Wash Heights, Inwood ZIP Code Becomes Manhattan's Top COVID Rate

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — New data released on Wednesday shows that coronavirus rates in one Inwood and Washington Heights ZIP code have again jumped in the most recent available data from the city.

The new data, which shows COVID-19 testing results for every New York City ZIP code between Nov. 2 and Nov. 8, shows a continued citywide increase in the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive.

In the case of the 10040 ZIP, residents in the area had a positivity rate of 4.38 during the week, which was the most out of any ZIP code in Manhattan.

The previous most updated data from the city looked at cases from Oct. 31 to Nov. 6, and showed the 10040 ZIP code was the second highest rate in Manhattan during the time period.

The new data on Wednesday, shows that 10040 leapfrogged the previous highest Manhattan rate 10069 ZIP code on the Upper West Side, which had a 3.64 positivity rate in the same time period.

Here is the updated COVID-19 testing data in the four ZIP codes that make up Inwood and Washington Heights between Nov. 2 and Nov. 8.

• 10034 — Inwood/Washington Heights: 980 people tested, 17 new cases, 1.73 percent positivity.
• 10040 — Washington Heights (North): 1027 people tested, 45 new cases, 4.38 percent positivity.
• 10033 — Washington Heights (North/South): 1,532 people tested, 38 new cases, 2.48 percent rate.
• 10032 — Washington Heights (South): 1,752 people tested, 43 new cases, 2.45 percent rate.

The new data shows increases in all four Upper Manhattan ZIP codes.

The 10034 ZIP code went from 1.53 percent to 1.73 percent, the 10040 ZIP code went from 2.83 percent to 4.38 percent, the 10033 ZIP code went from 2.4 percent to 2.48 percent, and the 10032 ZIP code went from 1.99 percent to 2.45 percent.

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 overall positivity rate has also continued to climb, hitting an average of 2.52 percent over the last week in New York City as of Thursday.

Patch reporter Anna Quinn contributed to this report.