugee city .