Coronavirus Rates Still Elevated In Harlem, New Data Shows

HARLEM, NY — New testing data released Monday shows that coronavirus rates remain elevated in parts of Harlem, with positivity rates in some neighborhood ZIP codes ranking among Manhattan's highest.

The data, which shows COVID-19 testing results for every New York City ZIP code between Oct. 31 and Nov. 6, shows a citywide increase in the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive, fueling fears that a second wave may be imminent — or has already arrived.

In Harlem, the highest positivity rate was in 10039, covering Northeastern Harlem and part of Washington Heights, where 2.63 percent of tests came back positive during that week — the third-highest of any Manhattan ZIP code.

Here is the COVID-19 testing data in Harlem's eight ZIP codes between Oct. 31 and Nov. 6:

• 10026 – Central Harlem (South): 1,240 people tested, 17 positive cases, 1.37 percent positivity
• 10027 – Central Harlem (South)/Morningside Heights/West Harlem: 2,652 people tested, 22 positive cases, 0.83 percent positivity
• 10029 – East Harlem: 1,650 people tested, 23 positive cases, 1.39 percent positivity
• 10030 – Central Harlem (North): 726 cases, 13 positive cases, 1.79 percent positivity
• 10031 – Hamilton Heights/West Harlem: 1,475 people tested, 34 positive cases, 2.31 percent positivity
• 10035 – East Harlem: 886 people tested, 14 positive cases, 1.58 percent positivity
• 10037 – Central Harlem (North)/East Harlem: 472 people tested, 4 positive cases, 0.85 percent positivity
• 10039 – Central Harlem (North)/Washington Heights (South): 494 people tested, 13 positive cases, 2.63 percent positivity

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday that the city would resurrect the release of ZIP Code-specific COVID-19 data. The city had stopped publishing it to avoid confusion with the state's geographically-based color-coded "zones."

De Blasio said worrying signs that the coronavirus is reasserting itself prompted officials to bring back the ZIP Code data, with some tweaks, to help inform New Yorkers.

The current daily citywide positivity rate stands at 2.36 percent and 2.21 percent over a seven-day average. Both numbers represent unfortunate milestones for the city — for months, the city's positivity rate stayed below 2 percent.

De Blasio had set the percentage as a threshold for "reevaluating" indoor dining in the city. He repeated that stance on Monday.

"That is a problem," de Blasio said. "We're seeing household transmission, we're seeing community spread, we're seeing things we have not seen in a long time and we have to stop them."

While de Blasio said the numbers signaled "danger of a second wave" in New York, City Councilmember Mark Levine, who represents West Harlem and chairs the Council's health committee, tweeted that the second wave had already arrived.

"It's time to start rallying New Yorkers--again--to flatten the curve," he said.

NYC is not "approaching a 2nd wave" or "at risk of a 2nd wave". We are in the 2nd wave.

Cases, positivity, hospitalizations are all increasing sharply.

It's time to start rallying New Yorkers--again--to flatten the curve. (1/)
— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) November 9, 2020

Last month, citing similar data showing virus rates rising in Harlem but not some neighboring ZIP codes, Levine called the trends a product of inequality, as the virus spread more rapidly in lower-income neighborhoods with more crowded households.

"It's really Uptown that is again showing the highest rates," Levine said.

New York's updated coronavirus data by ZIP Code can be viewed here.

Matt Troutman contributed to this report.

Related coverage:

• Harlem Sees Widespread Increase In Coronavirus Positivity Rate
  
• NYC Brings Back Coronavirus Numbers By Zip Code