COVID Rate Lowers In UWS ZIP Code Previously Over 3 Percent

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The coronavirus rate in one Upper West Side ZIP code that previously had the highest in the borough is lowering. Simultaneously, the surrounding neighborhood areas remain some of the lowest in the five boroughs, according to new data released by the city on Tuesday.

The data, which shows COVID-19 testing results for every New York City ZIP code between Nov. 7 and Nov. 13, 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.

On the Upper West Side, the highest positivity rate was in the 10069 ZIP code, where 2.57 percent of the tests came back positive during that week. The new rate is down from the 3.15 percent of tests that came back positive for the week of Oct. 31 through Nov. 6, which at the time was the highest rate in Manhattan.

The 2.57 percent figure for the ZIP code that goes from roughly West 59th to 72nd Streets, from the west side of West End Avenue through Riverside Boulevard is now the seventh-highest rate of any ZIP code in Manhattan.

While the rate remains elevated in the 10069 ZIP code, it is also important to remember that it is one of the smallest ZIP codes in the city by population. The 2.57 percent positivity rate is a product of just seven people testing positive in the area.

Rates remain low for the three other ZIP codes that make up the Upper West Side.

Here is the most updated data for the week from Nov.7 through Nov. 13:

• 10069 — Lower West End/Riverside: 272 people tested, seven new cases, 2.57 percent rate.
• 10023 — Lincoln Square: 2,478 people tested, 26 new cases, 1.05 percent positivity.
• 10024 — Upper West Side: 2,284 people tested, 31 new cases, 1.36 percent positivity.
• 10025 — Manhattan Valley/Morningside Heights/UWS: 4,652 people tested, 54 new cases, 1.16 percent rate.

The average rate for the four ZIP codes during the period was 1.53 percent.

While the coronavirus rate in 10069 dropped over the past week, the three other ZIP codes in Upper Manhattan all ticked up slightly in their positivity rates from Nov. 7 through Nov. 13 compared to Oct. 31 through Nov. 6.

The 10023 ZIP code went from 0.96 percent to 1.05 percent, the 10024 ZIP code went from 1.35 percent to 1.36 percent, and the 10025 ZIP code went from 0.83 percent to 1.16 percent.

The average rate for the four ZIP codes was 1.53 percent, and there were 118 new cases.

Comparatively, the rate for the four ZIP codes from Oct. 31 to Nov. 6 was 1.50 percent, and there were a total of 94 new cases.

Despite the slight upticks in 10023, 10024, and 10025, the numbers remain on the lower end of rates seen throughout New York City.

The citywide COVID-19 positivity rate on Wednesday was 2.74.

That seven-day average falls below a 3 percent threshold for closing public schools citywide — a mark the city has nearly, but not quite reached for several days running.

The city is expanding a testing blitz with new mobile testing units retrofitted from ice cream trucks parked outside of NYCHA homes in Brooklyn, as well as rapid testing locations in Queens and Staten Island, said Ted Long, the city's Test + Trace director.

Read More: UWS ZIP Home To 'Trump Towers' Has Borough's Top Coronavirus Rate

Patch reporter Matt Troutman contributed to this report.